Ole Miss’s 32-24 win over LSU didn’t just give the Rebels a statement victory in Lane Kiffin’s return to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It also gave ESPN a monster audience.
The network said Tuesday that the ABC broadcast averaged 10.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched game of the week. The audience climbed as high as 13.7 million. ESPN said the game ranks as the eighth-highest-rated regular-season broadcast of the decade across its family of networks.
The matchup had the kind of setup that usually delivers big numbers, and this one did exactly that. Ole Miss jumped out to a big lead before LSU closed the gap, but the Rebels still finished the job.
ESPN’s Saturday slate also included Alabama’s 50-36 win over Florida State on ABC, though that telecast had a complicated path. The game started later than scheduled and then was delayed just before halftime because of weather in the Tuscaloosa area. It eventually shifted to ESPN2 because of the Ole Miss-LSU game, but still averaged seven million viewers and peaked at eight million.
Kentucky’s upset of Texas A&M at Kyle Field also drew a strong audience, averaging 5.4 million viewers and peaking at 8.1 million. Georgia’s win at Arkansas on ABC brought in four million viewers, with a peak of 4.8 million. Clemson’s win over North Carolina on ESPN, another game affected by weather, averaged 3.6 million viewers and reached 4.7 million at its high point.
Week 4 brings another loaded TV schedule, with Texas at Tennessee at noon, Ole Miss at Florida Louisville at noon, Oklahoma at Georgia at 3:30, and South Carolina at Alabama at 7:00.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Reels As Two Student Deaths Leave Alarming Questions Unanswered
A somber weekend on the Ole Miss campus has left the university community searching for answers after officials confirmed the deaths of two male students, ages 18 and 20. Law enforcement is handling the cases as two separate investigations, and university leaders have been careful to say very little beyond urging restraint as the facts are still coming in.
Investigators recovered packaged kratom at both scenes, but have not said whether it played any role in either death. With autopsy and toxicology results still pending, the uncertainty has only fed a wave of social media speculation, leaving the school and its students waiting for official findings before drawing conclusions. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Gets A Timely Defensive Boost Before A Charged Road Test
Sharif Denson was back in the mix for Ole Miss in the win over LSU, and the timing mattered. After working his way back from injury, the former Florida defensive back turned in nine tackles and gave the Rebels a steadier presence in the secondary, the kind of return that can settle a defense heading into a difficult stretch.
Denson said the extra week of rest was important, and he also made clear he sees his role as bigger than just getting back on the field. He has leaned into a leadership role in the secondary, and now Ole Miss gets one more layer to this weeks buildup as he prepares to face his old team in the next game. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Just Added Fuel To Ole Miss LSU Tension
Lane Kiffin took a familiar jab at the rivalry this week, calling Ole Miss win over LSU the Rebels Super Bowl during the SEC Football Coaches Teleconference. The remark carried extra bite because of his former ties to Oxford, and it came with some pointed commentary about the quarterbacks involved, keeping a matchup that already has plenty of edge in the conversation well after the final whistle.
Pete Golding did not lean into the back-and-forth, instead steering the focus back to Ole Miss bigger picture. The Rebels head coach said his team is preparing for the full season, not circling one game, a reminder that while the LSU meeting still stirs emotions, Ole Miss is trying to treat it as one part of a much larger SEC grind. [Read more 🡒]