The numbers are in, and the results are obvious: viewers can't get enough of Coach Prime.
Colorado's double-overtime win over Colorado State attracted an eye-popping audience of 9.3 million viewers, the fifth-most watched college football game in ESPN history.
The 9.3 million viewers is impressive no matter how one slices it, but even more so considering the game had a 3-touchdown spread and didn't begin until 10 p.m. ET. It's easily the most-watched Pac-12 After Dark game in the history of the window.
While Colorado entered as a heavy favorite, the game proved -- like all things Coach Prime -- compelling. The game had a touchdown margin throughout, and Colorado had to drive 98 yards in a minute and a half and secure a 2-point conversion to force overtime. The Buffaloes eventually won 43-35 in double overtime.
The audience peaked at 11.1 million viewers.
π₯ @CUBuffsFootball's comeback thriller registers π.π πππππππ πππππππ
β ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 19, 2023
πESPNβs 5th most-watched CFB game on record
πShatters previous ESPN late prime window viewership high
π@ESPNCFB's most-streamed regular season game of all time pic.twitter.com/his917lb0F
Through three games, Colorado is clearly the most-watched team in college football. Coach Prime's debut, a stunning 45-42 upset of TCU, drew 7.26 million viewers, the most-watched game of the season's opening Saturday and the second most-watched game of opening weekend.
CU's home opener, a 36-14 defeat of Nebraska, drew 8.73 million, narrowly losing to Texas-Alabama for the most-watched game of Week 2.
Overall, 25.29 million people have watched Colorado's first three games, all Buffalo wins.
Even more impressive: the audience has grown as CU continues to win.
Most Watched CFB Games Through Week 3 (via Sports Media Watch)
1. Colorado State-Colorado: 9.3 million
2. LSU-Florida State: 9.17 million
3. Texas-Alabama: 8.76 million
4. Nebraska-Colorado: 8.73 million
5. Colorado-TCU: 7.26 million
6. South Carolina-Georgia: 5.42 million
7. Tennessee-Florida: 5.31 million
8. Alabama-South Florida: 4.84 million
9. Ohio State-Indiana: 4.65 million
10. Clemson-Duke: 4.39 million
2:15am audience for CSU-CU beat every non-sports primetime show this week except 60 Minutesβ¦..which was also @DeionSanders. Come on. https://t.co/yZXBTDG0F1
β Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) September 19, 2023
It'll be interesting to see where Colorado viewership stands in a packed Week 4 schedule.
No. 19 Colorado visits No. 10 Oregon at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, which goes head-to-head with No. 15 Ole Miss at No. 13 Alabama on CBS. That night, No. 6 Ohio State visits No. 9 Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC) in what could be the most-watched game of the regular season.
But as long as Colorado remains compelling, the Buffaloes will be the most-watched team in college football.