USC-Michigan and Tennessee-Oklahoma Lead Record-Breaking College Football Weekend

Conference realignment drives massive TV ratings for marquee matchups, bolstering financial success.

USC's victory over Michigan drew 6.32 million viewers on CBS, the highest Week 4 college football audience for the network in a decade.
Tennessee's SEC opener against Oklahoma attracted 6.27 million viewers on ABC, more than doubling last year's Texas-Baylor game.
These matchups were made possible by recent conference realignments, with USC joining the Big Ten and Oklahoma joining the SEC.
The Michigan-USC game was the most-streamed September game ever on Paramount+, peaking at 10 million viewers.
Overall, the realignment has led to increased viewership and higher television contracts, with more high-profile games scheduled throughout the season.