Through eight weeks, college football’s TV ratings continue to rise. All 10 games games from Week 10 were among Nielsen’s 10 most-watched live sports telecasts of the week – a list that also included NFL games and the World Series.
Now, Nielsen has revealed the 10 most-watched college football teams of the season. The SEC led the charge through Week 10, 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 11. Here are the Top 10 most-watched teams through Week 10, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel data. Figures listed are average viewers per game.
Note: SEC Network, ACC Network and CBS Sports Network do not pay for Nielsen to measure viewership. This story will be updated weekly.
1. Alabama – 7.91 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 is the most-watched team of the year through Week 9 with 7.91 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. Georgia – 7.63 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. Georgia was on a bye in Week 9 before this week’s rivalry game against Florida.
3. Tennessee – 7.03 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.
4. Texas – 6.48 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. Ohio State – 6.26 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 a shutout win over Wisconsin. Ohio State was on a bye in Week 9 before a matchup against Penn State awaits in Week 10.
6. LSU – 6.24 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.
LSU underwent a major shakeup after a loss to Texas A&M in primetime. Brian Kelly is out as head coach, meaning Frank Wilson will serve as the interim for the remainder of the year.
7. Oklahoma – 6.07 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. Last week’s loss to Ole Miss also came in as one of the most-watched games of Week 9.
8. Florida – 5.67 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.
9. Florida State – 4.92 million
Jumping into the Top 10 most-watched teams in college football, Florida State has played in some of the most-watched games of the year. The Seminoles are averaging just under 5 million viewers through Week 10, according to Nielsen.
FSU’s win over Alabama was the program’s most-watched game of the year, averaging 10.7 million viewers in Week 1. The Seminoles’ loss to Miami also brought in 6 million, giving them two of the top games of the year.
10. Ole Miss – 4.65 million
After Week 9, Ole Miss jumped into the Top 10 most-watched teams of the 2025 season. The Rebels have brought in an average of 5.19 million viewers on Nielsen-rated networks, and a win over Oklahoma helped Lane Kiffin’s group move up.
That victory over the Sooners could prove pivotal for Ole Miss’ College Football Playoff hopes. The Rebels enter November with just one loss, which came on the road against Georgia.
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.
