No. 13-ranked Boise State’s win over Nevada last week on FOX was this season’s most-watched game between teams from Group of Five conferences.
The Broncos’ 28-21 home victory attracted 1.53 million viewers, according to sportsmediawatch.com. That’s the largest audience that has tuned in to one of Boise State’s regular season games since its season opener last year at Washington, which drew 1.97 million viewers.
The only other game between two G5 teams that has attracted more than 1 million viewers this season was Navy’s lopsided win over Air Force, which drew 1.28 million fans on CBS.
Boise State takes on San Jose State at 7 p.m. ET Saturday on CBS Sports Network. The Broncos are a 13.5-point college football betting odds favorite, and the Over/Under is 61.5 points.
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Several games involving G5 teams have topped 1 million viewers this season. Marshall’s loss to Ohio State on FOX attracted 3.96 million viewers, and 3.93 million watched Northern Illinois upset Notre Dame on NBC.
Six games involving G5 teams have attracted more than 2 million viewers, including Navy-Notre Dame (2.79 million), USF-Alabama (2.58 million), Fresno State-Michigan (2.51 million), and Akron-Ohio State (2.97 million). But games featuring two G5 teams have lagged far behind their counterparts from Power Four conferences, which have produced three games that topped 10 million viewers, including Georgia at Texas, which attracted a season-high 13.2 million viewers on ABC.
Boise State Is Must-See TV
There have been 10 games between G5 teams, if you include Washington State and Oregon State, that have topped 500,000 viewers this season, and Boise State has played in three of them: vs. Nevada (1.53 million), vs. San Diego State (656,000), and vs. Washington State (535,000).
Boise State is averaging 561,000 viewers in six publicly rated games on FOX, FS1, FS2, and ESPNU. Audience numbers are not available for most streaming services, including CBS Sports Network, Mountain West Network, and Peacock, which broadcasted the Broncos’ three-point loss at No. 1 Oregon on Sept. 7.
Most of the Broncos’ road games air on CBS Sport Network, but they are guaranteed at least one more game in front of a national audience this year. Their regular season finale at home against Oregon State will air on FOX. The Mountain West Championship will also be on FOX.
Boise State averaged 769,500 viewers in 10 publicly rated games last season, including the Mountain West title game and the LA Bowl. The Broncos averaged 797,366 viewers in nine publicly rated games in 2022.
