:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70046535/1236061428.0.jpg)
The UCF Knights’ 24-7 win over Memphis on Friday night that aired on ESPN2 was watched by 793,000 viewers according to ShowBuzzDaily.com.
The game faced stiff competition on the night, as it was up against NBA games on ESPN, Game 6 of the American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros, and WWE and AEW shows.
Friday sports:
— Sports TV Ratings (@SportsTVRatings) October 25, 2021
Red Sox/Astros gm 6: 5.8M
Suns/Lakers: 2.1M
Nets/76ers: 1.7M
Memphis/UCF CFB: 793K
Washington/Arizona CFB: 660Khttps://t.co/hXPSzO9Xsd
The game was down from UCF’s season opener against Boise State (841K), but keep in mind that game aired on ESPN while the Memphis game aired on ESPN2. It’s way down from last year’s UCF-Memphis game (1.9 million), but that game aired on ABC.
UCF-Cincinnati Draws over a Million Viewers on ABC
Despite the game being one-sided, UCF-Cincinnati was still able to draw 1.374 million viewers on ABC, according to ShowBuzzDaily.
The number is down in comparison to the last two years, with last year’s game between the two on November 21 on ESPN drawing 1,580,000 and down from the 2019 game which aired on Friday night October 4th on ESPN (1,444,000).
It is the second-most watched Knights game of the season behind UCF’s loss at Louisville on September 17th on ESPN (1.8 million).
Now, a number of factors played a role into the low number: the game being a blowout being at the top of the list, but also stiff competition from Oklahoma State-Texas on FOX, which drew 3.1 million viewers, Florida-LSU on ESPN, which drew 2.9 million viewers, and Auburn-Arkansas on CBS, which drew 2.4 million viewers.
The game also drew fewer viewers than another future Big 12 conference game, as Baylor-BYU drew 1,440,000 viewers on ABC.
These numbers are important as UCF and Cincinnati are set to join the Big 12 in the future, and trying to get good time slots on good networks could prove to be a challege with ABC/ESPN having complete control of SEC and ACC and a share of the Big Ten with Fox, which is likely to stay the same.
The Temple game on October 30th is scheduled for a noon start on ESPN+. UCF’s next home game against Tulane on November 6th will start 4 p.m. on ESPNU.