TV Ratings For LSU vs. Alabama Were Enormous For CBS: 11.9 Rating, 18 Million Viewers

All, College Football, Television Jason McIntyre November 7th. 2011, 9:36am

LSU 9, Alabama 6, a game dominated by defense and strategy – or lack thereof, from Nick Saban – drew an impressive 11.9 rating and 18 million viewers Saturday night. That’s not too far off from the last few National title games. The last CBS regular-season game with a higher rating? You have to go all the way back to 1989.

Yesterday’s 11.9/21 for LSU-Alabama trailed only CBS’s 14.5/26 for Notre Dame vs. Miami (11/25/89).

The Miami-Notre Dame game in 1988 was billed as the Catholics vs. the Convicts. CBS had the game. Man, I could watch this intro – Musburger! – all day. The 1989 game - Notre Dame came in on a 23-game winning streak – was won handily by the Hurricanes, 27-10. [SEC Digital Sports Network]

aroundtheweb

63 Responses to “TV Ratings For LSU vs. Alabama Were Enormous For CBS: 11.9 Rating, 18 Million Viewers”

1
VladimirCrouton Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Rematch please.
2
geoffreyvs is no longer doing the Tomahawk Chop :( Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Lowest scoring game with high ratings ever?
3
s1rweeze Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:44 AM
Man, I could watch this intro – Musburger! – all day.
So great. I think CBS’s college football theme is the longest running theme in sports other than MNF.
4
KingGrizz Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:46 AM
Bama/BSU NC game — Then an entire spring of PLAYOFFS!
5
cursedcleveland.com Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Almost 4 million less than OSU/Michigan in 2006
6
Tim Ryan (TheSportsHernia) Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Notre Dame came in on a 23-game winning streak – was won handily by the Hurricanes, 27-10.
I remember this game vividly. These were the days when I didn’t think Notre Dame could lose. ‘Twas a different galaxy back then.
7
ButtersBC Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Think I saw yesterday that Cops beat out the Notre Dame game Saturday night…glory remains unrestored in South Bend
Also didn’t the World Series average an 11.0 rating? Does this mean college football is in trouble?
8
illformula Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:53 AM
a game dominated by defense and strategy – or lack thereof, from Nick Saban –
not sure it was strategy; he was just out-coached. it was a combination of that and the bullshit INT call that cost Bama the game.
i don’t know what’s been said/written about the game, officiating, and coaching decisions since i’ve stayed away from all things sports related since saturday night. that’s just my feelings on the game and i don’t think bama/lsu rematch should be the NC game. they had their chance and blew it.
9
NDub Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Can’t believe there are idiots who think this game was boring or sucked.
10
coop247 Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:58 AM
While I give the defenses their just due, there was also just some bad, sloppy play on offense. Jay Paterno likes the way LSU picked their QB on a drive by drive basis, always a recipe for success.
11
NDub Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 9:58 AM
and i don’t think bama/lsu rematch should be the NC game. they had their chance and blew it.
Exactly. There has to be some consequence to this game.
12
cursedcleveland.com Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Can’t believe there are idiots who think this game was boring or sucked.
I wouldn’t say “boring” but I would say that it lacked any kind of memorable moments that would resonate for years to come. Just good defense (and let’s be honest, some terrible execution on offense and questionable coaching).
I still maintain, that no matter how that game turned out, the SEC honks would have praised it either way. Pat Forde wrote an SEC PR piece about that game. Let’s be honest…what would Forde have written if it were two Big Ten teams with that exact same outcome?
13
ButtersBC Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:01 AM
My only problem with the game is that you hate to see one of that magnitude decided because of four missed FGs…also the quarterbacking was bad, I know those defenses are great but with those guys under center you never had the feeling a strong scoring drive was coming
14
SouvenirCity Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Can’t believe there are idiots who think this game was boring or sucked.
Agree. My local radio guys who are normally pretty good about stuff are calling this game a bust. I was on the edge of my seat for all 65 game minutes. It was awesome. Every play mattered. Every series mattered.
15
Wide Word of Sport (?) Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Exactly. There has to be some consequence to this game.
