Colorado’s 45-42 upset of then-No. 17 TCU was the most-watched college football telecast this past Saturday, drawing 7.262 million viewers, Fox Sports said Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
The game, which marked Deion Sanders’ FBS coaching debut, was the Buffaloes’ first road win against a top-20 opponent since 2002.
Fox Sports made a strategic decision to go all-in on Colorado over the first two weeks — including sending its pregame “Big Noon Kickoff” show to Fort Worth, Texas — as well as investing a ton of marketing resources.
That proved to be a winning bet: It was the second-most-watched game of the weekend behind Florida State’s win over LSU on Sunday, which drew 9.17 million on ABC.
What’s next?
Colorado’s win over TCU gives Fox plenty of momentum as it will air Nebraska at Colorado for Colorado’s first home game (noon ET Saturday on Fox). This site has obviously done a lot of pieces on Sanders as a college football disrupter and that disruption has extended to broadcast media. Colorado has given Fox a huge start for its noon ET game window. — Deitsch
How else did Colorado impact viewership?
Fox sent its pregame show on-site to Fort Worth last week and will do the same this week in Boulder. That paid off for a nice viewership number last Saturday.
The final hour of Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” averaged 1.345 million viewers, which was up big over last year. (The 10 a.m. ET hour of “Big Noon Kickoff” averaged 618,000 viewers.) The Fox show still trails ESPN’s “College GameDay” — which averaged 2.21 million viewers in the final hour and 1.658 million viewers for all three hours — but all of these numbers are gravy for Fox given GameDay’s long tenure as the establishment brand. — Deitsch
Backstory
Colorado hired Sanders in December after he compiled a 27-6 record in three seasons at HBCU Jackson State.
Sanders’ extreme roster overhaul has created buzz and intrigue as he tries to improve a Buffaloes team that hasn’t won more than five games since 2016.
On Saturday, Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, threw for a school-record 510 passing yards in his debut start, going 38-for-47 with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Buffaloes wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter also shined, notching 119 receiving yards and a highlight-reel red zone interception.
Required reading
(Photo: Tim Heitman / USA Today)
Colorado’s Upset Victory Over TCU Draws Record Viewership
Colorado’s stunning upset victory over TCU last Saturday became the most-watched college football telecast of the week, attracting an impressive 7.262 million viewers, according to Fox Sports. The game marked Deion Sanders’ debut as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes and was their first road win against a top-20 opponent since 2002. This unexpected triumph has not only brought attention to the team but has also significantly impacted viewership numbers.
Fox Sports made a strategic decision to heavily promote and cover Colorado’s games over the first two weeks of the season. They even sent their pregame show, “Big Noon Kickoff,” to Fort Worth, Texas, for the TCU matchup. This investment in marketing and coverage paid off, as the game became the second-most-watched of the weekend, only behind Florida State’s victory over LSU on Sunday, which drew 9.17 million viewers on ABC.
The success of Colorado’s game against TCU has given Fox Sports momentum for their upcoming broadcast of Nebraska at Colorado, which will be Colorado’s first home game of the season. The presence of Deion Sanders as the head coach has generated significant interest and excitement, making Colorado a must-watch team. Fox Sports has capitalized on this by securing a prime time slot for the game, further solidifying their commitment to covering the Buffaloes.
In addition to the game itself, Fox Sports’ decision to broadcast their pregame show from the game site has also contributed to increased viewership. Last week, they sent “Big Noon Kickoff” to Fort Worth, and they will do the same this week in Boulder. The final hour of the show averaged 1.345 million viewers, a substantial increase compared to last year’s numbers. While ESPN’s “College GameDay” still holds the top spot in viewership, with an average of 2.21 million viewers in the final hour and 1.658 million viewers for all three hours, Fox Sports’ numbers are impressive considering GameDay’s established reputation.
The hiring of Deion Sanders as the head coach of Colorado has been a significant factor in the team’s newfound success and increased viewership. Sanders, who previously coached at HBCU Jackson State, has brought his disruptive approach to the Buffaloes, resulting in an extreme roster overhaul. This has generated buzz and intrigue around the team, as they aim to improve upon their recent lackluster performances. Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders, made a remarkable debut as Colorado’s quarterback, setting a school record with 510 passing yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Another standout player was Travis Hunter, a wide receiver/defensive back who recorded 119 receiving yards and made a highlight-reel interception in the red zone.
Overall, Colorado’s upset victory over TCU has not only brought attention to the team but has also significantly impacted viewership numbers. Fox Sports’ strategic decision to heavily promote and cover the Buffaloes’ games has paid off, with their broadcasts attracting millions of viewers. The presence of Deion Sanders as the head coach and the team’s impressive performance have made Colorado one of the most exciting and entertaining teams to watch in college football. As they continue their season, all eyes will be on the Buffaloes and their potential to continue disrupting the college football landscape.