Utah’s win over USC in the Pac-12 championship game had a lot of eyes on it.
The 2022 Pac-12 championship game telecast, broadcast on Fox, set the record for the most-watched Pac-12 championship game ever.
6,234,000 people tuned in to watch the Utes beat the Trojans 47-24 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday night.
According to Fox, it’s a 45% increase over last year’s Pac-12 championship game, a Utah victory over Oregon.
It’s the most-watched non-bowl game in Utah football history, per Utah sports information director Paul Kirk. 16.6 million viewers tuned into the 2022 Rose Bowl between Utah and Ohio State, 13.4 million watched Utah vs. Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl and 12.2 million viewed the 2005 Fiesta Bowl featuring Utah and Pittsburgh.
A primetime slot on Friday with no other Power Five football on, then-No. 4 USC’s — and Ohio State’s — playoff hopes on the line, Heisman Trophy finalist Caleb Williams and a rematch of one of the most entertaining games of the year — Utah’s 43-42 win over the Trojans in Salt Lake City — created a perfect ratings storm.
According to Fox Sports’ Michael Mulvihill, Columbus, Ohio — where Ohio State fans were cheering for the Utes so the Buckeyes could get in the College Football Playoff — drew a bigger TV rating than Los Angeles.