If you talk about playoffs minimizing the importance of regular season games, then a rematch would do so even more.
Also re: Bama at 3rd, if you looked at the numbers, it was the top 3, then Stan/Boise, so they were either going to be 3rd or 5th. I’m interested to see if the Oregon game could jump Stanford up past Bama (and into the NC game, if Ok State loses). I assume Bama’s cupcake next week may help that to happen.
16
YYSA Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:03 AM
what would Forde have written if it were two Big Ten teams with that exact same outcome?
That either team would be crushed in the SEC. And he would have been correct.
17
coop247 Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:03 AM
I still maintain, that no matter how that game turned out, the SEC honks would have praised it either way. Pat Forde wrote an SEC PR piece about that game. Let’s be honest…what would Forde have written if it were two Big Ten teams with that exact same outcome?
PSU/OSU will play this same game in 2 weeks and it will be called the worst game evar.
18
cleet Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:03 AM
CBS had the game. Man, I could watch this intro – Musburger! – all day.
Gary was down, he didn’t fumble.
19
rittyrich Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:04 AM
A rematch undermines the fact the regular season is a de facto playoff game. The shits from Bama can pine for it all they want, but they essentially just lost the equivalent of a Sweet 16 game.
20
Wide Word of Sport (?) Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:04 AM
I was on the edge of my seat for all 65 game minutes. It was awesome. Every play mattered. Every series mattered.
Couldn’t agree more, even as a casual (at best) college football fan, I was pulled into this game, and really the season, because it was so tense and close, and that at any point, any small mistake giving up a TD would result in a likely insurmountable deficit.
21
rittyrich Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Couldn’t agree more, even as a casual (at best) college football fan, I was pulled into this game, and really the season, because it was so tense and close, and that at any point, any small mistake giving up a TD would result in a likely insurmountable deficit.
Hence the timid offensive play which for me was completely understandable.
22
Wide Word of Sport (?) Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:06 AM
PSU/OSU will play this same game in 2 weeks and it will accurately be called the worst game evar.
Bad offense isn’t the same as good defense (even though I was unimpressed by LSU’s offense completely).
Also… over-under on number of OSU posters sneaked into the stadium that completely cross the line re: Sandusky?
23
cursedcleveland.com Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:06 AM
That either team would be crushed in the SEC. And he would have been correct.
I think OSU could have hung with any team in the country last season…but this year you’d be right.
24
Dr. Tom Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Interesting to see how the BCS standings shake out. Bama has a mediocre Auburn team as the only quality opponent on their remaining schedule. They really need PSU to keep over-performing though there is a good chance they lose their last 3 games.
25
Wide Word of Sport (?) Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Hence the timid offensive play
I am still a bit surprised that Miles got away with that bang into the line 3 times and hope the defense holds strategy late in the game. Though Bama made their own fair share of tactical mistakes (not running on 3rd down for a better FG attempt, among others). Both of LSU’s lines got pushed around late, and Richardson showed why he’s a Heisman front-runner, for sure (first time I’ve seen him this year).
26
arkbadger Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:10 AM
I think OSU could have hung with any team in the country last season
before or after they played with guys who shouldn’t have been playing?
27
SouvenirCity Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:12 AM
Bama has a mediocre Auburn team as the only quality opponent on their remaining schedule.
Saban might hang 75 on them as retribution for this loss.
28
spencer096 Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:13 AM
before or after they played with guys who shouldn’t have been playing?
that’s rich coming from a guy who’s team had something like 15 more scholarship players than were allowed.
29
illformula Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:13 AM
richardson is a man amongst boys. he’s like a bigger, stronger version of MJD.
30
Wide Word of Sport (?) Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:15 AM
he’s like a bigger, stronger version of MJD.
