Ratings Reference

College Football 2020 season TV ratings & viewership

Every nationally televised College Football game of the 2020 season with its published Nielsen audience: 71 of 113 national windows that have aired carry a published figure, each sourced.

71 of 113 aired national windows have a published figure

71
national windows with a figure
updated 2026-08-27

Most-watched telecasts of the 2020 season

ranktelecast

telecast the telecast the figure is attached to, with its air date. A figure with no telecast row is listed without one.

Methodology →
figure

figure the telecast's lead figure: Nielsen average audience, full telecast, as published. Blank when Nielsen has not published one.

Methodology →
1Ohio State Buckeyes at Clemson Tigers2021-01-01 · ESPN19,150,000
2Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Alabama Crimson Tide2021-01-01 · ESPN18,890,000
3CFP National Championship - Alabama vs Ohio State2021-01-11 · ESPN18,710,000
4Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Fighting Irish2020-11-07 · NBC10,070,000
5Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Fighting Irish2020-12-19 · ABC9,920,000
6Georgia Bulldogs at Alabama Crimson Tide2020-10-17 · CBS9,610,000
7Alabama Crimson Tide at Florida Gators2020-12-19 · CBS8,920,000
8Georgia Bulldogs at Cincinnati Bearcats2021-01-01 · ESPN8,720,000
9Northwestern Wildcats at Ohio State Buckeyes2020-12-19 · FOX8,030,000
10Texas A&M Aggies at North Carolina Tar Heels2021-01-02 · ESPN7,580,000

Top 10 of 280 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-10-16 02:38 UTC

Site-computed means by network

networksmean
CBSmean of 7 published figures6,131,286
ESPNmean of 29 published figures4,420,897
ABCmean of 18 published figures3,640,000
FOXmean of 5 published figures2,998,000
FS1mean of 4 published figures990,250
ESPN2mean of 8 published figures450,875

Mean of the chart-eligible Nielsen average figures per network set this season, computed by this site. Not a network's own season average.

Every national window with a figure

Week 3

datetelecastfigure
2020-09-19Miami Hurricanes at Louisville CardinalsABC3,800,000

1 more national window, no figure on record

Week 4

datetelecastfigure
2020-09-26Army Black Knights at Cincinnati BearcatsESPN1,080,000

2 more national windows, no figure on record

Week 5

11 more national windows, no figure on record

Week 6

datetelecastfigure
2020-10-10Florida Gators at Texas A&M AggiesESPN3,100,000
2020-10-10Tennessee Volunteers at Georgia BulldogsCBS5,770,000
2020-10-10Virginia Tech Hokies at North Carolina Tar HeelsABC1,660,000

Week 7

datetelecastfigure
2020-10-17Georgia Bulldogs at Alabama Crimson TideCBS9,610,000

Week 9

datetelecastfigure
2020-10-31Ohio State Buckeyes at Penn State Nittany LionsABC6,530,000

Week 10

datetelecastfigure
2020-11-06BYU Cougars at Boise State BroncosFS1680,000
2020-11-07Florida Gators at Georgia BulldogsCBS6,340,000
2020-11-07Michigan Wolverines at Indiana HoosiersFS11,750,000

Week 13

Week 14

datetelecastfigure
2020-12-05Indiana Hoosiers at Wisconsin BadgersABC3,820,000

Week 15

datetelecastfigure
2020-12-12North Carolina Tar Heels at Miami HurricanesABC3,330,000

1 more national window, no figure on record

Week 16

datetelecastfigure
2020-12-19Alabama Crimson Tide at Florida GatorsCBS8,920,000
2020-12-19Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Cincinnati BearcatsABC1,880,000
2020-12-19Oklahoma Sooners at Iowa State CyclonesABC2,990,000

