Alabama vs. Georgia Draws 12M Viewers; Most for Primetime CFB Game Since 2017

Andrew PetersOctober 1, 2024

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 28: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) rushes the ball during the college football game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide on September 28, 2024, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Saturday's thriller between Alabama and Georgia drew historic viewership numbers.

Per ESPN PR, the 41-34 win for the Crimson Tide drew 12 million viewers, marking the highest-viewed regular-season primetime game on any network since 2017.

ESPN PR @ESPNPR
Last Saturday's <a href="https://twitter.com/SEC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SEC</a> on ABC tripleheader won the week with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UGAvsALA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UGAvsALA</a> becoming <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNCFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNCFB</a>'s best regular season game since '17 🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgiaFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeorgiaFootball</a> vs <a href="https://twitter.com/AlabamaFTBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlabamaFTBL</a> | 12M viewers 🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/OU_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OU_Football</a> vs <a href="https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AuburnFootball</a> | 5M viewers 🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/UKFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UKFootball</a> vs <a href="https://twitter.com/OleMissFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OleMissFB</a> | 4M viewers <a href="https://t.co/KeOCtxnqiF">pic.twitter.com/KeOCtxnqiF</a>

Those tuning in witnessed an early contender for the game of the year.

Alabama got off to a 28-0 lead, smothering quarterback Carson Beck and the Bulldogs' offense. The Tide went into the half with a 30-7 lead, seemingly putting the game away before the start of the second half.

But Georgia came storming back and had Alabama within striking distance heading into the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs scored 20 unanswered points in the final quarter, taking a 34-33 lead with just over two minutes to go.

Georgia's lead lasted only seconds as Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe found freshman sensation Ryan Williams for a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive. A two-point conversion made it a 41-34 game.

SportsCenter @SportsCenter
ABSOLUTE SCENES IN TUSCALOOSA!!! RYAN WILLIAMS WITH A 75-YARD TD TO RETAKE THE LEAD! <a href="https://t.co/pvc9ML7E7G">pic.twitter.com/pvc9ML7E7G</a>

While Georgia's offense managed to march down the field and into the red zone, Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown intercepted Beck's pass in the end zone to seal the victory for the Tide.

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The loss for the Bulldogs marked their first regular-season loss since the 2020 season, ending a regular-season win streak of 42 games.

Considering the stakes of the No. 2 vs. No. 4 matchup, it will be hard to top Saturday's viewership numbers, but a look ahead at the 2024 season shows some games that might be capable of doing so.

Alabama will face off with No. 4 Tennessee on Oct. 19, a matchup that will likely be between two undefeated squads and have plenty of SEC championship implications. That same Saturday, Georgia will take on No. 2 Texas, another exciting game that could help determine who plays in the SEC championship game.

Outside of the SEC, No. 3 Ohio State has a handful of top-10 matchups that should garner plenty of attention, including its rivalry matchup with No. 10 Michigan, which always boasts historic ratings.

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