Michigan-Michigan State draws largest TV audience ever for BTN night game

The Wolverines and Spartans drew a large television audience once again for their annual rivalry game...

Matt Lounsberry | Oct 30, 2024

Michigan defensive end Josaiah Stewart (0) lifts the Paul Bunyan Trophy after 24-17 win over Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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This year's Michigan-Michigan State game was the first between the two rivals with neither team ranked since 2008, but that didn't stop the Wolverines and Spartans from setting a viewership record last weekend.

The rivalry game drew 1.73 million viewers, which was the most ever for a night game on Big Ten Network, per Fox Sports' analyst Michael Mulvihill.

Really pleased to see the Michigan St-Michigan game on @BigTenNetwork draw 1.73m viewers, the most ever for a night game on BTN. Also the first time BTN has had the #1 cable game on a CFB Saturday night.

For the season, BTN games are +9% and outrating the CW, ESPN2 and FS1.
— Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) October 29, 2024

There may have not been as much at stake as usual when Michigan and Michigan State collide, but it's a rivalry game that still draws a huge amount of local and regional interest, as proven by BTN's numbers. For the third consecutive season, the Wolverines were the winners of 'The Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy' and sent the Big House crowd home happy on Saturday night.

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