On record outside the league schedule

datetelecastfigure
2020-09-05SMU Mustangs at Texas State BobcatsESPN1,230,000
2020-09-05Arkansas State Red Wolves at Memphis TigersESPN1,030,000
2020-09-05Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Marshall Thundering HerdESPN980,000
2020-09-07BYU Cougars at Navy MidshipmenESPN1,150,000
2020-09-12Duke Blue Devils at Notre Dame Fighting IrishNBC4,320,000
2020-09-12Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Florida State SeminolesESPN23,520,000
2020-09-12Clemson Tigers at Wake Forest Demon DeaconsABC3,460,000
2020-09-12Arkansas State Red Wolves at Kansas State WildcatsFOX1,790,000
2020-09-12Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at Iowa State CyclonesESPN1,680,000
2020-09-12Tulane Green Wave at South Alabama JaguarsESPN2516,000
2020-09-12UTSA Roadrunners at Texas State BobcatsESPN2476,000
2020-09-12Charlotte 49ers at Appalachian State MountaineersESPN2408,000
2020-09-12Eastern Kentucky Colonels at West Virginia MountaineersFS1408,000
2020-09-12Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Kansas JayhawksFS1375,000
2020-09-18Campbell Fighting Camels at Coastal Carolina ChanticleersESPN509,000
2020-09-19UCF Knights at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsABC3,060,000
2020-09-19Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Oklahoma State CowboysESPN1,730,000
2020-09-19Navy Midshipmen at Tulane Green WaveABC1,350,000
2020-09-19Appalachian State Mountaineers at Marshall Thundering HerdCBS1,250,000
2020-09-19South Florida Bulls at Notre Dame Fighting IrishUSA Network957,000
2020-09-19Troy Trojans at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersESPN642,000
2020-09-19Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at Georgia State PanthersESPN2422,000
2020-09-19Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Southern Mississippi Golden EaglesESPN2282,000
2020-09-19Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at UTSA RoadrunnersESPN2248,000
2020-09-24UAB Blazers at South Alabama JaguarsESPN497,000
2020-09-26Mississippi State Bulldogs at LSU TigersCBS4,440,000
2020-09-26Florida State Seminoles at Miami HurricanesABC2,950,000
2020-09-26Texas Longhorns at Texas Tech Red RaidersFOX2,720,000
2020-09-26Kansas State Wildcats at Oklahoma SoonersFOX2,680,000
2020-09-26Florida Gators at Ole Miss RebelsESPN2,670,000
2020-09-26Alabama Crimson Tide at Missouri TigersESPN2,090,000
2020-09-26West Virginia Mountaineers at Oklahoma State CowboysABC1,450,000
2020-09-26UCF Knights at East Carolina PiratesABC998,000
2020-09-26Troy Trojans at BYU CougarsESPN795,000
2020-09-26Iowa State Cyclones at TCU Horned FrogsFS1346,000
2020-09-26Georgia Southern Eagles at Louisiana Ragin' CajunsESPN2246,000
2020-10-08Tulane Green Wave at Houston CougarsESPN418,000
2020-10-09Louisville Cardinals at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsESPN1,020,000
2020-10-10Alabama Crimson Tide at Ole Miss RebelsESPN4,890,000
2020-10-10Texas Longhorns at Oklahoma SoonersFOX4,810,000
2020-10-10Miami Hurricanes at Clemson TigersABC4,610,000
2020-10-10Florida State Seminoles at Notre Dame Fighting IrishNBC2,920,000
2020-10-10Kansas State Wildcats at TCU Horned FrogsFOX2,360,000
2020-10-10Arkansas Razorbacks at Auburn TigersESPN2,120,000
2020-10-10Texas Tech Red Raiders at Iowa State CyclonesABC1,380,000
2020-10-10UTSA Roadrunners at BYU CougarsESPN2317,000
2020-10-10UL Monroe Warhawks at Liberty FlamesESPN2133,000
2020-10-10UTEP Miners at Louisiana Tech BulldogsESPN2129,000
2020-10-14Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Louisiana Ragin' CajunsESPN721,000
