Overall viewership for the 2026 college football season is down 11% compared to the first four weeks of 2025.
asserted
viewership → compare → 2025
FBS broadcasts have averaged 1.7 million viewers this season, according to Nielsen data.
uncertain
broadcasts → average → data
The league's decision to open on a Wednesday instead of a Thursday this season has also weighed on the overall average.
asserted
decision → open → average
So this isn't because of declining interest in football this season.
asserted
this → decline → football
The reason for the decline in college football is less obvious than when sports viewership typically falls.
asserted
viewership → fall → football
Ratings drops are often tied to weaker matchups, political controversy, increased television competition, changes in measurement or shifts in network distribution.
asserted
drops → tie → distribution
None of those explanations clearly apply to college football this season.
asserted
None → apply → football
Each of the first four weeks featured at least one marquee matchup: LSU vs. Clemson in Week 1, Ohio State vs. Texas in Week 2, LSU vs. Ole Miss in Week 3, and Texas vs. Tennessee in Week 4.
asserted
Each → feature → Week
Here are the 10 most-watched games of the 2026 season so far:
- Ohio State–Texas: 14 million (ABC)
- LSU–Ole Miss: 10.9 million (ABC)
- Texas–Tennessee: 9.7 million (ABC)
- Ole Miss–Florida: 8.3 million (ABC)
- Oklahoma–Michigan: 8.2 million (Fox)
- Wisconsin–Notre Dame: 8.1 million (NBC)
- Alabama–Kentucky: 7.3 million (ABC)
- Florida State–Alabama: 7.0 million (ABC)
- Clemson–LSU: 5.8 million (ABC)
- Texas A&M–LSU: 5.7 million (ABC)
The number for Ohio State vs. Texas is particularly notable.
asserted
number → watch → Texas
The same matchup drew 16.6 million viewers a year ago.
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matchup → draw → viewers
Several factors may have contributed to the decline.
uncertain
factors → contribute → decline
Last season, the teams met in Week 1, when anticipation was arguably higher.
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anticipation → meet → Week
There was also greater hype surrounding Arch Manning, and Ohio State entered the game as the defending national champion.
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State → be → champion
Just as important, last year's game kicked off at noon ET.
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game → kick → ET
This year's matchup didn't begin until 7:49 p.m. ET on ABC.
asserted
matchup → begin → ABC
Late kickoff times have become a trend this season.
asserted
times → become → ?
Because of multiple weather delays in Baton Rouge, ABC's Week 1 matchup between LSU and Clemson didn't begin until 9:40 p.m. ET.
asserted
matchup → begin → ET
The delay almost certainly hurt the audience, with the game drawing fewer than 6 million viewers despite Lane Kiffin making his head coaching debut at LSU.
asserted
Kiffin → hurt → LSU
Another possible factor is the expanded College Football Playoff.
asserted
factor → expand → ?
The 12-team format has reduced the consequences of early-season losses.
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format → reduce → losses
Ohio State's defeat to Texas, for example, is unlikely to significantly damage its postseason chances.
asserted
defeat → damage → chances
At 3-1, the Buckeyes are ranked No. 5 in the nation, ahead of several undefeated teams, including Indiana, Alabama and Florida.
asserted
Buckeyes → rank → Indiana
Longtime college football fans may also point to broader changes that have altered the sport's appeal, including conference realignment and the NIL era, which some believe has diminished the traditional connection between fans and players.
uncertain
some → point → fans
Those factors are worth considering, though it's difficult to determine how much they have actually affected television viewership.
asserted
they → consider → viewership
Whatever the explanation, expanding the playoff to 24 teams would hardly address the issues.
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expanding → expand → issues
If the double-digit decline persists, television executives and conference officials ought to take a closer look at why.
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executives → persist → why
The biggest matchup this weekend features No. 4 Ohio State against No. 14 Iowa on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET.
asserted
matchup → feature → ET
Ratings will also face stiffer competition as the MLB postseason continues.
asserted
postseason → face → competition
The Aporia
