Nielsen reveals top-10 college football viewing markets in country

Nielsen has released data revealing the top-10 local markets for college football viewership this season, with Southern cities predominating the list. Birmingham, Alabama, leads the rankings based on household ratings, which measure the percentage of TV households watching college football. Notably, two Ohio cities, Columbus and Dayton, secured the second and third spots, likely driven by Ohio State's performance. The list continues with Greenville, SC, and Tulsa, OK, completing the top five. Oklahoma City follows in sixth place, while Atlanta, GA, home to both Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech fans, ranks seventh as the first market with an NFL team. Knoxville, New Orleans, and Jacksonville fill the remaining spots, emphasizing the strong viewership in SEC territory. The data underscores the South's deep-rooted affinity for college football, contrasting with lower viewership in Northern, Midwestern, and Western regions.