The Wolverine

February 2018

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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FEBRUARY 2018 THE WOLVERINE 9 BY ANDREW VAILLIENCOURT M ichigan ended the regular season averaging the most TV viewers per game in the country. The Wolverines also had the highest average rating per game in nationally televised contests during the regular season. Michigan topped Alabama and Ohio State in both catego- ries. U-M averaged 5.726 million viewers per game in its nine nationally televised games in 2017. Alabama averaged 5.709 million per game in 11 national games, and Ohio State drew 5.256 million per game in its 10 nationally televised contests. Alabama had the most total viewers in the country, with 62.804 million — largely due to having more games shown on national TV. Ohio State had 52.559 million total viewers in its 10 games, compared to Michigan's 51.53 million in nine games. Michigan's highest rated game of the season was against Ohio State. That meeting earned a 6.1 overnight rating and had 10.507 million viewers. It was the fifth highest rated game of the season overall. Four of Michigan's nine nationally televised games were the highest rated and most watched games of the week: Week six against Michigan State, week seven against In- diana, week eight against Penn State and week 12 against Wisconsin. Week one against Florida and week 13 against Ohio State both were the No. 2 games of those weeks, behind Alabama-Florida State and Alabama-Auburn, respectively. The Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn was the most watched regular-season game with 13.66 million viewers, but the Georgia-Auburn regular-season battle was the most-watched percentage-wise with an 8.0 over- night rating on CBS. All nine of Michigan's national games finished in the top six of that week, and eight of them were in the top four (six were in the top two). The Wolverines showed they were a draw in any time slot. Two of the four times it was the highest rated game of the week, Michigan was playing at night, while the third (Indiana) was a noon start and the fourth (Wisconsin) be- gan at 3:30. Florida and Purdue were both mid-afternoon kickoffs, and Ohio State was at noon. Five of the nine games were televised on ABC, includ- ing three of the four games that were No. 1 of the week. The other four — including the team's highest rated and most watched game (Ohio State) — were on FOX. Big Ten Network broadcasts are not considered nation- ally televised games. U-M played on BTN three times, against Air Force, Rutgers and Maryland. ❏ Inside Michigan ATHLETICS U-M Among Most Watched College Football Teams During The 2017 Regular Season The Wolverines' game with Michigan State Oct. 7 was its first of three straight tilts that garnered the nation's top television rating for the week. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL MICHIGAN TV RATINGS BY WEEK Week Opponent Rating Weekly Rank 1 Florida 4.9 2 2 Cincinnati 2.4 4 3 Air Force N/A 4 Purdue 2.2 3 5 BYE 6 Michigan State 3.7 1 7 Indiana 2.7 1 8 Penn State 3.9 1 9 Rutgers N/A 10 Minnesota 1.7 6 11 Maryland N/A 12 Wisconsin 3.3 1 13 Ohio State 6.1 2 Note: The Air Force, Rutgers and Maryland games were on Big Ten Network

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