More people watched Michigan football beat Ohio State than any other game not just this season, but in any season in over a decade.
Viewership numbers are in, and the Wolverines No. 3 vs  No. 2 matchup against the Buckeyes managed to get over 22 million eyeballs on The Game at its peak  The average rating came in at 19.5 million viewers. Thatâs the highest-watched game since Alabama vs. LSU in 2011. Itâs the second-highest rating for The Game, with only âthe game of the centuryâ in 2006 beating it.
With both teams ranked in the top three and controversy swirling around one of them, the latest chapter of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry trailed only their âGame of the Centuryâ in 2006.
Ohio State-Michigan averaged a 9.0 rating and 19.07 million viewers on FOX âBig Noon Saturdayâ over the weekend, marking the largest audience for the rivalry since their #1 vs. #2 meeting in 2006 (21.04M) and the second-largest on record. The 9.0 rating is also the highest for the rivalry since their #2 vs. #3 matchup in 2016 (9.4) and the third-highest behind that year and 2006 (13.0). (That excludes a 1995 game that aired regionally on ABC and drew a 10.5 rating.)
The Wolverinesâ win, which peaked with 22.90 million from 3:30-3:45 PM ET, delivered the largest regular season college football audience overall in 12 years â since a #1 vs. #2 matchup of LSU and Alabama in 2011 (20.01M). Keep in mind Nielsen did not begin including out-of-home viewing in its final nationals until 2020.
Whatâs more, there are a lot of other big events that this yearâs iteration of The Game beat out.
Michigan's win over Ohio State averaged 19.1 million viewers
More thanâŹď¸
NCAA men's basketball title game: 14.7 million
Kentucky Derby:Â 14.4 million
NBA Finals Game 5: 13.1 million
Masters final round: 12.1 million
World Series Game 5:Â 11.5 million
Stanley Cup Game 5:Â 2.7 million pic.twitter.com/ZRRzhipohx— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) November 29, 2023
The Game just means more.