With both teams in the top three, Alabama-LSU ratings soared by nearly 70 percent last weekend.
Last Saturday’s Alabama-LSU college football game had a 6.6 rating and 11.54 million viewers on CBS, up 69% in ratings and 72% in viewership from last year (3.9, 6.73M) and up 14% and 11% respectively from 2016 (5.8, 10.39M), which featured the same matchup.
Despite a lopsided 29-0 margin, Alabama’s win was easily the highest rated and most-watched college football game of the season. The previous highs were a 5.3 and 9.14 million for Ohio State-Penn State on ABC in September.
CBS has aired two of the five highest rated games this season.
In addition, it was the highest rated and most-watched game between Alabama and LSU since 2013 (6.9, 11.9M). The annual rivalry game has aired in primetime on CBS for eight straight seasons. This year’s game ranks third in viewership out of those eight, behind only 2013 and their #1 vs. #2 matchup in 2011 (20.01M).
Notably, Alabama-LSU had the same rating in adults 18-49 as Game 4 of the World Series in the same window a week earlier (3.3). It had a higher rating in adults 18-34 (2.5 to 2.2).
Earlier in the day, Georgia-Kentucky drew a 2.6 and 4.39 million — up 24% in ratings and 26% in viewership from last year (South Carolina-Georgia: 2.1, 3.48M) and flat and up 3% respectively from 2016 (Florida-Arkansas: 2.6, 4.26M).
Of the 11 SEC games on CBS this season, eight have posted an increase in ratings and viewership. Tennessee’s three appearances are the lone exceptions.
The full list of 2018 college football ratings is available here.
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 11.6]