Overview
- ESPN reached a six-year extension with the Heisman Trust to retain broadcast rights, per Puck, with financial terms undisclosed and ESPN continuing to produce surrounding coverage.
- The ABC presentation averaged 4.3 million viewers and peaked at 5.8 million, the event’s largest audience since 2012, according to Nielsen.
- Viewership rose about 69–72% from last year’s ESPN telecast, a surge industry analysts mainly attribute to the move from cable to broadcast.
- It was the first Heisman to surpass four million viewers since 2013 and the first to top three million since 2015; this was the ceremony’s first broadcast-network airing since 1993.
- Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the trophy as ABC built a full day of college football around the show, while ESPN’s College Football Awards rose 48% to 582,000 viewers.