College Football TV Ratings: Tracking the Top 10 most watched games of the 2025 season
The 2025 college football season got off to a strong start as TV ratings surged. Viewership increased across the country ahead of an anticipated campaign.
It started out strong with record Week 1 ratings, which saw four games top 10 million viewers. The biggest was Texas at Ohio State, which drew 16.6 million viewers on FOX. As of Week 12, eight games hit the 10-million viewer mark.
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Using compiled Big Data + Panel ratings data, On3 is tracking the Top 10 most-watched games of the 2025 season. Here is where things stand after Week 12.
Note: SEC Network, ACC Network and CBS Sports Network do not pay for Nielsen to measure viewership.
Texas at Ohio State
Date/Time: Aug. 30, Noon ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 16.6 million
One of the most anticipated games of the 2025 season lived up to the billing as Ohio State took down Texas in a nail-biter in Columbus. With 16.6 million people tuning in, it became the most-watched Week 1 game in history and FOX’s third most-watched game on record.
Georgia at Tennessee
Date/Time: Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 12.6 million
Georgia and Tennessee played earlier than usual this year, but the matchup didn’t disappoint. The Bulldogs erased an early deficit and eventually forced overtime, which is when Josh McCray punched in the game-winning touchdown. It also became ABC’s most-watched game through the month of September with 12.6 million viewers.
Notre Dame at Miami
Date/Time: Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 10.8 million
A Sunday night primetime game on Labor Day weekend put two storied rivals against each other as Notre Dame headed to Miami. The Fighting Irish mounted a late charge after the Hurricanes took an early lead, but it wasn’t enough as Mario Cristobal’s group picked up a marquee victory in Week 1. It was part of a loaded slate of games with 10.8 million people watching.
Alabama at Florida State
Date/Time: Aug. 30, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 10.7 million
After Tommy Castellanos’ preseason comments, Alabama and Florida State became an even more high-profile matchup in Week 1. The Seminoles quarterback stood on business, though, as FSU pulled off the upset at Doak Campbell Stadium in front of 10.7 million viewers.
Oklahoma at Alabama
Date/Time: Nov. 15, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 10.48 million
In a huge game for the College Football Playoff, Oklahoma capitalized on Alabama turnovers to get a win at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The matchup also became the most-watched college football game of Week 12 with 10.5 million people tuning to ABC.
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LSU at Clemson
Date/Time: Aug. 30, 8 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 10.45 million
In the preseason, LSU and Clemson both generated buzz as potential national title contenders, which meant the Week 1 showdown would be a key game for both teams. Brian Kelly’s group eventually held strong to take down Clemson and get an important season-opening win in front of 10.45 million people in primetime.
Texas at Georgia
Date/Time: Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 10.43 million
Although Texas had an opportunity to improve its resume, Georgia had other plans. The Bulldogs took down the Longhorns 35-10 between the hedges, extending their win streak to six games. The matchup averaged 10.4 million viewers for ABC’s primetime game.
Alabama at Georgia
Date/Time: Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 10.42 million
Part of a jam-packed primetime window in Week 5, Alabama and Georgia squared off at Samford Stadium in one of the biggest SEC matchups yet. The Bulldogs looked to avenge last year’s loss in a classic at Bryant-Denny Stadium, but the Crimson Tide held on to take down UGA once again in the most-watched game of Week 5.
Ole Miss at Georgia
Date/Time: Oct. 18, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 9.8 million
The Week 8 slate saw a big-time matchup in Athens as Ole Miss took on Georgia. Both offenses were on full display before the Bulldogs came away with the 43-35 victory in what became the most-watched game of the week with 9.8 million viewers.
Michigan at Oklahoma
Date/Time: Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 9.7 million
A battle of new quarterbacks also marked the return of Sherrone Moore to Norman. John Mateer showed out in a big way, though, leading Oklahoma to a win over Bryce Underwood and Michigan in the most-watched game of Week 2.
More top college football TV ratings
- Oklahoma vs. Texas (Oct. 11, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 8.7 million
- Oregon at Penn State (Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC) – 8.5 million (including Peacock)
- Tennessee at Alabama (Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 8 million
- Alabama at South Carolina (Oct. 25, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 7.8 million
- Florida vs. Georgia (Nov. 1, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 7.8 million
- Florida at LSU (Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 7.6 million
- LSU at Alabama (Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 7.5 million
- Penn State at Ohio State (Nov. 1, Noon ET, FOX) – 7.2 million
- Alabama at Missouri (Oct. 11, Noon ET, ABC) – 7 million
- Texas A&M at LSU (Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 6.8 million
- Georgia at Auburn (Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 6.7 million
- LSU at Ole Miss (Sept. 27, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 6.69 million
- Ole Miss at Oklahoma (Oct. 25, Noon ET, ABC) – 6.6 million
- Florida at Miami (Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 6.5 million
- Vanderbilt at Alabama (Oct. 4, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) – 6.4 million
On3 will continue to track the most-watched college football games of the 2025 season as TV ratings continue to skyrocket. Through October, ABC remained the big winner with eight of the most-watched games through Week 7.