ACC/Big Ten Challenge Up From '10, Fueled By Record-Setting Duke-Ohio State Game

The ACC/Big Ten Challenge averaged a 0.9 U.S. rating and 1.3 million viewers for eight games across ESPN and ESPN2 this year, up 29% and 26%, respectively, from a 0.7 rating and 1.0 million viewers for nine telecasts last year. The telecasts were solely on Tuesday and Wednesday nights this season; the event began with a Monday night game in previous years. The gains this year were fueled by the Nov. 29 Duke-Ohio State matchup, which averaged a 2.3 rating and 3.4 million viewers, marking the most-watched ACC/Big Ten Challenge telecast since the event began in ’99. The game was ESPN’s most-viewed college sports telecast last week, topping the BCS Selection Show (3.0 million viewers) and the Clemson-Virginia Tech ACC Championship (2.8 million viewers). Listed below is a ratings and viewership trend for the tournament, as well as a breakdown of this year’s games. NOTE : Ratings/viewership unavailable for games on ESPNU.