Ohio State-Oregon on NBC4 most watched primetime Big Ten game in 16 years

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Saturday’s primetime top-three college football showdown on NBC4 between Ohio State and Oregon had a record-setting number of viewers.

The anticipated Big Ten Saturday Night game that ended with a 32-31 win for Oregon over the Buckeyes averaged 10.2 million viewers across NBC4 and Peacock, making it the most watched primetime game in the conference since a 2008 matchup between Ohio State and Penn State.

During the final moments of the fourth quarter, where Ohio State had a chance to win the game in the final seconds, the television audience peaked at 13.4 million viewers. Columbus was the top-metered market for the game, followed by Cleveland, Portland, and Cincinnati.

Saturday’s contest was one of the most exciting of the season, as the Ducks and Buckeyes traded the lead throughout while also producing memorable plays, both good and bad. The game had a classic quarterback duel between Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Ohio State’s Will Howard, kicking snafus, and long touchdown drives.

The most memorable moments came in the final seconds as the Buckeyes drove down near the red zone as they trailed by one. An offensive pass interference call on OSU receiver Jeremiah Smith moved them backwards and out of field goal range as the game ended with Howard sliding in the middle of the field and not calling a timeout, giving Oregon the signature win.

The No. 4-ranked Buckeyes enter a bye week and will return to the field on Oct. 26 to host Nebraska while No. 2-ranked Oregon is set to face Purdue on Friday. Big Ten Saturday Night rolls along on NBC4 this weekend as Michigan State hosts Iowa at 7:30 p.m.

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