College Football TV Ratings: Top 10 most-watched games of Week 2

Week 2 of the college football season faced a high bar following a historic Week 1 from a TV ratings perspective. Some notable games awaited, led by a showdown between Oklahoma and Michigan in primetime.

The matchup put Washington State transfer John Mateer against top-rated freshman Bryce Underwood as the quarterbacks took center stage. Ultimately, Mateer and OU got the victory in the most-watched game of Week 2 – which took the top spot for another big week for ESPN and ABC.

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As a whole, college football viewership is up more than 25% through two weeks, according to analyst Michael Mulvihill. On3 compiled data from press releases, Sports Media Watch and Programming Insider to break down the week’s college football TV ratings. Here are the Top 10 most-watched games of Week 2.

Note: SEC Network and ACC Network do not pay for Nielsen to measure viewership.

Michigan at Oklahoma

Date/Time: Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 9.7 million

The headliner in the Week 2 primetime window delivered. John Mateer got the job done with both his arm and his legs as Oklahoma came away with a marquee victory over Michigan in Norman in front of the fifth-largest college football audience this season, according to Nielsen.

Ole Miss at Kentucky

Date/Time: Sept. 6, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 4.8 million

ESPN and ABC remain red-hot in the 3:30 p.m. ET window as Ole Miss and Kentucky came in as the No. 2 most-watched game in Week 2. The Rebels and Wildcats traded blows, but Lane Kiffin’s group ultimately held on to take down UK at Kroger Field in the first SEC matchup of the young season.

Iowa at Iowa State

Date/Time: Sept. 6, Noon ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 4.3 million

The annual Cy-Hawk rivalry game was on FOX’s biggest stage with Big Noon Kickoff in attendance. Iowa State’s victory over Iowa also led the Noon ET window as the Cyclones won the third matchup in four years – but the first time at home since 2011.

San Jose State at Texas

Date/Time: Sept. 6, Noon ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 3.7 million

After an up-and-down season debut in Week 1, Arch Manning settled in well as Texas cruised past San Jose State. The Longhorns quarterback went 19 of 30 for 295 yards and four touchdowns as he once again took the big stage in the first game of ABC’s Week 2 tripleheader.

Delaware at Colorado

Date/Time: Sept. 6, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 2.7 million

In a crowded 3:30 p.m. ET window, Deion Sanders and Colorado once again appear in the Top 10 most-watched games for Week 2. The Buffaloes took on Delaware – a game in which all three quarterbacks played as they got the 31-7 victory.

Oklahoma State at Oregon

Date/Time: Sept. 6, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 2.3 million

CBS had a matchup suddenly filled with storylines after Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy discussed Oregon’s NIL investment. The Ducks then sought to make a statement and did just that, blowing out the Cowboys 69-3 at Autzen Stadium as they flexed their muscle.

Illinois at Duke

Date/Time: Sept. 6, Noon ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 2.2 million

Another statement victory came in Durham during the noon window as Illinois capitalized on five Duke turnovers to get the 45-19 victory. That game drew more than 2 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched game on the channel during Week 2.

Kansas at Missouri

Date/Time: Sept. 6, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN2
Viewers: 1.8 million

The long-awaited return of the Border War between Kansas and Missouri became a huge TV ratings win for ESPN2. The Tigers’ victory over the Jayhawks became the channel’s most-watched college football game since 2022 as 1.8 million people tuned in, sealing a spot in the Top 10 most-viewed games of the week.

Boston College at Michigan State

Date/Time: Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
Viewers: 1.6 million

NBC’s B1G Saturday Night game saw a double-overtime thriller between Boston College and Michigan State. Ultimately, the Spartans came out on top 42-40 as Aidan Chiles connected with Omari Kelly for the game-winning two-point conversion to seal the victory.

Baylor at SMU

Date/Time: Sept. 6, Noon ET
Channel: The CW
Viewers: 1 million

Rounding out the Top 10, The CW got its third-largest audience for a college football game to date as Baylor and SMU went to double-overtime. It felt like a had-to-have-it game for Dave Aranda, and the Bears came through with the thrilling 48-45 victory on the road.

TV networks have been off to a hot start to the season, notably ABC and FOX, which remain atop the Top 10 most-watched games of the week. More marquee games are on the way with conference play on the horizon, as well.