Overview
- The 2025 Heisman Trophy Ceremony averaged 4.3 million viewers on ABC, the best since 2012.
- Viewership peaked at 5.8 million during the final quarter-hour when Fernando Mendoza was announced.
- The audience rose roughly 69–72% from last year’s ESPN telecast of about 2.5 million viewers.
- The move marked the event’s first broadcast network airing since 1993 after 31 straight years on ESPN.
- Coverage notes Nielsen’s methodology updates but points to ABC placement between an FCS playoff game and the LA Bowl as the primary driver, with implications for future scheduling if the College Football Playoff expands.