College Football TV Ratings: Tracking the Top 10 most-watched teams of the 2025 season

Through eight weeks, college football’s TV ratings continue to rise. Seven games from Week 8 were among Nielsen’s 10 most-watched live sports telecasts of the week – a list that also included NFL and MLB playoff games.

Now, Nielsen has revealed the 10 most-watched college football teams of the season. The SEC led the charge through Week 8, fueled by massive ratings success from ABC out of the gate. The network has eight of the 10 most-watched games of the season so far.

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College football TV ratings remain impressive entering Week 9. Here are the Top 10 most-watched teams through Week 8, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel data. Figures listed are average viewers per game. Note: This story will be updated weekly.

1. Alabama – 7.92 million viewers

Year 2 of the Kalen DeBoer era got off to a rough start as Alabama fell to Florida State in Week 1 – one of the most-watched games to date. But the Crimson Tide since rattled off six straight wins and became the most-watched team of the year through Week 8 with 7.92 million viewers on average.

Ty Simpson has emerged as a strong Heisman Trophy candidate heading into a Week 9 matchup at South Carolina, as well, amid a stretch of four straight ranked wins for Alabama. The Crimson Tide remain one of the biggest draws so far this season, playing in two of the five most-watched games to date.

2. Tennessee – 7.80 million viewers

Through Week 8, Tennessee has played in two of the top games of the season. The biggest was in Week 3 against Georgia, which had the second-highest viewership so far, and those numbers propelled the Vols into the Top 10 most-watched teams to date with 7.80 million viewers on average.

Tennessee fell to 5-2 last week with a loss at Alabama in the annual Third Saturday in October game, meaning late-season wins will become even more important. The Vols will head to Lexington this week to take on Kentucky.

3. Georgia – 7.599 million viewers

Through Week 8, Georgia has already played in three of the most-watched games of the year. That includes this past week’s win over Ole Miss, which had the offenses on full display.

UGA’s most-watched game of the year came in Week 3 when the Bulldogs came away with an overtime victory over Tennessee on Rocky Top in front of a staggering 12.6 million viewers. They maintain a strong presence on ABC and will be back in the 3:30 p.m. ET slot after this week’s bye.

4. Texas – 6.88 million viewers

Texas started out the year on the biggest stage as the Longhorns went to Columbus to take on Ohio State. It became the most-watched Noon ET game on record with 16.6 million people tuning in to FOX for the Buckeyes’ grind-it-out victory, and that made Texas one of the 10 most-watched teams so far with 6.88 million viewers on average.

Arch Manning has had an up-and-down go through his first year as the Longhorns’ starter, but he remains one of the biggest names in the sport. Texas will hit the road this week to take on Mississippi State.

5. Oklahoma – 6.29 million viewers

Twice this year, Oklahoma played in a game that drew plenty of attention. The Sooners’ win over Michigan led the charge in Week 2 with 9.7 million – a top-10 game so far this season.

OU’s rivalry game against Texas was also a big draw for ABC as John Mateer returned from injury. This week’s game is going to be especially interesting as the Sooners take on Ole Miss in the Noon ET window in what could be effectively a College Football Playoff elimination game.

6. LSU – 6.14 million viewers

Through Week 8, LSU has played in three games with more than 6 million viewers and played a fourth before 5.9 million last time out. As a result, the Tigers are one of the most-watched teams of the year so far with 6.14 million viewers on average.

It’s been an up-and-down go for LSU, which got a win over Clemson in Week 1 but has losses to Ole Miss and Vanderbilt in SEC play. The Tigers face another tall task on Saturday as they head to Kyle Field to take on Texas A&M in primetime.

7. Ohio State – 6.11 million viewers

The winner in 2025’s most-watched game so far, Ohio State also made the Top 10 most-watched teams of the season. The Buckeyes have also emerged as the top team in the country amid a dominant start to Big Ten play.

Quarterback Julian Sayin continues to get better and turned in his best performance to date in last week’s shutout win over Wisconsin. Ohio State is on a bye this week before a matchup against Penn State awaits in Week 10.

8. Miami – 5.60 million viewers

Through Week 7, it appeared Miami had a path toward the ACC Championships and a College Football Playoff bid. However, the Hurricanes suffered an upset loss in a Friday night primetime game in Week 8, shaking up the conference race.

Miami has played in three games with more than 6 million viewers, making the program one of the most-watched in college football this year, averaging 5.6 million viewers. The biggest draw was a Week 1 matchup against Notre Dame, which averaged 10.8 million viewers on a Sunday night.

9. Florida – 5.15 million viewers

Through Week 8, Florida has played in two of the most-watched games of the year. The biggest was Week 3’s matchup at LSU, which drew 7.6 million viewers in the primetime window on ABC.

Florida got a win over Mississippi State in Week 8, but made a change ahead of the bye. The Gators fired head coach Billy Napier amid the 3-4 start and named Billy Gonzales the interim for the remainder of the season.

10. Notre Dame – 4.995 million viewers

After back-to-back losses to start the year, Notre Dame has rattled off five wins in a row. The Fighting Irish have played in multiple marquee games in 2025, making them one of the most-watched teams to date.

The biggest game was a loss to Miami in Week 1, and Notre Dame’s loss to Texas A&M was one of NBC’s top games of the year. Last time out, the Irish kept the Jeweled Shillelagh in South Bend before 4.6 million viewers, which drew strong ratings for NBC.

College football, and particularly the SEC, got off to quite a start this year with huge TV ratings so far. The sense is viewership will continue to surge as the season goes along.