A worthy sequel to last year’s classic national championship delivered huge numbers for CBS.
Saturday’s Alabama-Georgia SEC Championship Game earned a 10.5 overnight rating on CBS, up 25% from Georgia-Auburn last year (8.4), up 50% from Alabama-Florida in 2016 (7.0), and the highest for the game since 2009 (Alabama-Florida: 11.8). The previous high was a 10.0 for Alabama-Georgia in 2012.
Excluding bowls, the Tide’s comeback win delivered college football’s highest overnight rating since 2011 (LSU-Alabama: 11.9). It edged the 2016 Michigan-Ohio State game on ABC, which had a 10.4.
Overall, the 10.5 is the third-highest college football overnight since 2006 (Michigan-Ohio State: 13.7), behind only the aforementioned 2011 and 2009 games. Four of the top five games since 2006 have been SEC matchups on CBS.
Overnights peaked at a 14.4 from 7:30-7:45 PM ET.
Compared to other sporting events, the SEC Championship earned a higher overnight than four of this year’s five World Series games. It also outdrew every game of last year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament, including the Villanova-Michigan national championship (10.3).
Birmingham, Ala., led all markets with a 56.7 rating and a 74 share, meaning that 74 percent of televisions in use were tuned to the game. Atlanta ranked second with a 33.9.
Highest College Football Overnight Ratings Since 2006
[Numbers from CBS Sports]
Another BIG TV rating where the Tide was on a verge of a rare defeat. This game was epic. The story and feel of it was excellent. This was a win by CBS on all accounts.
Endless reviews games approaching four hours. Good Grief!
This was the only 3 closest SEC match up in the last 11 years. This game is normally a blowout. ABC pick to finally put a game versus CBS and CBS got a thriller.
A great game and the most exciting I have ever watched. Please please move Gary Danielson to another game! Oh my! he is very partisian!!