College football’s TV ratings are absolutely crushing it this season, with the Texas Longhorns’ wild comeback win over Ohio State in Week 2 leading the charge. That game pulled in a staggering 13.99 million viewers, making it the first game of the year to blow past the 10 million viewer mark, and honestly, it felt like everyone was glued to their screens for that one.
Longhorns Stun Buckeyes in Ratings Goldmine
Talk about a game that delivered! Texas and Ohio State brought the heat in Week 2, with the Longhorns pulling off an unbelievable 24-23 victory. Think about this: they were down 23-3 heading into the fourth quarter against the then-top ranked Buckeyes and still found a way to win. Arch Manning tossed a touchdown in that final frame, and Hollywood Smothers ran in two scores, including the game-winner. Pure madness, right? That monster comeback helped ABC snag 14.0 million viewers for the game, easily making it the most-watched matchup of the season so far. It’s wild because even that insane number was a bit down from last year’s game between them, which hit 16.6 million on FOX. Still, nearly 14 million? That’s blockbuster stuff.
Bulldogs and Rebels Deliver More Prime-Time Thrills
But wait, there’s more! The incredible viewership isn’t just about one game. Georgia’s epic 20-17 victory over Alabama in Week 6 on ABC snagged the second spot, drawing a massive 12.24 million viewers. That game went down to the wire at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and Georgia’s Gunner Stockton was a beast: 18-for-22 for 249 yards and a touchdown, plus a rushing touchdown, despite one interception. That win, combined with Texas dropping a game to Oklahoma, propelled Georgia all the way to No. 1 in the AP Top 25. Then there was LSU vs. Ole Miss in Week 3, which locked up 10.90 million viewers for ABC. This one was a huge draw, especially with Lane Kiffin making his first return to Oxford since leaving Ole Miss last season. Trinidad Chambliss put on a show for Ole Miss, going 33 of 48 for 363 yards and two passing touchdowns, then ran in the game-winning score with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter. These early-season thrillers are totally fueling the viewership surge.
More Big Numbers and What’s Next
The trend of big numbers keeps rolling. Even Ohio State’s Week 7 clash with Indiana on FOX pulled in a solid 10.38 million viewers. The fact is, college football ratings are on fire in 2026, building on last year’s surge. Through Week 9, these games are proving that fans are absolutely locked in. We’ve seen a ton of action already, and with more huge matchups on the schedule, it’s going to be wild to see how high these ratings climb by the end of the year. Let’s keep those TVs on, folks, because this season is just getting started on the big screen!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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