(Via UA) TUSCALOOSA — The University of Alabama ’s 12-2 football season under second-year head coach Nick Saban included some of the most watched college football games this fall, according to The Sporting News and the Nielsen ratings.

UA appeared on national television 10 times this season with games on CBS, ESPN and FOX. Alabama was also on ESPN’s popular “College GameDay” show four times in 2008 against Clemson , Georgia , LSU and Florida .

Two Alabama games rated among the Top 10 most watched regular season games on network television in 2008, including the highest rated collegiate game of the season. The 2008 SEC Championship Game featuring No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Florida drew a 9.3 rating and was viewed in 15.3 million homes. The Crimson Tide’s thrilling overtime win at LSU on Nov. 8 was the ninth-highest rated game of the season on network television with a 5.2 rating.

The Crimson Tide was also a popular choice on cable this season as three games televised by ESPN ranked among the Top 10 football telecasts on cable this season. The Alabama-Georgia game on Sept. 27 was ESPN’s second-highest rated game of the season with 4.6 rating. The Alabama-Mississippi State game on Nov. 15 placed seventh with 3.3 rating, while the Alabama-Tennessee game on Oct. 25 was the 10th highest rated game with 2.8 rating.

In addition to its success on television, the Tide also had a successful year at the gate, recording the eighth-highest home attendance in college football this season. Alabama ’s seven games at Bryant-Denny Stadium drew 644,996 fans, an average of 92,138 per game and all seven games were at 100 percent capacity. The Tide went 7-0 at Bryant-Denny Stadium this year with wins over Tulane , Arkansas State, Kentucky , Mississippi , Arkansas State , Mississippi State and Auburn.

One thought on “Tide football games among most watched”

  1. The University of Alabama is the best that there is, to the dismay of so-called Auburn supporters.

    Auburn’s overall record just does not match up with Alabama’s. Check the records, it’s there.

    When one thinks of football they think of The University of Alabama, not Auburn University. Come on, how many times has Auburn’s pre-season game been televised by ESPN? What about attendance? Its not what the attendance at Alabama’s A Game is, just a fact to be dealt with.

    Alabama is the target of the NCAA at the moment but this is nothing more than a situation that many SEC schools have found themselves in, presently and in the past.

    Florida State just got knocked down by the NCAA, Auburn has, and I could go on and on. The SEC treats those schools that make up the Southeastern Conference as “step-children at a family reunion.”

    I think it time Auburn, Alabama, Florida State and other SEC schools step forward to reel in the arrogant NCAA.

    So Auburn, you are not without sin, remember those Sociology classes your athletes DID NOT take but passed nevertheless?

    Alabama and Auburn are both great institutions, it’s too bad they can’t work together for the common good of the SEC.

    To hell with the NCAA: Roll Tide and War Eagle forever!

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