The dissolution of the Pac-12 meant the disappearance of #Pac12AfterDark and an adjustment to ESPN’s plan for the so-called fourth window — the 7:30 p.m. Pacific kickoff slot.
A staple of the network’s college football programming for years, Pac-12 night games provided some of the most memorable finishes in the sport’s recent history.
It was a topper for junkies on the East Coast, an anchor for fans on the West Coast and a reliable source of respectable ratings for ESPN.
In place of #Pac12AfterDark, ESPN has leaned into the only options available: The seven schools in the Mountain and Pacific time zones that are members of the ACC and Big 12.
Midway through a season defined by conference realignment, the late window has produced solid ratings for ESPN. But if you look closely, slippage is visible.
Last year, ESPN aired nine games involving Pac-12 schools in the 7:30 p.m. Pacific window. They averaged a hefty 2.53 million viewers thanks largely to one broadcast: Colorado’s early-season victory over Colorado State, an overtime thriller, generated an astounding 9.3 million viewers and skewed the season average for #Pac12AfterDark.
If we remove that outlier, the other eight games averaged 1.69 million viewers, with a high of 2.77 million (for Colorado-Oregon State) and a low of 852,000 (for UCLA-Stanford).
(Figures courtesy of SportsMediaWatch.)
How do those numbers compare to 2024?
The Hotline examined the eight games broadcast by ESPN in the late window which, we should note, have moved to 7:15 p.m. on occasion to accommodate the school on Mountain Time.
The seven broadcasts have averaged 1.42 million viewers, according to SportsMediaWatch. That’s a 16 percent year-over-year decrease.
We’re hesitant to attribute the drop to the demise of the Pac-12, although the scattering of schools across four conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12) likely has diluted the interest to some degree.
But a slew of variables impact viewing, including the quality of the matchups and competition on other networks.
The situation is worth monitoring through the stretch run, and we’ll take a deeper dive into the 7:30 p.m. viewership figures when the season ends.
Navigating November nights
ESPN does not have media agreements with the Big Ten, Mountain West or Pac-12, leaving the network entirely dependent on seven campuses for the late kickoffs: two in the ACC (Stanford and Cal) and five in the Big 12 (Colorado, Utah, Brigham Young and the Arizona schools).
Conference schedules in November are such that at least two schools have home games every Saturday through the month except one: Nov. 2.
On the first Saturday of November, Stanford, Arizona and ASU are on the road while Cal, Colorado, Utah and BYU are idle.
Without any options, the network appears to be passing on the #AfterDark window. There is no game scheduled — an unusual but not unprecedented situation.
News, notes and nuggets
— The Texas-Georgia showdown last weekend attracted 12.9 million viewers and stands as the most-watched game of the season. Add the 10.7 million who watched the Tennessee-Alabama duel and ABC became the first network in 28 years to air two 10-million-eyeball games on the same day (regular-season only).
— ABC now claims the three highest-rated matchups of the season and eight of the top 10. How many of those 10 have aired on Fox? One: the Texas-Michigan clash in September.
— ESPN ‘College GameDay’ is headed to Bloomington this weekend for the Washington-Indiana matchup — yes, even though the game will air on the Big Ten Network.
The decision offers insight into the strategy that makes ‘GameDay’ so influential: It’s not used as a promotional vehicle for games on ESPN or ABC. Instead, the show goes where the stories are, even if the location is the site of a game on other networks.
— Meanwhile, Fox’s ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ will broadcast live from Columbus on Saturday ahead of the Nebraska-Ohio State game (on Fox).
— Hotline opinion: Former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, who will call Texas Tech-TCU on Fox alongside Tim Brando, is one of the most underrated analysts in college football. Discuss amongst yourselves.
Viewer’s guide to Week 9
The paucity of megawatt showdowns in the SEC and Big Ten this weekend is no reason to make alternate plans. In fact, several significant games involve Group of Five teams, including a service academy.
(All times Pacific)
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Boise State at UNLV (Friday at 7:30 p.m. on CBSSN): Beyond the natural draw that is Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty — he’s averaging 208 rushing yards per game — this Mountain West duel of one-loss teams has College Football Playoff implications. TV crew: Rich Waltz, Robert Turbin and Tiffany Blackmon
Notre Dame vs. Navy in East Rutherford, N.J. (9 a.m. on ABC): The Irish have won 11 of the past 12 in the series and are favored by 12.5 points. But don’t dismiss the Midshipmen, who are undefeated and, as such, a contender for the CFP. If they win, the attention on Navy’s program will soar in November. TV crew: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy and Molly McGrath
Missouri at Alabama (12:30 p.m. on ABC): We suggest monitoring the score of this game and tuning in late if Alabama’s losing, just to see the angriest mob since Paris, circa 1789. TV crew: Joe Tessitore, Jordan Rodgers, and Katie George
Florida State at Miami (4 p.m. on ESPN): Most FSU games are dull as chalk while most Miami games are heart-stoppers. This could be more of the latter than the former given the rivalry. TV crew: Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Taylor McGregor
Washington State at San Diego State (7:30 p.m. on CBSSN): The Cougars are pursuing an 11-1 regular season. The Aztecs had two weeks to prepare and have won two in a row after a rough start under new coach Sean Lewis. TV crew: Carter Blackburn, Taylor McHargue, Emily Proud
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