College football’s TV audience is rolling right into 2026, and the first two weeks have already produced a clear leader. Texas’ comeback against Ohio State has become the early standard-bearer, drawing nearly 14 million viewers on ABC and topping the sport’s ratings race so far.
That game was the first of the season to clear 10 million viewers, and it delivered a heavyweight number for Week 2. Texas erased a 23-3 fourth-quarter deficit to beat the then-top ranked Buckeyes 24-23, with Arch Manning throwing a touchdown in the final frame and Hollywood Smothers scoring twice, including the winning run.
Behind that, the ratings picture is packed with familiar brands, close finishes and a few early surprises. On3 is tracking the most-watched games of the season using Nielsen Big Data + Panel data compiled weekly, and the list already stretches from Week 0 all the way through the first full Saturdays of September.
Oklahoma’s loss to Michigan checked in second at 8.22 million viewers on FOX. The Wolverines controlled the early Big Noon Saturday window with a 17-10 upset, forcing two Oklahoma turnovers and cashing in after John Mateer’s fourth-quarter interception set up the go-ahead touchdown. The Sooners had one last shot, but the final drive stalled.
Notre Dame’s 41-13 win over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field landed third with 7.42 million viewers on NBC, or 8.1 million when Adobe Analytics/Peacock is included. That game aired opposite Ole Miss and Louisville on ABC, but NBC still came out ahead for the weekend and added 683,000 streaming viewers, according to the network.
Alabama’s 45-17 win over Kentucky followed at No. 4 with 7.28 million viewers on ABC. Kentucky briefly made things interesting with an early pick-six exchange, but the Crimson Tide settled in after halftime. Keelon Russell finished 16 of 23 for 188 yards, a touchdown and three turnovers, while Daniel Hill led the ground game with 104 yards and a score.
The first big headliner of the season came in at No. 5.
Clemson vs. LSU drew 5.76 million viewers on ABC after weather pushed the kickoff back.
The Tigers handled Clemson in Death Valley, and Sam Leavitt delivered a strong debut after transferring from Arizona State, throwing for 230 yards and a touchdown while rushing 12 times for 113 yards and two scores.
Washington State and Washington gave NBC another strong number in the Apple Cup, with 5.14 million viewers, or 5.5 million including Adobe Analytics/Peacock. Washington won the rivalry game behind Demond Williams, who passed for 268 yards and a touchdown and also led the Huskies with 61 rushing yards and another score.
North Carolina’s Week 0 win over TCU in Dublin, Ireland, came in at No. 7 with 4.91 million viewers on ESPN. That’s up from the 3.2 million who watched last year’s Dublin game. The Tar Heels rallied from a 10-3 first-quarter deficit to win 15-10, with Billy Edwards Jr. going 16 of 28 for 232 yards and Jelani Thurman catching four passes for 94 yards.
Boise State’s upset push against Oregon drew 4.83 million viewers on CBS, good for the network’s most-watched Week 1 game in 28 years. Oregon survived and Dante Moore led the way, completing 28 of 37 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns, including a 62-yard go-ahead strike to Dakorien Moore with 7:51 left.
Louisville vs. Ole Miss in Nashville followed at No. 9 with 4.70 million viewers on ABC.
The Rebels’ first regular season game of the Pete Golding Era went to the final seconds before Trinidad Chambliss helped set up Lucas Carneiro’s walk-off field goal. The game also held up well despite going head-to-head with Notre Dame and Wisconsin on NBC.
Rounding out the top 10 was Baylor vs. Auburn in Atlanta, which drew 4.24 million viewers on ABC.
The Aflac Kickoff Game was decided by a last-second two-point try that came up short, allowing Auburn to escape with the win. DJ Lagway Byrum Brown ran for a touchdown and completed 26 of 35 passes for 259 yards and three interceptions.
Last season, college football TV ratings rose 4% during the regular season and 9% in minutes consumed when the postseason was included. With Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel method in place again, 2026 gives the sport another clean chance to measure just how much more room there is for those numbers to grow.
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