2020-10-15Georgia State Panthers at Arkansas State Red WolvesESPN698,000
2020-10-16BYU Cougars at Houston CougarsESPN1,160,000
2020-10-16SMU Mustangs at Tulane Green WaveESPN832,000
2020-10-17Louisville Cardinals at Notre Dame Fighting IrishNBC3,120,000
2020-10-17Auburn Tigers at South Carolina GamecocksESPN2,570,000
2020-10-17Texas A&M Aggies at Mississippi State BulldogsESPN2,430,000
2020-10-17Clemson Tigers at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsABC2,250,000
2020-10-17North Carolina Tar Heels at Florida State SeminolesABC2,200,000
2020-10-17UCF Knights at Memphis TigersABC1,900,000
2020-10-17Kansas Jayhawks at West Virginia MountaineersFOX1,460,000
2020-10-17Navy Midshipmen at East Carolina PiratesESPN2261,000
2020-10-17Massachusetts Minutemen at Georgia Southern EaglesESPN2130,000
2020-10-22Arkansas State Red Wolves at Appalachian State MountaineersESPN384,000
2020-10-23Illinois Fighting Illini at Wisconsin BadgersBTN1,010,000
2020-10-23Tulsa Golden Hurricane at South Florida BullsESPN561,000
2020-10-24Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio State BuckeyesFOX6,180,000
2020-10-24Alabama Crimson Tide at Tennessee VolunteersCBS4,360,000
2020-10-24Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Pittsburgh PanthersABC2,490,000
2020-10-24South Carolina Gamecocks at LSU TigersESPN2,430,000
2020-10-24Penn State Nittany Lions at Indiana HoosiersFS12,070,000
2020-10-24Oklahoma Sooners at TCU Horned FrogsABC2,030,000
2020-10-24Baylor Bears at Texas LonghornsESPN1,150,000
2020-10-24Iowa Hawkeyes at Purdue BoilermakersBTN795,000
2020-10-24Texas State Bobcats at BYU CougarsESPN716,000
2020-10-24West Virginia Mountaineers at Texas Tech Red RaidersESPN2685,000
2020-10-24Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Michigan State SpartansBTN608,000
2020-10-24Utah State Aggies at Boise State BroncosFS1549,000
2020-10-24Tulane Green Wave at UCF KnightsESPN2296,000
2020-10-24Kansas Jayhawks at Kansas State WildcatsFS1289,000
2020-10-24Maryland Terrapins at Northwestern WildcatsBTN186,000
2020-10-29South Alabama Jaguars at Georgia Southern EaglesESPN441,000
2020-10-30Minnesota Golden Gophers at Maryland TerrapinsESPN1,910,000
2020-10-30East Carolina Pirates at Tulsa Golden HurricaneESPN2331,000
2020-10-30Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors at Wyoming CowboysFS1259,000
2020-10-31Boston College Eagles at Clemson TigersABC4,380,000
2020-10-31Michigan State Spartans at Michigan WolverinesFOX4,220,000
2020-10-31Texas Longhorns at Oklahoma State CowboysFOX4,040,000
2020-10-31Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsABC3,770,000
2020-10-31LSU Tigers at Auburn TigersCBS3,450,000
2020-10-31Oklahoma Sooners at Texas Tech Red RaidersFOX2,120,000
2020-10-31Mississippi State Bulldogs at Alabama Crimson TideESPN2,000,000
2020-10-31Northwestern Wildcats at Iowa HawkeyesESPN1,150,000
2020-10-31Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at BYU CougarsESPN788,000
2020-10-31Memphis Tigers at Cincinnati BearcatsESPN679,000
2020-10-31Kansas State Wildcats at West Virginia MountaineersESPN2669,000
2020-10-31Indiana Hoosiers at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsBTN506,000
2020-10-31TCU Horned Frogs at Baylor BearsESPN2353,000
2020-10-31Nevada Wolf Pack at UNLV RebelsFS1293,000
2020-10-31Iowa State Cyclones at Kansas JayhawksFS1247,000
2020-10-31Navy Midshipmen at SMU MustangsESPN2218,000
2020-11-04Ohio Bobcats at Central Michigan ChippewasESPN711,000
2020-11-05Utah State Aggies at Nevada Wolf PackFS1257,000
2020-11-06Miami Hurricanes at NC State WolfpackESPN1,870,000
