College Football TV Ratings: Most-watched games of Week 5
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As the conversation continues around college football’s TV ratings this season, the Big Ten scored the most-watched game of Week 5. CBS had the top game of the week on any network as Ohio State took down Iowa.
The matchup became CBS’ most-watched game of the season with nearly 6 million viewers in the late-afternoon window. Viewership peaked at 7 million viewers, the network announced, as Ohio State got the victory over Iowa at Kinnick Stadium.
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That matchup ended ABC’s two-week run with sweeps in the three major college football TV ratings windows and is also now among the most-watched games of the year. Here are the Top 10 most-watched games for Week 5, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel data.
Ohio State vs. Iowa
Date/Time: Oct. 3, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 5.97 million
ESPN’s College GameDay made its first trip to Iowa City in 20 years as Iowa prepared to take on Ohio State. It was all Buckeyes, though, as the Hawkeyes struggled to contain their high-powered offense in the most-watched game of the week.
Jeremiah Smith had 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns to lead Ohio State to the 31-14 win. He continues to rewrite the Ohio State record book and remains one of the top talents in the country through the first half of the season.
Alabama vs. Mississippi State
Date/Time: Oct. 3, 12 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 5.08 million
The headliner of the Week 5 slate was a highly anticipated quarterback battle between Alabama’sKeelon Russell and Mississippi State’sKamario Taylor. It was all Crimson Tide, though, as part of a resounding victory in Starkville behind a big day from Russell.
Russell went 16-for-22 for 285 yards and three touchdowns, along with a rushing touchdown, before Austin Mack entered in the fourth quarter. The former Five Star Plus+ recruit continues to lead the charge for Alabama as part of an undefeated start to the season.
Miami vs. Clemson
Date/Time: Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 4.63 million
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The nightcap of ABC’s Week 5 tripleheader saw Miami head to a big-time road environment against Clemson. The Hurricanes’ offense continued to fire on all cylinders as they defeated the Tigers 41-13 in Death Valley.
Darian Mensah remained efficient, going 18-for-27 for 227 yards and a touchdown, and Mark Fletcher Jr. punched in two touchdowns on the ground. Miami has been impressive to start the 2026 season, winning every game by double digits so far.
Florida vs. Missouri
Date/Time: Oct. 3, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 4.44 million
Missouri was able to contain Florida’s rushing attack in their Week 5 matchup en route to a victory in CoMo. Despite the blowout, the game became one of the most-watched of the weekend with 4.4 million viewers on ABC.
Austin Simmons completed 23 of 30 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns while Jamal Roberts led the running game with 211 yards and three scores. It was a complete performance from Mizzou, which got its first win over a Top-10 team under Eli Drinkwitz.
Michigan vs. Minnesota
Date/Time: Oct. 3, 12 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 4.06 million
For the first time in nearly 50 years, Minnesota defeated Michigan at home. The Golden Gophers held on to defeat the Wolverines at Huntington Bank Stadium to bring the Little Brown Jug back as part of FOX’s Big Noon Saturday.
Drake Lindsey went 17-for-25 for 136 yards and a touchdown, to two interceptions, including a pick-six that gave Michigan one of its two touchdowns on the day. Darius Taylor also had two touchdowns, including a receiving score in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game-winner.
Penn State vs. Northwestern
Date/Time: Oct. 2, 8 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 3.45 million
Northwestern officially opened the New Ryan Field in style with a resounding win over Penn State in Week 5. FOX got another big TV ratings win with its Friday night college football slot, which stayed among the Top 10 most-watched games of the week.
Penn State couldn’t contain the two-headed monster of Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II in the Northwestern backfield. Komolafe ran for 188 yards on the ground while Himon had 162 as the Wildcats totaled 413 rushing yards as part of the victory.
Auburn vs. Tennessee
Date/Time: Oct. 3, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 3.02 million
Although Tennessee found itself facing questions at quarterback against Auburn, the rushing attack led the charge in a 24-14 victory. DeSean Bishop had a career performance as the Vols improved to 4-1 on the year.
Bishop took 34 carries for 220 yards and three touchdowns to anchor the Tennessee offense. Quarterback George MacIntyre came in late in the first half, though, when Josh Heupel made a change after Faizon Brandon started the matchup.
Notre Dame vs. North Carolina
Date/Time: Oct. 3, 12 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 2.98 million
It wasn’t easy for Notre Dame against North Carolina, especially after the Tar Heels got a kickoff return to start the second half. But the Fighting Irish stayed undefeated as they took down UNC at Kenan Stadium to kick off Saturday’s action on ESPN.
CJ Carr went 21-for-29 for 227 yards and four touchdowns while adding a rushing score as part of a big day to lead the offense. Freshman Jonaz Walton also had a breakout performance with 23 carries for 120 yards as Notre Dame improved to 5-0.
Washington vs. USC
Date/Time: Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
Viewers: 2.56 million
USC found itself in NBC’s B1G Saturday Night window once again in Week 5 as Washington came to town. It came down to the final possession, but the Trojans held on to defeat the Huskies in a bounce-back effort.
Jayden Maiava went 21-for-34 for 245 yards and a touchdown while King Miller led the rushing attack with 81 yards, as well. USC improved to 5-1 with the victory as the Trojans prepare for a cross-country trip to Penn State this week for the Nittany Lions’ annual White Out game, again on NBC.
Texas Tech vs. Colorado
Date/Time: Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 2.51 million
FOX’s primetime game saw Texas Tech take down Colorado in the 10th most-watched game of the week. The Red Raiders cruised to the 29-7 victory in Boulder on Saturday night as they improved to 5-0 to start the 2026 season.
Texas Tech was able to capitalize on four Colorado interceptions, including a pick-six by John Curry caught in the end zone. There was also an intriguing off-field storyline as fans apparently found the Buffaloes’ play sheet, as On3’s Pete Nakos detailed.
College Football TV Ratings: Full Week 5 viewership
Through Week 5, total college football viewing is down 2% compared to last year, according to analyst Michael Mulvihill. That’s a shift from the trend through Week 4 when total viewing was up, but average viewership was down.
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