College Football TV Ratings: Most-watched games of Week 8

After strong TV ratings as part of a historic Week 7, college football’s viewership stayed strong in Week 8. ESPN and ABC had another impressive showing, as well, with three of the top five most-watched games of the weekend.

Texas’ victory over Ole Miss was the headliner in the primetime window, and the Longhorns held on for a key bounce-back victory. But an upset took plate in the late-afternoon slot on FOX as UCF took No. 2 BYU to double overtime before pulling off the upset.

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As a whole, total college football viewing is up 1% over last year, according to FOX’s Michael Mulvihill. Here are the Top 10 most-watched games from Week 8, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Full Week 8 viewership is below the Top 10.

Ole Miss vs. Texas

Date/Time: Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 8.1 million

One of the biggest games of Week 8 delivered in a big way for ESPN and ABC. Texas got a much-needed victory over Ole Miss at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in what became the most-watched game of the week with 8.1 million viewers.

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Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning had a big game as Texas bounced back from two straight losses. He went 18-for-30 for 212 yards and a touchdown, along with two rushing touchdowns, to two interceptions.

Indiana vs. Michigan

Date/Time: Oct. 24, 12 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 7.01 million

Once again, Indiana found itself in a close game in FOX’s Big Noon Saturday game. This time, it was at Michigan, and the Hoosiers eventually prevailed in overtime for their first victory at The Big House in 57 years.

Josh Hoover – despite not playing at full strength, according to Curt Cignetti – had the game-winning touchdown run in overtime to propel IU to the victory. The Hoosiers will now get ready for an intriguing matchup against Minnesota in Week 9.

Texas A&M vs. Alabama

Date/Time: Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 5.9 million

As part of the late-afternoon slate on Saturday, Alabama got a big fourth quarter to come away with the victory over Texas A&M. The matchup brought the Crimson Tide to 6-2 on the season and averaged 5.9 million viewers on ABC.

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Keelon Russell went 19-for-30 for 311 yards and three touchdowns to lead Alabama offense. The Crimson Tide also took advantage of three Texas A&M turnovers, turning them into 10 points en route to the win.

BYU vs. UCF

Date/Time: Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 4.74 million

One week after pulling off a home upset, BYU suffered one of its own. UCF took down the Cougars in double-overtime as part of the Week 8 slate, and it became one of the Top 10 most-watched games of the weekend.

A controversial roughing the kicker call set the stage for UCF to go out in front, and Bear Bachmeier’s final pass attempt fell incomplete. It marked the Cougars’ first loss of the season after a 6-0 start to the year.

LSU vs. Auburn

Date/Time: Oct. 24, 12 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 3.48 million

In the early window, LSU used a huge first half to set the tone in a 38-17 victory over Auburn. The Tigers have now won back-to-back games, and the matchup drew 3.48 million viewers in a busy early window.

Sam Leavitt went 32-for-45 for 387 yards and three touchdowns, along with a rushing touchdown, to lead the charge for LSU. The game kicked off ABC’s tripleheader as the network maintains its strong presence in the weekly Top 10 most-watched games list.

Tennessee vs. South Carolina

Date/Time: Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 3.04 million

An intriguing SEC showdown between Tennessee and South Carolina came down to the wire. Ultimately, a Vols fumble loomed large as the Gamecocks got the game-winning field goal that kicked off a celebration at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The matchup was also one of the Top 10 most-watched games of Week 8. An average of 3.04 million viewers tuned in as South Carolina picked up a key ranked win under Shane Beamer on Saturday afternoon.

USC vs. Wisconsin

Date/Time: Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
Viewers: 1.91 million

The Wisconsin defense showed out in a big way during a primetime affair against USC. The Trojans’ offense struggled to find a rhythm as the Badgers pulled off the upset as part of NBC’s B1G Saturday Night game.

USC’s seven points marked the lowest point total for a Lincoln Riley-coached team during his head coaching career as the Trojans suffered their second loss of the season. As for Wisconsin, the Badgers are now 5-2 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play heading into a Halloween tilt against Iowa.

Pitt vs. Miami

Date/Time: Oct. 24, 12 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 1.84 million

Miami’s high-powered offense was once again on full display in Week 8. The Hurricanes cruised past Pitt 52-23 in the early window on Saturday to stay undefeated on the season, led by another huge game from Malachi Toney.

Toney led the charge with 16 receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns as he continued his impressive year. Miami is one of three undefeated teams left standing, and the victory was one of the Top 10 most-watched games of Week 8.

Michigan State vs. UCLA

Date/Time: Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 1.82 million

UCLA stayed undefeated under first-year coach Bob Chesney with a victory over Michigan State on Saturday. CBS’ B1G Time game again appeared in the Top 10 most-watched games of the week, as well, as the Bruins got to 7-0.

UCLA has been one of the stories of college football this season as Chesney goes through his first season with the program. At 7-0, the Bruins are one of three undefeated teams left standing heading into this week’s matchup against Nevada.

Houston vs. Utah

Date/Time: Oct. 24, 10:15 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 1.58 million

ESPN’s late-night game featured a Top-15 showdown in the Big 12 as Utah took on Houston. It came down to the final minutes, but the Utes preserved their undefeated season with the victory over the Cougars in the late-night slot.

Utah has been rolling under new head coach Morgan Scalley and put together a strong second half to get the win against Houston. This week, the Utes will hit the road to take on Cincinnati ahead of the annual rivalry game against BYU.

College Football TV Ratings: Full Week 8 viewership

College football will look to continue its TV ratings momentum into a Halloween weekend slate of games. From there, the calendar will flip to November, and Week 10’s schedule is already shaping up to be one of the biggest of the 2026 season.