[REVISION HISTORY]

US college football viewership and Ole Miss-Florida trends

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-26 16:29 UTC → 2026-09-26 17:25 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 2026 college football season has seen significant viewership growth across major networks. Early season broadcasts on ESPN and CBS recorded high engagement, including a College GameDay opener at LSU that averaged 2.8 million viewers and a Boise State versus Oregon matchup on CBS that drew 4.83 million viewers, marking the most-watched Week 1 game on that network in 28 years. Viewership continued to climb as the season progressed. A matchup between LSU and Ole Miss on ABC averaged 10.90 million viewers, becoming the second-most watched game of the season and peaking at 13.7 million viewers. This represented a 43% increase compared to the same broadcast window the previous year. While the LSU vs. Ole Miss game saw high interest, analysts noted individual performance struggles for LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt during their 32-24 loss. Following that victory, the No. 4 ranked Ole Miss Rebels prepared to face No. 21 Florida in Gainesville. Both teams enter the matchup with 3-0 records, with Florida coming off a victory over Auburn. Oddsmakers have Florida as a 3.5-point favorite, noting that top-5 teams have historically struggled as underdogs against lower-ranked opponents in recent years. Ole Miss faces roster challenges, as star running back Kewan Lacy is listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury. The Rebels aim to maintain their undefeated streak behind quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who has completed 70% of his passes for nearly 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns. Florida’s offense is bolstered by junior running back Jadan Baugh, who has recorded eight touchdowns and nearly 500 rushing yards this season. As the high-stakes Southeastern Conference matchup approaches at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the game is expected to be a “clash of styles,” pitting Ole Miss’s high-ranking passing offense against Florida’s dominant ground game.

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