Aggies '99 Alamo Bowl Most Watched ESPN Game of Year
Jan 19, 2000 | Football
January 19, 2000
Texas A&M's 1999 Sylvania Alamo Bowl game against Penn State in December was the highest rated college football game televised by ESPN and espn 2 during this year's regular and bowl seasons.
In 1999, ESPN and espn2 televised 84 college football games and the Aggies' Alamo Bowl game earned a 5.15 cable rating as it reached approximately four million households (3.97 m). The game marked the third most watched ESPN college bowl game all-time and it was the fifth most watched college football game in ESPN history.
The 1999 Alamo Bowl ranks just behind another A&M bowl game on the all-time ESPN most watched lists.
In 1995, when the Aggies beat Michigan in the Alamo Bowl, more than 4.25 million households tuned in as the game was the most watched bowl game in ESPN history. It held the mark until the 1998 Holiday Bowl featuring Nebraska and Arizona when 4.55 million households were viewing.
Two of the top three all-time ESPN bowl games have featured Texas A&M, while two of the top five all-time college football games on ESPN have featured the Aggies.
The top five ESPN college football games are as follows: (1) Florida State vs. Miami, 1994 [4.84 m]; (2) 1998 Holiday Bowl-Nebraska vs. Arizona [4.55 m]; (3) 1995 Alamo Bowl-A&M vs. Michigan [4.25 m]; (4) Florida State vs. Virginia, 1995 [4.09]; and 1999 Alamo Bowl-A&M vs. Penn State [3.97].
The Aggies hold a 20-5 all-time record on ESPN, including a streak of 12 wins which was ended at the 1999 Alamo Bowl.
ESPN is the nation's largest cable network and reaches more than 76 million homes.
The Aggies have appeared on television more than 75 times during head coach R.C. Slocum's 11-year tenure at A&M. Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference, nearly 70 percent of the Aggies' games have been televised, not including pay-per-view only broadcasts.
ESPN's Most Watched Bowl Games
rk Game viewers (millions)
1. 1998 Holiday Bowl-Nebraska vs. Arizona 4.55
2. 1995 Alamo Bowl-Texas A&M vs. Michigan 4.25
3. 1999 Alamo Bowl-Texas A&M vs. Penn State 3.97
ESPN's Most Watched College Football Games
rk Game viewers (millions)
1. 1994 Florida State vs. Miami 4.84
2. 1998 Holiday Bowl-Nebraska vs. Arizona 4.55
3. 1995 Alamo Bowl-Texas A&M vs. Michigan 4.25
4. 1995 Florida State vs. Virginia 4.09
5. 1999 Alamo Bowl-Texas A&M vs. Penn State 3.97
