ESPN’s 2015 Thursday Night Doubleheader Sees Significant Ratings Increases Over 2014 Thursday Night Opener
- North Carolina at South Carolina up 40%, No. 2 TCU at Minnesota up 27% from Boise State at Ole Miss
ESPN’s Thursday night, college football season opening doubleheader featuring North Carolina at South Carolina (6 p.m. ET) followed by No. 2 TCU at Minnesota (9 p.m. ET) earned a 40% and 27% overnight rating increase compared to ESPN’s 2014 Thursday night college football opener featuring Boise State vs. Ole Miss (Aug. 28, 2014). South Carolina’s 17-13 victory earned a 2.1 overnight rating, while No. 2 TCU’s 23-17 victory garnered a 1.9 overnight rating, both representing a significant jump from the 1.5 overnight rating received during Ole Miss’ 35-13 victory last season.
Historically, North Carolina at South Carolina’s 2.1 overnight rating is tied as the fifth best ESPN Thursday night opener of all time:
Top 5 ESPN’s Thursday Night College Football Openers (All-Time)
| Ranking | Overnight Rating | Date | Matchup |
| 1. | 2.6 | August 30, 2012 | Vanderbilt at South Carolina |
| 2. | 2.5 | August 29, 2013 | North Carolina at South Carolina |
| 3. | 2.4 | September 3, 2009 | Oregon at Boise State |
| 4. | 2.3 | September 3, 2009 | South Carolina at NC State |
| T-5 | 2.1 | September 3, 2015 | North Carolina at South Carolina |
| T-5 | 2.1 | August 30, 2007 | LSU at Mississippi State |
-30-
Media contact: Derek Volner at 860-384-9986; [email protected] and @DerekVolner
