Started By
Message
I think Week 1 TV ratings will be considerably down this year
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:32 am
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:32 am
... despite the fact we net 2 more games over Week 1 this season compared to last year on the major networks + ESPN (18 games this season compared to 16 last season).
Clemson vs LSU nets out about the same as they take the same ABC Saturday primetime slot... this season should net out more viewers than last because of the LSU cheating scandal.
But most of the other windows are much weaker this year.
Thursday night
We're down a game this year.... last year we got two ESPN games, one early evening and one late night. This year we're down to just one. Total viewership down as a result.
Friday Primetime
FOX and ESPN will again both have a game... however this season's slate of Miami at Stanford and Fresno State at USC will likely drop off compared to last year's matchups of Georgia Tech at Colorado and Auburn at Baylor.
Saturday Early Window
This season will drop off bigly without a premiere matchup like we got last season with Texas at Ohio State. That game got 16+ million viewers. I think Alabama vs ECU will get a very impressive number considering the matchup (probably around 6 million) but it will be no where close to last season's big game in that early window. Major drop off.
Saturday Afternoon
We're picking up a game this year with FOX jumping in... however it's just Boston College at Cincinnati so we're not going to get a big number there. Alabama struggling at Florida State last year attracted 10.7 million viewers last year and I don't see a single game this season that will come close to that. Baylor at Auburn should be top billing but I'm going to estimate just 4-5 million viewers... again, this window overall will be way down compared to last year.
Saturday Primetime
Clemson vs LSU will once again hit a big number... it got 10.45 million last year. I bet it pushes 12 million this year. We're also picking up a game on NBC this year that we didn't have last year... W Michigan at Michigan will fill that spot which will take a little away from Clemson-LSU's potential, but Saturday primetime should be up overall by a few million viewers.
Sunday Afternoon
We're trading a game on ESPN for one on NBC this year. I think Washington St at Washington will fall off a bit from last year's S Carolina vs Virginia Tech matchup... likely down in this window.
Sunday Primetime
Overall viewership will be up because we're adding a game on NBC this year... Wisconsin at Notre Dame. That will likely take the top spot in this window. Louisville at Ole Miss will be down substantially from last year's Notre Dame at Miami game. Overall viewership will be up with the extra game though in this window.
Monday Primetime
SMU at Florida State will probably come in around the same as last season's TCU at North Carolina.
Conclusion
Last season these networks combined for 80 million viewers spread out over 16 games. This year I think we'll only get around 71 million with 18 games.
... just not as many high profile games this year in Week 1 compared to last.
Hopefully that means we'll have a more interesting Week 2 which in years past seems to offer some real duds.
Clemson vs LSU nets out about the same as they take the same ABC Saturday primetime slot... this season should net out more viewers than last because of the LSU cheating scandal.
But most of the other windows are much weaker this year.
Thursday night
We're down a game this year.... last year we got two ESPN games, one early evening and one late night. This year we're down to just one. Total viewership down as a result.
Friday Primetime
FOX and ESPN will again both have a game... however this season's slate of Miami at Stanford and Fresno State at USC will likely drop off compared to last year's matchups of Georgia Tech at Colorado and Auburn at Baylor.
Saturday Early Window
This season will drop off bigly without a premiere matchup like we got last season with Texas at Ohio State. That game got 16+ million viewers. I think Alabama vs ECU will get a very impressive number considering the matchup (probably around 6 million) but it will be no where close to last season's big game in that early window. Major drop off.
Saturday Afternoon
We're picking up a game this year with FOX jumping in... however it's just Boston College at Cincinnati so we're not going to get a big number there. Alabama struggling at Florida State last year attracted 10.7 million viewers last year and I don't see a single game this season that will come close to that. Baylor at Auburn should be top billing but I'm going to estimate just 4-5 million viewers... again, this window overall will be way down compared to last year.
Saturday Primetime
Clemson vs LSU will once again hit a big number... it got 10.45 million last year. I bet it pushes 12 million this year. We're also picking up a game on NBC this year that we didn't have last year... W Michigan at Michigan will fill that spot which will take a little away from Clemson-LSU's potential, but Saturday primetime should be up overall by a few million viewers.
