Nebraska-Northwestern in Ireland pulled in 4.419 million viewers (3rd highest for a Fitz era win)

[zeek55]

1996 USC, Rose Bowl (ABC) - 30.4 million (19.4 rating)
1997 Tennessee, Citrus Bowl (ABC) - ~13 million (8.3 rating)
2018 Ohio State, Big Ten Championship (FOX) - 8.659 million (5.0 rating)
2020 Ohio State, Big Ten Championship (FOX) - 8.031 million (4.65 rating)
2013 Ohio State (ABC) - 7.36 million (4.4 rating)
2008 Missouri, Alamo Bowl (ESPN) - 6.076 million (4.6 rating)
2010 Auburn, Outback Bowl (ESPN) - 5.685 million (3.5 rating)
2020 Auburn, Citrus Bowl (ABC) - 4.781 million (2.79 rating)
2022 Ohio State (ABC) - 4.76 million (2.7 rating)
2017 Kentucky, Music City Bowl (ESPN) - 4.626 million (2.8 rating)
2022 Nebraska, Dublin (FOX) - 4.419 million (2.52 rating)
2020 Wisconsin (ABC) - 4.245 million (2.35 rating)


Joins the list of 4+ million viewer Northwestern games under Fitz and 3rd highest for a win behind the Citrus Bowl and Music City Bowl wins. Now our highest rated Big Ten win under Fitz above 2020 Wisconsin.

Past 5 years has seen a lot of big games for Northwestern (including a lot of 2-4 million viewer games), which is obviously good exposure for the program. Will only increase in the future as there's more opportunities in the new media deals to get major TV slots, but also 2 more schools in the conference fighting for those slots.

Just shows how important a game like this Dublin game can be; it's on par with bowl games (which are typically the highest viewed games outside the conference championship and other Ohio State games).

 

[Sheffielder]

Fascinating that we lost #1-7, which unfortunately supports the narrative that we choke when all eyes are on us. I really think Dublin does a lot to counter that story and hopefully we'll have some others to go with it sooner than later.

 

[NJCat]

Fascinating that we lost #1-7, which unfortunately supports the narrative that we choke when all eyes are on us.

Well, no shame in being the underdog and losing to USC, UT with Manning, and OSU. I'd hardly call those games "chokes".

 

[zeek55]

Fascinating that we lost #1-7, which unfortunately supports the narrative that we choke when all eyes are on us. I really think Dublin does a lot to counter that story and hopefully we'll have some others to go with it sooner than later.

@Fitzphile is right I think that it's not quite fair to call those chokes; the teams involved represented well but lost. Some OT games in there and most of those games were competitive to at least half-time if not the 4th quarter. We played some great/well-coached teams.

But yes, we're finally getting some big statement wins in front of big audiences. Back when I first started posting that list there was only 6 losses on it, but we've now added 4 wins. Broader point is the narrative around the program has changed: we've gotten the bowl monkey off the program's back and now won a bunch more. Fitz has won 49 one score games which ties Pappy's 49 total wins here as HC, an astounding number by any measure.

I've always made the point that bowl games are by far the most important games that we play in: they typically have much larger audiences than most regular season games, and they have a lasting impact.

This Dublin game was also one of the most important games on the schedule for that reason. Doesn't mean we don't need to try to roll up more wins, but it was a big exposure win where tons of people watched and all the sports media dissected the result.

The best way to get big games like that is to roll up some wins and get ranked or challenge for the division title which could lead to another major division tilt like 2020 Wisconsin or a Big Ten championship game.

 

[Titanium999]

1996 USC, Rose Bowl (ABC) - 30.4 million (19.4 rating)
1997 Tennessee, Citrus Bowl (ABC) - ~13 million (8.3 rating)
2018 Ohio State, Big Ten Championship (FOX) - 8.659 million (5.0 rating)
2020 Ohio State, Big Ten Championship (FOX) - 8.031 million (4.65 rating)
2013 Ohio State (ABC) - 7.36 million (4.4 rating)
2008 Missouri, Alamo Bowl (ESPN) - 6.076 million (4.6 rating)
2010 Auburn, Outback Bowl (ESPN) - 5.685 million (3.5 rating)
2020 Auburn, Citrus Bowl (ABC) - 4.781 million (2.79 rating)
2017 Kentucky, Music City Bowl (ESPN) - 4.626 million (2.8 rating)
2022 Nebraska, Dublin (FOX) - 4.419 million (2.52 rating)
2020 Wisconsin (ABC) - 4.245 million (2.35 rating)


Joins the list of 4+ million viewer Northwestern games under Fitz and 3rd highest for a win behind the Citrus Bowl and Music City Bowl wins. Now our highest rated Big Ten win under Fitz above 2020 Wisconsin.

Past 5 years has seen a lot of big games for Northwestern (including a lot of 2-4 million viewer games), which is obviously good exposure for the program. Will only increase in the future as there's more opportunities in the new media deals to get major TV slots, but also 2 more schools in the conference fighting for those slots.

Just shows how important a game like this Dublin game can be; it's on par with bowl games (which are typically the highest viewed games outside the conference championship and other Ohio State games).

Congratulations 🎈