Eric Boggs
Ohio State didn’t just make a statement on the field in its season-opening 14-7 win over Texas — the Buckeyes made history off it as well. FOX Sports announced that the matchup became the most-watched Week 1 college football game of all time, averaging an incredible 16,623,000 viewers. At its peak, viewership soared to 18,569,000 during the dramatic final moments, when Caleb Downs and the Ohio State defense sealed the win with a clutch fourth-down stop.
For Buckeye fans, the record-setting numbers come as no surprise. This was one of the most hyped Week 1 matchups in recent memory, pitting the defending national champions against the preseason No. 1 team in the country. Ohio State’s suffocating defense shut down Arch Manning and the high-powered Longhorns offense, holding them to just seven points and delivering a statement win that lived up to every ounce of the national anticipation.
FOX reported that this was also its third most-watched regular-season college football game ever, trailing only Ohio State’s rivalry showdowns against Michigan in 2022 and 2023. Those matchups remain benchmarks, with The Game drawing 19.06 million viewers last season and averaging 17.14 million in 2022. Once again, Ohio State continues to prove its unmatched pull on the national stage — when the Buckeyes play, America tunes in.
And if Ohio State fans are frustrated by seeing their biggest games slotted into FOX’s noon broadcast window, these numbers make one thing very clear: it’s not changing anytime soon. With viewership like this, FOX isn’t moving Ohio State out of its most valuable ratings slot. The Buckeyes consistently deliver record-breaking audiences, and as long as they remain one of the sport’s premier brands, FOX will continue to showcase them in the network’s marquee time slot, regardless of what fans might prefer.
The quarterback battle between Arch Manning and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin added another layer of intrigue to an already historic showdown. Manning, one of the preseason Heisman favorites, finished 17 of 30 for 170 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. On the other side, Sayin showcased composure in his first career start, going 13 of 20 for 126 yards and connecting on a crucial touchdown strike to Carnell Tate that ended up being the deciding score.
For FOX, this was more than just another big game — it was a ratings milestone. To put the viewership into perspective, the Ohio State-Texas thriller even outdrew nearly every other regular-season game in recent history and only trails a handful of iconic matchups. The only broadcast bigger in the past three seasons was Ohio State’s national championship victory over Notre Dame in 2024, which averaged 22.1 million viewers on ESPN.
Saturday’s record-breaking performance proves what Buckeye fans have known for years: Ohio State isn’t just one of college football’s premier programs on the field — it’s the sport’s biggest draw. Whether it’s a rivalry clash, a playoff game, or a marquee season opener, the Buckeyes dominate the national conversation and deliver the kind of moments that keep fans glued to their screens.
