FOX Sports’ broadcast of Ohio State’s win over Michigan on Saturday attracted 18.42 million viewers, making it the most-watched regular season college football game on any network this season, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The rivalry game also marked the second-highest viewership for a regular season college football game in FOX history. The previous record, also featuring Ohio State and Michigan in 2023, drew 19.07 million viewers. Peak audience for Saturday’s matchup reached 20.54 million between 2:30 and 2:45 p.m. ET.
The ratings reflect a significant increase over last year’s edition of “The Game,” which drew 12.32 million viewers, representing a 49% boost in audience size.
Ohio State’s victory solidified the Buckeyes’ dominance in the Big Ten, while the ratings success highlighted the enduring appeal of the rivalry. FOX Sports’ coverage featured the network’s top commentary team and in-game analysis, helping drive engagement throughout the broadcast.
The impressive viewership numbers come amid a season where broadcast and streaming competition for college football audiences has intensified. While CBS, ABC and ESPN have all captured large audiences for marquee matchups, FOX’s presentation of Ohio State-Michigan stands out as a benchmark for regular season games this year.
The network captured nearly 18.5 million viewers for a single-game telecast, showing the strength of live sports and big matchups. As college football expands nationally, FOX’s Ohio State-Michigan broadcast highlights the value of historic rivalries and quality production. With viewership peaking above 20 million, the game reaffirmed the enduring power of “The Game” as a marquee college football event.
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