Texas-Ohio State Game Outdraws LSU-Ole Miss Rivalry in Week 2 College Football Ratings
The highly anticipated matchup between the Longhorns and Buckeyes garnered more viewers than the LSU-Ole Miss contest the following week.
The Week 2 college football game between Texas and Ohio State captured a larger audience than the rivalry matchup between LSU and Ole Miss in Week 3, according to recent TV ratings.
The contest that saw Texas stage a comeback victory over the Buckeyes averaged 14 million viewers and peaked at 16.4 million. This game was the most-watched Week 2 matchup on record across all networks and the most-watched regular-season primetime game since 2012.
In comparison, the LSU-Ole Miss game, a highly anticipated Top 10 rivalry clash, drew an average of 10.9 million viewers and a peak of 13.7 million. Despite being the most-watched game of Week 3, it fell short of the Texas-Ohio State viewership numbers. This LSU-Ole Miss game was a rematch following Lane Kiffin's departure from Ole Miss to coach LSU, adding a significant storyline to the matchup.
The report suggests that while LSU and Ole Miss are strong brands, particularly in the Southeast, the viewership for the Texas-Ohio State game highlights the national appeal of both the Buckeyes and the Longhorns. Both games were close contests, decided in the final minutes and filled with star power, but the viewership figures indicate a different tier of national interest for the Texas-Ohio State matchup.