The TV viewers for Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss was sizable. But it surely additionally did not come near matching the viewership quantity for Texas’ Week 2 win over Ohio State.
ESPN said Tuesday afternoon that Ole Miss’ 32-24 win drew a median viewers of 10.9 million viewers. It was by far the most-watched recreation of the day and the second recreation of the 2026 season to interrupt the ten million mark. Alabama’s win over Florida State earlier within the day had seven million watchers.
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It was a certainty that the Rebels’ victory could be the most-watched recreation of the weekend ever for the reason that SEC introduced its 2026 soccer schedule. Given the best way that one of the crucial polarizing coaches in faculty soccer left Ole Miss on the finish of the 2025 common season for a hated rival and the truth that each groups are potential playoff contenders, it was at all times going to be one of many largest video games of the season.
The sport delivered, too. After LSU scored 17 straight factors to tie the sport, Ole Miss retook the lead within the fourth quarter and sealed the sport late with an interception in the long run zone.
But Saturday night time’s recreation drew three million fewer viewers than Texas’ 24-23 victory did. That recreation was ESPN’s most-watched regular-season recreation since Ohio State performed Michigan on ABC in 2016.
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If you wish to make a sweeping judgment concerning the viewership numbers, it is affordable to assume that model energy remains to be one of many largest driving forces in faculty soccer viewership. Whereas Kiffin has been the central determine of the 2026 offseason, the fascination with him was nonetheless trumped by the vast enchantment — and inhabitants benefit — of faculties like Ohio State and Texas.
