facebook-pixel

Utah-Michigan game sets Fox Sports 1 ratings record

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes quarterback Travis Wilson (7) before the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium Thursday September 3, 2015.

With 2.868 million viewers, Thursday's Utah's 24-17 win over Michigan became the most-watched college football game to air on Fox Sports 1 since the channel launched in August 2013.

The game's 1.73 household rating was also the highest number for a college football game on FS1. (The previous ratings record was a 1.35 rating for Baylor-Oklahoma in November 2013; the previous viewership record was 2.179 millino for an Oregon-Oregon State game, also in November 2013.

FS1 ratings records were also set in two local markets — Detroit (14.77) and Salt Lake City (13.1).

They're a little bit giddy at Fox Sports about all of this. Here are some more numbers they're throwing our way:

• Up +518% in rating over last year's FS1 season-opener, Rutgers-Washington State (.28), and +628% in audience (2.868 million vs. 394,000)

• The audience peaked with 3.416 million viewers in the 9:45-10:00 PM ET quarter hour

• The game is the highest-rated, most-watched event on FS1 since the NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Sonoma on 6/28/15

• Michigan-Utah is the most-streamed college football telecast in FOX Sports GO history with 73,000 unique viewers tuning in

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh before the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium Thursday September 3, 2015.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes running back Devontae Booker (23) dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium Thursday September 3, 2015. Utah is winning 10-3 at halftime.