2020-11-07Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Fighting IrishNBC10,070,000
2020-11-07West Virginia Mountaineers at Texas LonghornsABC2,750,000
2020-11-07Arizona State Sun Devils at USC TrojansFOX2,330,000
2020-11-07Stanford Cardinal at Oregon DucksABC1,660,000
2020-11-07Houston Cougars at Cincinnati BearcatsABC1,390,000
2020-11-07Michigan State Spartans at Iowa HawkeyesESPN1,070,000
2020-11-07Texas A&M Aggies at South Carolina GamecocksESPN876,000
2020-11-07Kansas Jayhawks at Oklahoma SoonersESPN681,000
2020-11-07Washington State Cougars at Oregon State BeaversFS1594,000
2020-11-07Texas Tech Red Raiders at TCU Horned FrogsFS1559,000
2020-11-07Baylor Bears at Iowa State CyclonesFS1487,000
2020-11-07North Carolina Tar Heels at Duke Blue DevilsESPN2390,000
2020-11-07UCLA Bruins at Colorado BuffaloesESPN2312,000
2020-11-10Kent State Golden Flashes at Bowling Green FalconsESPN2192,000
2020-11-11Toledo Rockets at Western Michigan BroncosESPN722,000
2020-11-12Colorado State Rams at Boise State BroncosFS1292,000
2020-11-13Iowa Hawkeyes at Minnesota Golden GophersFS11,420,000
2020-11-13East Carolina Pirates at Cincinnati BearcatsESPN2720,000
2020-11-14Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Boston College EaglesABC5,140,000
2020-11-14Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan WolverinesABC4,690,000
2020-11-14Oregon Ducks at Washington State CougarsFOX2,730,000
2020-11-14Arkansas Razorbacks at Florida GatorsESPN2,440,000
2020-11-14Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan State SpartansABC2,440,000
2020-11-14USC Trojans at Arizona WildcatsFOX2,210,000
2020-11-14Miami Hurricanes at Virginia Tech HokiesESPN1,960,000
2020-11-14Penn State Nittany Lions at Nebraska CornhuskersFS11,720,000
2020-11-14TCU Horned Frogs at West Virginia MountaineersFOX1,370,000
2020-11-14Colorado Buffaloes at Stanford CardinalESPN826,000
2020-11-14Oregon State Beavers at Washington HuskiesFS1754,000
2020-11-14Baylor Bears at Texas Tech Red RaidersFS1585,000
2020-11-14SMU Mustangs at Tulsa Golden HurricaneESPN2283,000
2020-11-14Army Black Knights at Tulane Green WaveESPN2 · ESPN+218,000
2020-11-14UNLV Rebels at San José State SpartansFS2145,000
2020-11-15California Golden Bears at UCLA BruinsFS1234,000
2020-11-26New Mexico Lobos at Utah State AggiesFS1708,000
2020-11-27Oregon Ducks at Oregon State BeaversESPN2,800,000
2020-11-27Nebraska Cornhuskers at Iowa HawkeyesFOX2,690,000
2020-11-27Stanford Cardinal at California Golden BearsFOX1,750,000
2020-11-27UCF Knights at South Florida BullsESPN529,000
2020-11-28LSU Tigers at Texas A&M AggiesESPN4,150,000
2020-11-28Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan WolverinesABC4,090,000
2020-11-28Pittsburgh Panthers at Clemson TigersABC3,000,000
2020-11-28Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan State SpartansESPN2,550,000
2020-11-28Kentucky Wildcats at Florida GatorsESPN2,510,000
2020-11-28Texas Tech Red Raiders at Oklahoma State CowboysFOX2,120,000
2020-11-28Utah Utes at Washington HuskiesABC2,020,000
2020-11-28Arizona Wildcats at UCLA BruinsFOX1,390,000
2020-11-28Maryland Terrapins at Indiana HoosiersESPN2952,000
2020-11-28Kansas State Wildcats at Baylor BearsESPN2494,000
2020-11-28Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Purdue BoilermakersFS1464,000
2020-11-28TCU Horned Frogs at Kansas JayhawksFS1217,000
2020-11-28Troy Trojans at Appalachian State MountaineersESPN2173,000
2020-12-04Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at Appalachian State MountaineersESPN1,010,000
2020-12-05Alabama Crimson Tide at LSU TigersCBS4,220,000
2020-12-05Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan State SpartansABC4,110,000