Is he from Detroit like the Bus? Did you guys know that Jerome Bettis was from Detroit? And he played in a Superbowl, in Detroit?
31
illformula Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:16 AM
Saban might hang 75 on them as retribution for this loss.
saban can go fuck himself. art shell would have out-coached saban saturday.
32
rittyrich Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Saban might hang 75 on them as retribution for this loss.
Ain’t gonna happen in Auburn. This game is usually pretty close save Black Saturday – the 2008 Iron Bowl where Bama whipped us 36-0. But that was in Tuscaloosa. Don’t forget the ’09 Iron Bowl where Bama was a heavy favorite and we jumped out to a 14-0 lead and Bama scored with under a minute to go to go ahead for the win.
33
spencer096 Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:17 AM
richardson is a man amongst boys. he’s like a bigger, stronger version of MJD.
he reminds me of a stronger barry sanders. they’re both so low to the ground with such big legs (no homo) that makes them even harder to tackle. richardson’s incredible.
34
Wide Word of Sport (?) Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Anyone see ArkBadger? He alive still?
/worried
35
arkbadger Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:19 AM
that’s rich coming from a guy who’s team had something like 15 more scholarship players than were allowed.
link?
36
illformula Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:21 AM
he reminds me of a stronger barry sanders.
i can see it. i didn’t want to be the one to compare him to the GOAT though.
37
jb49ers Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:21 AM
any small mistake giving up a TD would result in a likely insurmountable deficit.
I thought LSU had a TD for sure when Randle dropped that pass in the endzone right before half-time.
Best low-scoring game ever.
38
illformula Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:24 AM
also, gary danielson has officially made his way onto my kill list. that insufferable douche had my blood pressure exceeding hyper-tension levels.
39
ButtersBC Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:28 AM
also, gary danielson has officially made his way onto my kill list. that insufferable douche had my blood pressure exceeding hyper-tension levels.
He’s more SEC publicist than broadcaster these days…it became a running joke during the game to channel him with stuff like “You don’t see passes into double coverage without a chance to be caught like that in just any conference Verne”
40
squawkbox Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:38 AM
A rematch undermines the fact the regular season is a de facto playoff game. The shits from Bama can pine for it all they want, but they essentially just lost the equivalent of a Sweet 16 game.
…bama just got eliminated … at home no less.
41
HuskerDawg Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Can’t believe there are idiots who think this game was boring or sucked.
All of this. Those two defenses are fucking nasty. Penn State has a pretty good defense and Alabama put 27 on them in Happy Valley. Arkansas’s offense is nasty and they couldn’t do jack against Alabama either. if each team is motivated when it plays the bowl game (assuming one of them will be in the Sugar) they will house any team they play.
42
Rusty Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:40 AM
Penn State has a pretty good defense and Alabama put 27 on them in Happy Valley.
Alabama would have put a lot more than 6 up with a little better coaching.
43
oskie Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Ohio State is winning the Leaders.
44
spencer096 Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:45 AM
here you go ark.
and here’s a nice snippet where your AD says it’s ok to run players off for performance reasons…
“Running players off is not something we would condone here,” Long said. “That’s not something we want to engage in. But being honest, being sometimes brutally honest with a young person about where they stand and where they fall on the depth chart, how much playing time. … Many of them dream of playing in the NFL. That dream dies hard. So if they want to go some place somewhere else to play we want to help them do that.”
it’s ok to take away their scholarship if they suck…got it.
45
arkbadger Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:55 AM
it’s ok to take away their scholarship if they suck…got it.
where in that did he say anything about taking away a scholarship? or running a player off because they suck?
and your oversigning link is cool and all, but there was nothing illegal or against the rules about it.
46
illformula Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Alabama would have put a lot more than 6 up with a little better coaching.
yes, and with the assistance of a correct call by the official.
47
