FSU football: Noles draw huge TV ratings with LSU game

A month or so ago, I wrote how FSU football continues to draw huge great TV ratings even though the program has been the worst it has been in most of our lifetimes.

The Noles drew big TV ratings in their season opener against top 10 ranked Notre Dame. Some folks may say that was due to Notre Dame’s high ranking at the time and the only game on that night.

That game climaxed at over eight million viewers as the Noles forced overtime against the Fighting Irish. Sunday night’s game against an LSU team that finished the season under .500 drew an average of 7.554 million viewers.

That number is the third most watched Sunday game on record. The proof continues to be in the pudding when it comes to the power of the FSU football brand. Florida played a ranked Utah team Saturday night and didn’t sniff the ratings from the FSU/LSU game.

Miami played Bethune-Cookman, so that game wasn’t going to draw many eyeballs regardless. However, Miami against Alabama only drew 5.6 million viewers in their season opener last year.

I’m only mentioning TV viewership numbers because that’s what will help determine the next round of conference expansion between the B1G and SEC.

Both conferences will likely add more teams at some point, and the teams that bring the most value will be on the table.

That means teams with cache, a national brand, and the ability to move the needle. That’s FSU football, whether among the elite or looking to build their way back to the top.

College football is better when FSU is back near the top and the social media buzz after Sunday night’s win over LSU was palpable.

There’s a reason why FSU continues to get primetime spots, just look at their next game on Friday, September 16th, in primetime.