Sunday Afternoon
We're trading a game on ESPN for one on NBC this year. I think Washington St at Washington will fall off a bit from last year's S Carolina vs Virginia Tech matchup... likely down in this window.
Sunday Primetime
Overall viewership will be up because we're adding a game on NBC this year... Wisconsin at Notre Dame. That will likely take the top spot in this window. Louisville at Ole Miss will be down substantially from last year's Notre Dame at Miami game. Overall viewership will be up with the extra game though in this window.
Monday Primetime
SMU at Florida State will probably come in around the same as last season's TCU at North Carolina.
Conclusion
Last season these networks combined for 80 million viewers spread out over 16 games. This year I think we'll only get around 71 million with 18 games.
... just not as many high profile games this year in Week 1 compared to last.
Hopefully that means we'll have a more interesting Week 2 which in years past seems to offer some real duds.
6
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:36 am to AUTiger789
quote:
Washington St at Washington
Having the Apple Cup on Labor Day weekend is a sin against the football gods and would be harshly punished if this were a normal world.
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:38 am to AUTiger789
Also worth mentioning:
Nevada at Penn State will be the only game all weekend on CBS.
What an absolute blunder of a decision for CBS to not jump in big with the expanded SEC. That game will struggle to get 2 million viewers.
CBS would be clipping 6-10 million with every SEC game they aired had they come to the table.
Absolute shame.
Nevada at Penn State will be the only game all weekend on CBS.
What an absolute blunder of a decision for CBS to not jump in big with the expanded SEC. That game will struggle to get 2 million viewers.
CBS would be clipping 6-10 million with every SEC game they aired had they come to the table.
Absolute shame.
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:39 am to AUTiger789
Gee you think?
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:40 am to AUTiger789
quote:
this season should net out more viewers than last because of the LSU cheating scandal.
You’re welcome.
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:44 am to WestSideTiger
quote:
You’re welcome.
Thank Clemson. 90% of viewers will be tuning in to root for them.
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:46 am to AUTiger789
quote:
the LSU cheating scandal.
loser mindset is an epidemic on here. Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:46 am to AUTiger789
LSU Clemson with the whole Lane going to LSU thing, media ridiculousness about pro players, Gameday, etc. will be a highly watched game. People in my office who are not fans of either team or really college football in general are talking about it a bit. Anecdotal, but usually means it's on the national radar outside of folks who would watch it anyway.
I hope we blow them out and make a statement, but not sure we will.
I hope we blow them out and make a statement, but not sure we will.
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:48 am to AUTiger789
quote:
Nevada at Penn State will be the only game all weekend on CBS.
What an absolute blunder of a decision for CBS to not jump in big with the expanded SEC. That game will struggle to get 2 million viewers.
CBS would be clipping 6-10 million with every SEC game they aired had they come to the table.
Absolute shame.
Games lasted too long with CBS, but damn am I still going to miss that production value and the chills on Saturday when the intro music starts for a big game with my team.
They fricked up.
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:51 am to AUTiger789
quote:
Thank Clemson. 90% of viewers will be tuning in to root for them.
Posted on 9/2/26 at 10:59 am to CatfishJohn
quote:
usually means it's on the national radar outside of folks who would watch it anyway.
I'm estimating 12.2 million viewers... up from 10.45 million last year.
Western Michigan at Michigan will probably land around 1.4 million over on NBC... last year there was no competing game on NBC so that will temper the ratings just a bit.
My estimate for the biggest viewership games of the weekend:
12.2- Clemson at LSU
7.9- Wisconsin at Notre Dame
6.5- Louisville at Ole Miss
6.2- ECU at Alabama
6.1- SMU at Florida State
4.8- Baylor at Auburn
4.3- Colorado at Georgia Tech
3.4- Washington St at Washington
No Ohio State and no Georgia on any metered market is a hit. Alabama, Michigan, Penn State, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M all playing non Power 4 opponents is also a hit.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News