Week 7 brought the chaos on the field, but the ratings race still produced one clear headliner: Ohio State vs. Indiana.
FOX’s showdown between the top-five teams pulled in an estimated 10.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched college football game of the week, according to On3 and Nielsen Big Data + Panel Data. The next-biggest draw also came from outside the SEC, with ABC’s night window featuring BYU and Notre Dame bringing in 9.2 million viewers.
The SEC still showed up strong in the numbers, starting with Alabama and Tennessee. Their matchup led the conference’s viewership list at 8.1 million viewers.
Florida’s upset of Texas landed fourth overall at 4.7 million, while Auburn’s upset of previously No. 1 Georgia came in seventh with approximately 3.5 million viewers.
The Big Ten had a huge week on the ratings front. Along with the Ohio State-Indiana game sitting at No.
1, Penn State and Michigan drew 4.5 million viewers on CBS, good for fifth on the week. Wisconsin and Purdue checked in at No. 8 with 2.6 million viewers, and Nebraska vs.
Oregon followed at No. 9 with 2.5 million.
The ACC’s biggest number came from Miami’s double-overtime thriller with Florida State, which drew 3.6 million viewers on ESPN and ranked sixth. The Big 12 was represented twice in the top 10, with BYU in the No. 2 spot and Arizona State vs. Texas Tech rounding out the list at about 2.5 million viewers.
After a wild Week 7, Week 8 is shaping up to be lighter on marquee matchups. Six of the top 25 teams are off, and there are only two top-25 games on the schedule, down from six the previous week. Ole Miss is traveling to Texas on ABC, and Houston is set to face Utah on ESPN.
In Other News...
Ohio States Bye Week Just Became A Crucial QB Decision
Ohio States bye week has turned into more than a breather. With Julian Sayin dealing with an injury, the Buckeyes are using the open date to sort through their options at quarterback, and that means taking a hard look at freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair as possible replacements if the position remains in flux.
Across the rivalry, Michigan has already made a change of its own, benching Bryce Underwood and moving freshman Tommy Carr into the starting role for the upcoming game against Indiana. The timing only adds to the pressure around Columbus, where the Buckeyes are watching not just their own depth chart but a busy Week 8 slate that could ripple through conference standings and shape the bigger picture in the Big Ten race. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Gave Fans A Classic TBDBITL Moment At The Woody
The Ohio State Marching Band brought a little extra buzz to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center this week, and the timing fit the mood around the program. With the Buckeyes in their bye week, coach Ryan Day shifted the visit there to keep the routine steady during rivalry week, while Jeremiah Smith, Jamir Perez and Earl Little Jr. were among the players who got a turn conducting and performing with the band.
It was the kind of classic TBDBITL moment that reminds everyone how tightly woven the band and football program are in Columbus. The visit also followed a recent high-profile stop for the band at a Twenty One Pilots concert at Ohio Stadium, another sign that Ohio States marching tradition keeps finding fresh ways to show up in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
C.J. Stroud Is Giving Ohio State Fans Another Reason To Brag
C.J. Stroud keeps giving Ohio State fans plenty of reasons to keep one eye on Houston. The former Buckeyes quarterback was honored for his latest outing after helping the Texans get rolling again against Jacksonville in London, and he continues to look like one of the NFLs most efficient young passers.
Stroud completed 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns in the win, a reminder of how quickly Houstons offense can change when he is in rhythm. He has now piled up 1,714 passing yards with nine touchdowns and one interception this season, putting him second in the league in passing yards and keeping his name in the weekly conversation. [Read more 🡒]