College Football TV Ratings: Texas’ win vs. Ohio State averages 14 million viewers, leads Week 2
· Yahoo Sports
The top game of Week 2 delivered with huge TV ratings for ABC’s college football primetime game. Texas’ comeback win over Ohio State became the most-watched game of the week, ESPN announced Tuesday.
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An average of 14.0 million people tuned in as the Longhorns rallied to take down the top-ranked Buckeyes. That includes a peak audience of 16.4 million, according to ESPN, as the game became the most-watched game of the young college football season.
The average viewership was down more than 2.5 million from the 2025 game between Ohio State and Texas, which took place in Week 1. It brought in 16.6 million viewers on FOX as its Big Noon Saturday game, which ranked as the ninth most-watched game of the entire season and had the second-highest viewership of the regular season behind only Ohio State vs. Michigan in Week 14.
The 2026 installment of Texas vs. Ohio State was the top draw of Week 2 and led a strong Saturday slate for ESPN and ABC. Full college football TV ratings data is expected later Tuesday evening.
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Texas trailed 23-3 entering the fourth quarter before Arch Manning and Hollywood Smothers led the surge en route to the victory at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. It also propelled the Longhorns to the No. 1 spot in the latest AP Top 25 poll released Sunday.
How it happened: Texas’ comeback win over Ohio State
Ohio State took a 20-3 lead into halftime thanks to a rushing touchdown from Ja’Kobi Jackson, a receiving touchdown from Jeremiah Smith and two field goals. But Manning helped spark the comeback with a touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo, which capped a 91-yard drive and made it a 23-10 lead for Ohio State.
Smothers then punched in a 1-yard score to cut the deficit to 23-17 and, after the Buckeyes missed a field goal, Texas went 73 yards in 12 plays to run down the clock. Smothers then punched in the go-ahead score, which eventually stood as the game-winner.
Manning shook off his slow start to end up 23-of-37 for 195 yards and a touchdown, along with a first-half interception. Smothers and Raleek Brown were instrumental to Texas’ success, though. They combined for 128 rushing yards – 74 for Smothers and 54 for Brown.
Now, Texas finds itself atop the AP Top 25 as the Longhorns get ready to close out the non-conference slate against UTSA this weekend. Ohio State, meanwhile, will return home to take on Kent State before it begins Big Ten play next week.