Miami’s 27–24 win over No. 6 Notre Dame wasn’t just a statement on the field — it was a national showcase. The Sunday night ABC broadcast averaged 10.8 million viewers, ranking as the second-most-watched game of Week 1 behind Texas vs. Ohio State, and peaking at 11.8 million as the Hurricanes closed out the primetime thriller at Hard Rock Stadium.
ABC’s broadcast window (Sunday, Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET) delivered the network’s second-best Sunday Opener on record, trailing only Notre Dame vs. Texas in 2016. The strong performance capped a historically large kickoff for ESPN platforms as ABC had three games over 10 million viewers (Miami vs. Notre Dame, Alabama vs. Florida State, and LSU vs. Clemson) and averaged 8.6 million across four telecasts, its best Week 1 ever.
📈 @ESPNCFB delivered its BIGGEST Week 1 on record!
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 3, 2025
🏈 3 games with 10M+ viewers
🏈 8.6M avg. viewers across ABC (4 games); 4.0M avg. across all ESPN networks
🏈 @CollegeGameDay shatters record for its most-watched episode EVER with 4.0M viewers!
More: https://t.co/5HksMoQ7IV pic.twitter.com/rjT78TFJLl
Texas vs. Ohio State led all games at 16.62 million on FOX, while Florida State vs. Alabama (10.7M) and LSU vs. Clemson (10.4M) rounded out the 10-million club on ABC. Miami vs. Notre Dame was the top draw on ESPN platforms for the entire weekend and outpaced last year’s comparable Sunday window (up 25% against USC vs. LSU 2024 which logged 8.62M).
A 10.8M average isn’t just a ratings line — it’s great recruiting tape and shows the strength of "The U" brand. Recruits watched Carson Beck (20-of-31, 205 yards, 2 TD) manage the moment, CJ Daniels make a viral one-handed TD, and Rueben Bain Jr. play out of his mind in the fourth quarter.
Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel methodology — combining traditional panels with set-top and smart-TV return-path data — now captures more out-of-home viewing (sports bars, watch parties), an area where programs with national pull like Miami and Notre Dame benefit.
By the numbers
- Miami vs. Notre Dame (ABC, Sun.): 10.8M avg., 11.8M peak — ABC’s No. 2 Sunday opener on record.
- Texas vs. Ohio State (FOX, Sat.): 16.62M — largest Week 1 audience on record.
- FSU vs. Alabama (ABC, Sat.): 10.7M; LSU vs. Clemson (ABC, Sat.): 10.4M — both among the top six Week 1 ABC games historically.