Week 10 brought the kind of college football slate TV networks dream about: ranked matchups, playoff pressure and enough drama to keep viewers locked in all weekend. By the time the dust settled, the numbers reflected it. Alabama-LSU, Notre Dame-Miami and Oregon-Ohio State all delivered major audiences, and the top 10 most-watched games of the week were packed with consequential results.
The biggest audience of the weekend belonged to Notre Dame and Miami, a rematch of last year’s season opener that turned into a statement night for the Irish. Notre Dame’s 31-24 win gave the Fighting Irish revenge and boosted their College Football Playoff case after they opened at No. 11 in the initial Top 25 rankings last week. It also gave NBC and Peacock a strong primetime showing, with the combined audience leading the window across Nielsen Big Data + Panel and Adobe Analytics.
Alabama and LSU delivered the other marquee heavyweight fight. In Baton Rouge, the game started as a back-and-forth battle before the Crimson Tide took over after halftime and rolled to a 31-13 win.
Alabama scored 21 unanswered points after LSU had grabbed a 13-10 lead, turning the late-afternoon ABC showcase into another reminder of how much that window has mattered for the network. ABC’s late-afternoon slot will continue through the 2026 season.
CBS also landed a major number with Oregon’s trip to Ohio State. The Ducks’ 38 straight points after falling behind 14-0 changed the game in a hurry, and the 5.40 million viewers made it one of the week’s most-watched broadcasts. Oregon’s dominant 38-point run turned a high-profile matchup into a one-sided result, and both teams now sit at 4-2 in Big Ten play with three regular-season games left.
Texas and Missouri added another SEC entry to the list. The Longhorns handled a tricky road test with a big Saturday afternoon win on ESPN, getting three touchdown passes from Arch Manning, who finished 28-for-38 for 297 yards and three scores. Texas has now won three straight and owns two ranked wins in its last three games, with LSU waiting in Week 11.
The early window also delivered. BYU and Utah went down to the final seconds in their rivalry matchup, with Utah surviving to remain undefeated and extend its winning streak to nine.
Bear Bachmeier’s interception in the closing moments sealed it for the Utes, and despite the 10 a.m. MT kickoff, ESPN said it was the most-watched Holy War on record.
ABC’s broadcast drew 4.41 million viewers.
Georgia’s 42-7 dismantling of Ole Miss was another showcase game that drew attention. In Oxford, the Bulldogs controlled both sides of the ball in ABC’s primetime slot, with Gunner Stockton throwing four touchdown passes and adding a rushing score. The win left Georgia alone atop the SEC standings heading into a Week 11 meeting with Missouri.
Tennessee’s 34-6 win over Kentucky also cracked the top 10. The Vols snapped the Wildcats’ seven-game winning streak and stayed in the College Football Playoff conversation behind a strong rushing night.
Daune Morris opened the scoring burst with a 66-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter, and DeSean Bishop finished with 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns. ESPN drew 3.1 million viewers for the game.
UCLA and Minnesota made the list as well, with the Bruins pulling away in the fourth quarter for their ninth straight win under new coach Bob Chesney. Ty Dieffenbach threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns on just 8-of-16 passing, while Wayne Knight added 109 rushing yards and a score. FOX’s noon game brought in 2.85 million viewers.
FOX’s Friday night slot continued to be a ratings magnet, too. Illinois’ 24-13 win over Nebraska drew 2.85 million viewers and landed among the week’s most-watched games. Nebraska moved the ball for more than 400 yards but couldn’t finish drives, while Illinois picked up its fourth straight victory after a rough start to the season.
Texas A&M and South Carolina rounded out the top 10. The Gamecocks trailed 9-7 entering the fourth quarter, then scored 10 points in the final 15 minutes to pull out the win over the Aggies. It was a rematch of last year’s game, when South Carolina let a big lead slip away, but this time the Gamecocks finished the job and won their fourth straight.
With the regular season winding down, the viewership numbers have held steady. And with rivalry week and conference title games still ahead, the stakes - and the audiences - are only going to climb.
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Kentucky Faces Its First Real Test Against A Title Contender
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For Kentucky, the formula starts with making shots from deep and keeping Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes from taking over the game. The Wildcats will also need meaningful production from newcomers Alex Wilkins and Zoom Diallo, two players whose early-season contributions could matter even more against a team with Kansas size, talent and edge. [Read more 🡒]