College Football TV Ratings: Tracking the Top 10 most-watched teams of the 2026 season
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After seeing a 9% increase in minutes viewed in 2025, college football is looking to see TV ratings continue their upward trajectory in 2026. Nielsen has also unveiled its official list of most-watched teams.
Nielsen ranked the Top 10 teams based on average viewership this year. ABC, CBS, The CW, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, NBC, TNT and USA Network are the networks included in the data set. Big Ten Network is not included, nor are partial or regionalized telecasts.
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On3 continues to track college football TV ratings throughout the 2026 season, including the most-watched games of the year. Here are the most-watched teams through Week 2, based on Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel data.
Note: SEC Network, ACC Network and CBS Sports Network do not pay for Nielsen to measure viewership.
1. Ohio State: 13.988 million
Through the first two weeks, Ohio State played in the most-watched game of the season. The Buckeyes’ loss to Texas brought nearly 14 million viewers in Week 2, and that put them atop the list in Nielsen’s most-watched teams debut.
Ohio State took an early lead against Texas and had a 20-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter. However, the Longhorns mounted a furious charge to take down the Buckeyes in the most-watched game of the young 2026 season.
2. Texas: 8.643 million
Fueled by the viewership for the victory over Ohio State, Texas sits at No. 2 in Nielsen’s first most-watched college football teams list of the year, based on Nielsen TV ratings data. The Longhorns have played in two games on ESPN networks this year – one on ESPN and another on ABC.
Texas rallied from a 23-3 deficit entering the fourth quarter to get the 24-23 win over the then-top ranked Buckeyes. Arch Manning threw for a touchdown in that final frame while Hollywood Smothers ran in two scores, including the eventual game-winner.
3. Oklahoma: 8.221 million
Through its first two games, Oklahoma has played in one Nielsen-rated game. It came in Week 2 as the Sooners eventually fell to Michigan at The Big House in Ann Arbor in front of more than 8.2 million viewers.
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Michigan forced two Oklahoma turnovers, including a fourth-quarter interception of John Mateer that helped set up the go-ahead touchdown. The Sooners had one last chance in the final minute, but the drive stalled out as the Wolverines held on for the 17-10 upset win.
4. Wisconsin: 7.421 million
Wisconsin’s Week 1 loss to Notre Dame was the most-watched game of Labor Day weekend. The matchup at Lambeau Field drew more than 7.4 million viewers on NBC, and that figure doesn’t include the 683,000 who watched on Peacock.
UW kept things close at halftime as Notre Dame went up 13-3 into the break. But the Fighting Irish pulled away after halftime, though, and got the 41-13 victory to start the season in the top game of Week 1.
5. Kentucky: 7.280 million
Kentucky’s Week 2 game against Alabama took place on ABC in front of 7.28 million viewers. That made it the third most-watched game of the week and helped put the Wildcats at No. 5 in the first Top 10 most-watched teams ranking, according to Nielsen.
Early on, UK looked like it had an upset on its mind after the two teams traded pick-sixes. But Alabama was able to right the ship after halftime, though, and come away with the 45-17 victory in Lexington.
6. Michigan: 6.197 million
Led by the victory over Oklahoma in Week 2, Michigan comes in at No. 6 in Nielsen’s first Top 10 most-watched teams ranking of the season. The Wolverines have played in two games on networks that are in the data set: one on FOX and another on NBC.
The Week 2 win over Oklahoma was the second-highest viewership of Week 2, while Michigan’s season-opening win over Western Michigan also brought 4.11 million viewers on average. That helped put the Wolverines squarely in the Top 10.
T-7. Clemson: 5.755 million
Although the highly anticipated season opener was delayed due to weather, Clemson vs. LSU still became one of the second-most watched game of Week 1. It averaged 5.8 million viewers, and since it’s the only game the two teams have played on a Nielsen-rated network, they sit tied for seventh entering Week 3.
Clemson’s offense struggled mightily in Baton Rouge that night after the game got started. The Tigers bounced back with a win a week later ahead of their Week 3 matchup against North Carolina at home.
T-7. LSU: 5.755 million
The Lane Kiffin Era has brought a spotlight to LSU to start the 2026 season. That was the case in Week 1 as the Tigers’ resounding win over Clemson averaged 5.8 million viewers to put them in a tie for seventh in Nielsen’s Top 10 most-watched teams list.
Sam Leavitt was impressive in his debut after transferring from Arizona State. He threw for 230 yards and a touchdown in the air while taking 12 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the running game, as well.
9. Alabama: 5.571 million
Alabama played in one of the Top 10 most-watched games in college football during each of the first two weeks of the year, according to Nielsen TV ratings data. That helped put the Crimson Tide at No. 9 in the debut Top 10 most-watched teams ranking.
Alabama’s win over Kentucky was the top draw through Week 2 with 7.3 million viewers on ABC. Keelon Russell went 16-of-23 passing for 188 yards and a touchdown, along with three turnovers, while Daniel Hill led the rushing attack with a game-high 104 yards and a touchdown.
10. North Carolina: 4.908 million
Rounding out Nielsen’s debut Top 10 most-watched teams of the 2026 season, North Carolina’s season opener against TCU averaged 4.9 million viewers on ESPN. That made it the most-watched game of Week 0 and helped get the Tar Heels to No. 10 entering Week 3.
North Carolina went down 10-3 in the first quarter before rallying for 12 unanswered points to take down TCU 15-10 and start Year 2 of the Belichick era in grand fashion. Billy Edwards Jr. went 16 of 28 for 232 yards in the effort and Jelani Thurman hauled in four catches for 94 yards to lead UNC.
On3 will continue to update the most-watched teams in college football throughout the 2026 season, according to Nielsen TV ratings data. The data will continue throughout the regular season.
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