The Week 1 college football matchup between Ohio State and Texas achieved a record-breaking 16.62 million viewers, the highest for an opening weekend game, as reported by Fox Sports. Ohio State, ranked No. 3, triumphed over No. 1 Texas with a close score of 14-7, marking the debut of Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning as the starter. The game peaked at 18.6 million viewers between 3:00 and 3:15 p.m. ET, making it the third most-watched regular-season college football game on Fox.
The pre-game shows also drew impressive numbers; Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” attracted 3.8 million viewers, the highest for that edition when Ohio State-Michigan weren’t involved. Meanwhile, ESPN’s “College GameDay,” which featured the final appearance of retiring analyst Lee Corso, averaged 3.5 million viewers, with its last 15 minutes reaching a record 5.1 million viewers.
These high viewership figures reflect the increasing popularity of college football and the strong interest in marquee matchups. The presence of star players like Arch Manning contributed significantly to the game’s appeal, drawing attention from fans and enhancing ratings. The accomplishments of both the game and corresponding pre-game shows indicate the expanding reach of college football and the ability of broadcast networks to engage large audiences effectively.
Ohio State-Texas game not only provided thrilling gameplay but also set a new benchmark for viewership in the opening week of the college football season, highlighting the sport’s growing fan base and media potential.
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