New Mexico State and Florida State may not have delivered history on the field, but the two teams found a spot in the television record books. The clash between New Mexico State and Florida State in Week 0 delivered the most-watched sports broadcast in the history of The CW Network.
After an exciting Week 0 across the college football landscape, the viewership ratings were revealed for the biggest games. New Mexico at Florida State recorded a peak audience of 2.4 million total viewers with an average of 1.96 million viewers, according to The CW Network and Nielsen Panel + Big Data.
The Aggies traveled over to Tallahassee to face the Seminoles in a game that was originally pegged as a likely blowout. Florida State did not look its best, but the Aggies had some strong moments that kept the contest relatively narrow. The game still brought home a record audience as Mike Norvell attempts to navigate his seventh season with the program.
The ACC needs Florida State more than Florida State needs the ACC
The Seminoles delivered a win with a massive crowd watching through the screen, but the biggest takeaway from the viewership spike is the timing. The biggest crowd in the history of The CW came out in force to watch Florida State play a non-conference game after suing the ACC.
Florida State sued the ACC back in December of 2023 after claiming the conference had been breaching the terms of the contract. Both the ACC and Florida State agreed to drop the lawsuits against each other, but that does not guarantee a long-term relationship between the two.
The success of the brand even after an ugly end to the 2025 season proves the ACC likely needs Florida State more than the Seminoles need the conference. Florida State had been searching every possible avenue in hopes of finding a way out of the conference, and the program could be playing in a different conference in a matter of time. The ratings were through the roof during a non-conference game, and the upcoming games against ACC opponents could continue to draw massive viewership.
Florida State football may not currently be at the top, but evidently the brand has not been hurt by the lack of recent success on the gridiron. The Seminoles managed to draw in a record audience in Week 0 against a non-conference opponent despite mustering another losing record the season prior. The brand itself and the love for Florida State from the fans are still clearly there, and the ACC surely has to be taking notice after the previous lawsuit.
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