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What were the most watched college football games of the 2016 regular season?

By Connor Learn

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Brutus Buckeye crowd surfs as fans surge onto the field following the win over the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Brutus Buckeye crowd surfs as fans surge onto the field following the win over the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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Now that the regular season has come to a close, what college football games brought in the biggest viewing audiences?

When big-time college football games happen, they are remembered for years to come. Not only for their results, but often because of the memories created with the game as well. As fans look back on individual seasons, they will remember how their teams did, surely, but some games are bigger.

Some sporting events are so big that they are national events; bringing the nation together like few other things do. ESPN released ratings numbers for this college football season on Tuesday. These games were the most-watched games of the season, and will be remembered as some of  the best games of 2016.

When college football fans look back on the 2016 season, they will remember some good highlights. Lamar Jackson emerged as a Heisman favorite early in the season, and the race got interesting as the year went on.

Alabama went undefeated against the spread during the regular season and have made a case for being Nick Saban’s best team.

The Big Ten featured the most solid collection of teams in the country and had some great contests as well. These are all reflected in what college football fans have chosen to watch the most.

Michigan and Ohio State went to double overtime and the winner, the Buckeyes, made the College Football Playoff. Alabama played in three of the nine most-watched games despite crushing the SEC this season. The fifth most-watched game this year was an ACC matchup, a testament to Lamar Jackson’s hype. Nearly 11 million wasted time watching Notre Dame and Texas playing this season, and both of those programs are now in relative chaos mode.

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The most-watched games this year reflect the 2016 regular season very well. This list will change once we get into bowl game season and the College Football Playoff, and reflect the season as a whole by its conclusion. The 2016 college football season was a memorable one for its fans, and these games are the ones that will be remembered the most.

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