The ESPN presentation of the Heisman Trophy drew its largest audience in five years on Saturday night as Colorado wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter attained the venerated honor. The telecast, which took the air at 8 p.m. EST, drew an average of 2.5 million viewers on the network, which is up 9% year-over-year. Jayden Daniels, quarterback for the Washington Commanders formerly of Louisiana State University, won the honors last year and has enjoyed a successful rookie season in the NFL. Compared to the 2022 Heisman Trophy ceremony, the program was up 52% in its average viewership, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. Moreover, the presentation peaked at 3.1 million viewers during the 8:45 to 9 p.m. EST quarter-hour.
Chris Fowler hosted the Heisman Trophy Ceremony from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Appel Room in New York City, working the assignment for the 31st consecutive year. This coincides with the time in which the network has been presenting the ceremony. The one-hour live show featured former Heisman Trophy winners Desmond Howard, Tim Tebow and Andre Ware, along with ESPN college football reporters Holly Rowe and Martin Smith.
ESPN is currently preparing to present games within the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, culminating with the National Championship from Atlanta, Ga. on Monday, Jan. 20. The company is also sublicensing games within the first round to TNT Sports as part of a five-year agreement. Fowler and Rowe, who are part of the lead commentary team, will be calling games within all rounds of the College Football Playoff alongside analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
Hunter will be playing in the final game of his career for the Colorado Buffaloes when the team faces the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m. EST on ABC in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Earlier in the day, the broadcast network will present the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl and Pop-Tarts Bowl before broadcasting the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at 3 p.m. EST on New Year’s Eve.
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