Viewership Trends: SEC Dominates Over Big Ten
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The Southeastern Conference, or SEC, has further cemented its position as the dominant force in college football viewership, particularly as the season nears its conclusion. According to Nielsen's recent data, which encompasses the first twelve weeks of the 2023 college football season, seven out of the ten most-watched teams originate from the SEC.
The only team from the Big Ten making the cut is Ohio State, ranking at number seven. Florida State and Notre Dame round out the top ten, coming in at ninth and tenth, respectively. From the twenty most-watched teams this season, the SEC boasts thirteen, while the Big Ten has three, and the Atlantic Coast Conference, or ACC, also has three.
This remarkable viewership dominance translates directly to success for ESPN and ABC, which hold exclusive broadcast rights for the SEC. ABC has aired nine of the ten most-watched college football games this season, with the exception being Fox's Week 1 matchup between Texas and Ohio State.
Out of thirty-nine national college football broadcast windows through thirteen weeks, ABC has secured victory in thirty-two, while Fox has won six, all during its Big Noon window, typically featuring slightly less appealing matchups.
CBS managed to win one window with the Oregon versus Iowa game in Week 11. Notably, all but four of ABC's thirty-two winning windows included an SEC team, with the exceptions being high-profile ACC games, including Notre Dame's recent outing against Pittsburgh, which was complemented by College GameDay's presence.
Overall, college football viewership has seen a 2% increase year-over-year, according to Nielsen's Big Data and Panel methodology. However, it is essential to note that Nielsen had not yet expanded its out-of-home viewing measurements this time last season, making direct comparisons somewhat challenging.
Looking ahead to Rivalry Week, Fox and the Big Ten could gain some traction with the highly anticipated matchup between Ohio State and Michigan, a game that consistently ranks among the most-watched annually.
Yet, even with potential spikes in viewership from this rivalry, 2023 has proven to be the SEC's year, with ABC and ESPN reaping the benefits of this trend.