This past Saturday, the SEC took center stage in the college football world. (What else is new?)
The conference featured epic matchups all day long, but their blockbuster doubleheader on ABC proved to be extra special.
Both matchups – Georgia vs. Texas and Alabama vs. Tennessee – showcased elite teams with playoff implications, and the excitement led to historic viewership milestones.
The doubleheader marked a rare feat as both games surpassed 10 million viewers, according to ESPN PR. This was the first time such numbers had been achieved in nearly three decades.
Georgia’s upset over the Longhorns in Austin made headlines for more than just the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs’ dominant performance attracted 12.9 million viewers, peaking at 14.1 million, making it the largest audience for a regular-season televised game since 2016.
Georgia stunned the Longhorns early, leaping to a 23-0 halftime lead that silenced the Texas crowd.
Though Texas responded with 15 unanswered points in the third quarter, Georgia sealed the deal when Trevor Etienne found the end zone for his third touchdown with 12:04 remaining.
Etienne was one of the stars of the night, scoring all three of his touchdowns within the Texas red zone.
On the defensive side, Georgia wreaked havoc on the Texas quarterbacks, sacking both Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning a total of seven times. Jalon Walker led the charge with three sacks, while Daylen Everette snagged a key interception.
With the win, Georgia jumped three spots to No. 2 in the latest college football rankings.
Over in Knoxville, the Alabama-Tennessee clash drew its own massive audience.
The game attracted 10.7 million viewers and peaked at 14.7 million, making it the second most-watched game between the two rivals in history.
The Volunteers secured a thrilling 24-17 victory over Alabama, shaking off a slow start.
The Crimson Tide held a 7-0 halftime lead before Tennessee roared back with a 14-3 third-quarter advantage. Alabama briefly reclaimed the lead after a Justice Hayes touchdown, but Tennesseeās Chris Brazzell II caught a 16-yard pass from Nico Iamaleava to put the Volunteers ahead for good with just under six minutes left.
The win marked Tennesseeās second in their last three meetings with Alabama, having broken a 15-game losing streak to the Tide back in 2022. It also served as revenge for last yearās 34-20 loss in Tuscaloosa.
With these victories, both Georgia and Tennessee have solidified their positions as front-runners in the highly competitive SEC.
The two teams are on a collision course to meet on November 16 in Athens, where SEC title game implications will likely be on the line.
Saturdayās showdowns underscored the SECās continued dominance in college football, captivating fans and setting new milestones in viewership.
It’s safe to assume that CBS greatly regrets letting go of the SEC package, wouldn’t you say???
