- ESPN networks are averaging 2.2 million viewers through Week 7, the second-best start to a college football season since 2011
- ESPN and ABC have aired eight of the season’s 10 most-watched games across all networks and a record eight telecasts with at least 8 million viewers through Week 7
- College GameDay is on pace for its most-watched season ever, averaging 2.8 million viewers with six of the nine most-watched regular-season episodes in the show’s history
ESPN networks are averaging 2.2 million viewers across 120 games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU — the second-best start for ESPN since 2011. Viewership is up 15 percent compared to the same point two years ago and only slightly down from last year’s record-breaking season.
ABC alone is on pace for its second most-watched college football season on record, averaging 6.8 million viewers across 23 games — on par with last year and up 26 percent over two years, and more than twice the audience of its closest competitor. Across the sport, nationally rated college football games have generated 93 billion minutes watched to date, on record pace and up 3 percent year-over-year.
Nielsen notables
- ESPN networks have aired eight of the 10 most-watched games of the season across all networks ESPN has aired the top 25 most-watched games on cable this season
- ESPN and ABC have delivered eight games with 8 million or more viewers — the most on record for a media company through Week 7
- ESPN and ABC have accounted for 58 percent of all live college football game minutes viewed across nationally rated linear networks — 2.5 times any other media company
- ESPN and ABC have aired the top game in 16 of 21 Saturday windows across noon, late afternoon and primetime — four of seven at noon, five of seven in late afternoon and all seven in primetime