BFFredo Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Can’t believe there are idiots who think this game was boring or sucked.
“good” = lots of offense. “Bad” = lots of defense.
And yet…”defense wins championships” is the cliche.
48
Nada Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 10:59 AM
The moment after Alleman hit that FG in OT, I started worrying about Arkansas. Nov. 25 on the schedule has had me more concerned all season than even Nov. 5.
I would love to see Stanford-LSU or OSU-LSU in the title game. But I’d like to see Boise-LSU even more just to watch the slaughter and shut those potato heads the fuck up for good.
49
Nada Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Penn State has a pretty good defense
And they will need it in court
/ Sandusky’d
50
Menarky Party Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 11:18 AM
that was one of the worst football games i have seen in a while. i had to change the channel to oak st/k state just to clean my eyes out.
51
ButtersBC Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 11:20 AM
that was one of the worst football games i have seen in a while. i had to change the channel to oak st/k state just to clean my eyes out.
At least you’re consistent in hating football that features breathing defenses, I always assumed it was just a Big Ten thing with you
52
HuskerDawg Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 11:23 AM
that was one of the worst football games i have seen in a while. i had to change the channel to oak st/k state just to clean my eyes out.
I really….REALLY hope OKST plays LSU. It would be a blood bath. Give me the LSU defense any day of the week against the OKST offense. I’d bet LSU would hang 38+ on OKST, and they aren’t giving up 38 to OKST.
53
ButtersBC Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 11:24 AM
For the good of college football OU needs to take OSU out…they’re a poor man’s version of Sam Bradford’s Sooners
54
spencer096 Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 11:25 AM
and your oversigning link is cool and all, but there was nothing illegal or against the rules about it.
there’s nothing illegal or against the rules in covering up for a kiddiefucker either…it’s only against the spirit of the law, not against the letter. typical godless arkansesian…
/i keed
55
illformula Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 11:28 AM
fucking bama…
/shakes head
//bangs desk
56
HuskerDawg Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 11:32 AM
For the good of college football OU needs to take OSU out…they’re a poor man’s version of Sam Bradford’s Sooners
All of this. How quickly we forget OU’s run of scoring 60 a game and then dropping a big ol’ 14 on Florida in the championship game. Give a team 4-5 weeks to prepare for you with a defense like LSU has, and it will shut down most offenses.
57
vajayjay redick Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Both of LSU’s lines got pushed around late
I didnt see this. The last Bama drive in regulation (not counting them running out the clock at the end), i saw LSU defenders in the backfield tackling TR for loss on consecutive plays. The Bama drive in OT also saw Bama going backwards. LSU (which rotates 9-10 guys on their DL) was getting stronger as the game went on. Bama does not.
58
vajayjay redick Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 12:05 PM
that was one of the worst football games i have seen in a while. i had to change the channel to oak st/k state just to clean my eyes out.
Arena Football fan?
59
vajayjay redick Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Give a team 4-5 weeks to prepare for you with a defense like LSU has
Miles’ record at LSU in bowl games is 5-1, all 5 wins by at least 2 scores.
60
Nada Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 12:25 PM
LSU’s defense is capable of giving up lots of yards without lots of scores (see West Virginia). And their offense is capable of running up a lot of scores on any defense that is not Alabama’s.
If they can finish running the gantlet culminating in the SEC title game, the Tigers will mandhandle whoever they face in the NC game (unless it’s Bama again).
61
squawkbox Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Alabama would have put a lot more than 6 up with a little better coaching.
yes, and with the assistance of a correct call by the official.
Explain please – what call?
62
squawkbox Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Explain please – what call?
Anyone?
Bueller? Bueller?
63
vajayjay redick Says:
November 7th, 2011 at 1:44 PM
Bama fans are crying that Reid’s INT should have been a catch because it was a dual possession. They reviewed it but couldnt find enough evidence to overturn it. It really couldve gone either way, unlike Pat Peterson’s disallowed INT in the ’09 game which was a much more obvious bad call. Same crew for both games too.