2020-12-05Florida Gators at Tennessee VolunteersCBS3,420,000
2020-12-05Clemson Tigers at Virginia Tech HokiesABC3,380,000
2020-12-05Syracuse Orange at Notre Dame Fighting IrishNBC2,840,000
2020-12-05Texas A&M Aggies at Auburn TigersESPN2,800,000
2020-12-05Baylor Bears at Oklahoma SoonersFOX1,830,000
2020-12-05Texas Longhorns at Kansas State WildcatsFOX1,450,000
2020-12-05Stanford Cardinal at Washington HuskiesFOX1,300,000
2020-12-05West Virginia Mountaineers at Iowa State CyclonesESPN1,220,000
2020-12-05BYU Cougars at Coastal Carolina ChanticleersESPNU1,210,000
2020-12-05Oregon Ducks at California Golden BearsESPN1,010,000
2020-12-05Iowa Hawkeyes at Illinois Fighting IlliniFS1781,000
2020-12-05Oregon State Beavers at Utah UtesESPN702,000
2020-12-05Oklahoma State Cowboys at TCU Horned FrogsESPN2642,000
2020-12-05Nebraska Cornhuskers at Purdue BoilermakersBTN633,000
2020-12-05Penn State Nittany Lions at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsFS1594,000
2020-12-05UCLA Bruins at Arizona State Sun DevilsFS1428,000
2020-12-05Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Navy MidshipmenESPN2424,000
2020-12-05Colorado Buffaloes at Arizona WildcatsFS1364,000
2020-12-06Washington State Cougars at USC TrojansFS1405,000
2020-12-11Arizona State Sun Devils at Arizona WildcatsESPN1,020,000
2020-12-12Navy Midshipmen at Army Black KnightsCBS4,910,000
2020-12-12LSU Tigers at Florida GatorsESPN4,620,000
2020-12-12USC Trojans at UCLA BruinsABC3,240,000
2020-12-12Alabama Crimson Tide at Arkansas RazorbacksESPN2,590,000
2020-12-12Michigan State Spartans at Penn State Nittany LionsABC2,540,000
2020-12-12Wisconsin Badgers at Iowa HawkeyesFS11,800,000
2020-12-12Utah Utes at Colorado BuffaloesFOX1,700,000
2020-12-12Minnesota Golden Gophers at Nebraska CornhuskersFS11,050,000
2020-12-12Oklahoma State Cowboys at Baylor BearsESPN1,030,000
2020-12-12Illinois Fighting Illini at Northwestern WildcatsESPN2617,000
2020-12-12San Diego State Aztecs at BYU CougarsESPN2606,000
2020-12-12Stanford Cardinal at Oregon State BeaversESPNU332,000
2020-12-12Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at TCU Horned FrogsFS1290,000
2020-12-12Houston Cougars at Memphis TigersESPN2239,000
2020-12-12Fresno State Bulldogs at New Mexico LobosFS2194,000
2020-12-18Oregon Ducks at USC TrojansFOX3,850,000
2020-12-18Ball State Cardinals at Buffalo BullsESPN875,000
2020-12-18Nebraska Cornhuskers at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsBTN610,000
2020-12-19Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Fighting IrishABC9,920,000
2020-12-19Northwestern Wildcats at Ohio State BuckeyesFOX8,030,000
2020-12-19Texas A&M Aggies at Tennessee VolunteersESPN1,660,000
2020-12-19Boise State Broncos at San José State SpartansFOX1,420,000
2020-12-19Illinois Fighting Illini at Penn State Nittany LionsFS1739,000
2020-12-19Stanford Cardinal at UCLA BruinsESPN596,000
2020-12-19Washington State Cougars at Utah UtesFS1302,000
2020-12-21Appalachian State Mountaineers at North Texas Mean GreenESPN637,000
2020-12-23Memphis Tigers at Florida Atlantic OwlsESPN1,270,000
2020-12-23Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Georgia Southern EaglesESPN923,000
2020-12-25Marshall Thundering Herd at Buffalo BullsESPN2,110,000
2020-12-26Liberty Flames at Coastal Carolina ChanticleersESPN2,620,000
2020-12-26Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Georgia State PanthersESPN923,000
2020-12-31Ball State Cardinals at San José State SpartansCBS1,770,000

Telecasts of this league and season that carry a figure and no league-schedule row; not counted in the coverage line.