College Football TV Ratings: Most-watched games of Week 9

In Week 9, another top-ranked team went down. It continued a parity-filled season across college football, and one of the top games of the day led the TV ratings charge during the primetime window.

NBC scored a ratings win as USC took down No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday night. It became the network’s second most-watched game of the year, but its top viewership for the B1G Saturday Night time slot this season.

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All told, through Week 9, total college football viewership is up 2% from last year’s record TV ratings, according to FOX’s Michael Mulvihill. Here are the Top 10 most-watched games from the week, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. A tracker with full Week 9 viewership is below the Top 10.

Florida vs. Georgia (in Atlanta)

Date/Time: Oct. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 7.05 million

The annual rivalry game between Florida and Georgia hit the road this year and moved to Mercedes-Benz Stadium as part of a two-year absence from Tampa. It was all Georgia, though, as ABC scored a TV ratings win with its late-afternoon college football game.

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Georgia scored 17 points in the second quarter to take a 24-0 lead into halftime against Florida, and the Bulldogs never looked back. They improved to 7-1 on the year as they came out of the bye week and won their sixth straight matchup with the Gators.

Ohio State vs. USC

Date/Time: Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
Viewers: 6.61 million viewers (7.1 million including Adobe Analytics/Peacock)

In a key Big Ten matchup, USC got a marquee victory under Lincoln Riley by taking down No. 2-ranked Ohio State. For NBC, it was a big night for TV ratings as it scored its second-highest college football viewership of the season across NBC and Peacock.

Jayden Maiava completed 15 of 22 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown while the duo of King Miller and Waymond Jordan both added rushing touchdowns of their own. It was a big win for Riley and the Trojans, who will enter another bye in Week 10.

Minnesota vs. Indiana

Date/Time: Oct. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 4.93 million

In the late-afternoon window, CBS’ B1G Time game saw a heavyweight battle between Minnesota and Indiana. It took overtime after the two teams traded 60-yard field goals, but IU avoided the upset with yet another one-score win.

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IU has now won its last three games by one score, and the loss to Ohio State in Week 7 came after Nick Marsh was inches out of bounds on what would’ve been the go-ahead touchdown. The Hoosiers will be on a bye in Week 10.

Miami vs. North Carolina

Date/Time: Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 4.64 million

ABC’s primetime game featured a thrilling display of offense as Miami took on North Carolina. The Hurricanes came away with the 38-35 victory on the road to continue their undefeated season in one of the most-watched games of the week.

Darian Mensah went 22-of-29 passing for 274 yards and three touchdowns to lead the charge as Miami stayed undefeated. The victory set the table for the Hurricanes’ highly anticipated showdown against Notre Dame in Week 10.

Notre Dame vs. Navy (in Foxborough, Mass.)

Date/Time: Oct. 31, 12 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 3.99 million

Through the first half of the annual game between Notre Dame and Navy, it looked as if the Fighting Irish would be on upset alert. But Marcus Freeman’s group turned things around in the second half en route to a resounding victory in the early window.

It was a bounce-back win for Notre Dame in its first game since the loss to BYU. The Fighting Irish will face another big test on Saturday, though, as Miami comes to South Bend for one of the biggest games of the season.

Wisconsin vs. Iowa

Date/Time: Oct. 31, 12 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 3.31 million

Iowa had a huge day against Wisconsin in Week 9 as part of FOX’s Big Noon Saturday window. The Hawkeyes pitched a shutout in the 30-0 victory in one of the Top 10 most-watched games of the weekend.

Hank Brown went 20-of-24 for 222 yards and two touchdowns after taking back over at quarterback. It got Iowa back on track as the Hawkeyes improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play heading into Week 10.

Arizona vs. Texas Tech

Date/Time: Oct. 31, 12 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 2.50 million

A Top-25 matchup in the Big 12 went back-and-forth in Lubbock as Arizona visited Texas Tech. Ultimately, the Red Raiders came out on top 34-26 in the early window, giving ESPN one of the 10 most-watched games of Week 9.

Thomas Castellanos got the start for Texas Tech after he didn’t see the field in the loss to Cincinnati a week prior. He threw for two touchdowns and ran in a score, while J’Koby Williams had a team-high 175 rushing yards and a touchdown, as well.

Mississippi State vs. Texas

Date/Time: Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 2.094 million

Saturday was a big night for the Texas offense as the Longhorns cruised past shorthanded Mississippi State, 31-3. It marked the second straight win for Steve Sarkisian’s group as they look to stay very much in the College Football Playoff race.

Arch Manning went 16-of-20 for 220 yards and three touchdowns in the effort, with all three touchdown passes going to three different receivers. Texas now will get ready to head to Missouri on Saturday before next week’s visit to LSU.

Arizona State vs. BYU

Date/Time: Oct. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 2.089 million

As BYU looked to shake off the loss to UCF, the Cougars found themselves in another close Big 12 matchup against Arizona State. They wound up prevailing with the 27-10 victory after a Sione Moa run in the fourth quarter became the eventual game-winner.

FOX also scored impressive TV ratings for the matchup as its late-afternoon college football game. BYU is now 7-1 on the year entering a huge rivalry matchup against Utah as part of the loaded Week 10 slate.

Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State

Date/Time: Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 1.75 million

Both the Oklahoma State and Iowa State offenses were on full display in FOX’s primetime game on Saturday. It came down to the final seconds, but the Cyclones got a walk-off field goal from Kyle Konrardy to pull off the upset in the 51-49 victory.

Both teams topped 500 yards in the effort and the two quarterbacks combined for nine total touchdowns. Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker threw for five touchdowns while Iowa State’s Jaylen Raynor had three in the air and a rushing score on the ground.

College Football TV Ratings: Full Week 9 viewership

With Week 9 in the books, college football could be primed for more TV ratings success with a jam-packed Week 10 schedule coming up. With the College Football Playoff race in full swing, the final stretch of the 2026 season is just about underway.