A record two million people tuned into watch the Gophers punt from inside the Ohio State side of the field twice in the first half, only down by 10.
The Big Ten Network said its Saturday broadcast of the No. 2 Buckeyes’ 37-3 drubbing of PJ Fleck’s Gophers squad was the most-watched broadcast in its history, drawing 2,015,000 viewers.
The previous record was Iowa’s 19-point fourth quarter comeback against Nebraska in 2021 on Black Friday.
Big Ten Network says the Minnesota-Ohio State game Saturday drew 2,015,000 viewers, making it the network’s most-watched broadcast ever. It’s also the first event in BTN history to surpass 2 million viewers.Â
(Previous record: Iowa-Nebraska, 2021 Black Friday, 1.99M)
— Jeff Agrest #🟦 (@JeffAgrest) November 21, 2023
Now it’s understandable that people didn’t want to tune into the banger that was Iowa’s 15-13 win over Illinois, but UCLA taking on Caleb Williams’ USC kicked off just a half hour before the Gophers game on ABC. A number of other top QB prospects were playing at the same time. Drake Maye was in action against Clemson, Bo Nix’s Oregon side shellacking Arizona State kicked off at the same time.
Heck, if you wanted an exciting close game. UNLV and Air Force were going at in a 31-27 Rebels win on CBS Sports Network. Instead, two million people decided watching the foreseeable train-wreck of the Gophers trip to Ohio State was a better use of their time.
The loss drops Minnesota to 5-6 on the season, with the chance to draw back to .500 Saturday in the regular season finale against the Badgers at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Minnesota won’t have a chance to repeat their feat on the Big Ten Network this weekend as the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
PJ Fleck is 3-3 all-time against the Badgers as the head coach of the Gophers, winning the last two meetings of the Midwest rivals.
