ESPN College GameDay Had Record Setting Ratings From Coral Gables

ESPN CollegeDay from Coral Gables on Saturday produced the second highest viewed show in the iconic program's history.
Nick Saban moves between stages at ESPN College GameDay ahead of the University of Oklahoma-Michigan College football game on Sep 6, 2025 in Norman.
Nick Saban moves between stages at ESPN College GameDay ahead of the University of Oklahoma-Michigan College football game on Sep 6, 2025 in Norman. | Steve Sisney/For The Oklahoman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

ESPN College GameDay produced generational numbers live from Coral Gables for Miami versus Florida on Saturday. The iconic ESPN college football pregame show had 2.8 million viewers from 9 AM to noon Eastern Daylight Time, 3.4 million in the final hour between 11AM and noon EDT and 4.4 million at the full show peak.

ESPN College GameDay live from Coral Gables had its second-highest rating ever for the third consecutive week. The week one episode that featured the retirement of original show analyst Lee Corso was the highest-rated ESPN College GameDay in the history of the program.

Miami hosted ESPN College GameDay on campus for the second time. ESPN College GameDay previously was live from Coral Gables ahead of the 41-8 win by Miami over Notre Dame in 2017. The 2017 Miami win over Notre Dame boosted the Hurricanes to second in the Associated Press Top 25.

The 26-7 win by Miami over Florida on Saturday boosted Miami from sixth to second in the AP Top 25. ESPN College GameDay ratings were significantly higher on Saturday, live from Coral Gables, than they were from Norman, Oklahoma, as the Sooners lost 25-15 to Tennessee.

Miami improved to 7-1 when it hosts ESPN College GameDay. The ratings were impressive after Florida dropped out of the top 25 with losses to South Florida and LSU in the weeks before they were defeated by Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night.

Miami began the season 10th in the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Polls. Florida was 15th in the AP Top 25 and 17th in the USA Today Coaches poll. Despite losing a top 25 matchup, Florida at Miami still drew large ratings for ESPN College GameDay and the game telecast on ABC on Saturday night.

ESPN College GameDay could be headed to Tallahassee for Miami at Florida State on October 4. Miami has a bye week and Florida State is at Virginia on Friday night. College GameDay will announce its week six destination late on Saturday night.