Last Friday night's Mountain West championship game on Fox set a remarkable record with 3.005 million viewers. This was a significant increase from the 1 million viewers of the previous season. Both Boise State and UNLV faced off in these games, and in 2024, the stakes were even higher as the winner earned a spot in the College Football Playoff and Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty became a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. The game reached its peak with 3.505 million viewers from 6-6:15 p.m. Pacific time, kicking off at 5 p.m. It emerged as the most-watched sporting event on that day across all networks, although it didn't claim the title of the most-watched game featuring a MW team in 2024.

Record-Breaking Viewership and Its Impact

The Mountain West championship game's record television viewership of 3.005 million viewers on Fox last Friday night was a game-changer. This significant increase from the previous season's 1 million viewers shows the growing popularity and excitement surrounding MW football. The peak viewership of 3.505 million during the 6-6:15 p.m. Pacific time slot with a 5 p.m. kickoff highlights the intense interest in this event. It not only became the most-watched sporting event of the day but also demonstrated the potential of MW football to attract a large audience. This record-breaking viewership has implications for the future of MW football, potentially leading to increased media attention and sponsorship opportunities.The fact that it was the most-watched sporting event of the day showcases the power of college football in general and the Mountain West conference in particular. It also indicates that fans are eager to watch high-quality football games, and the MW is delivering just that. This success can serve as a catalyst for further growth and development within the conference, attracting more talented players and improving the overall quality of play.

MW Football Games with Significant Viewership

Week 3's Colorado-Colorado State game attracted a massive 3.25 million viewers on CBS. This game demonstrated the appeal of inter-conference matchups and the ability of MW teams to compete at a high level. Week 15's Boise State-UNLV game on Fox also drew 3.01 million viewers, showing the ongoing rivalry between these two teams and the excitement it generates.Week 1's Fresno State-Michigan game on NBC had 2.56 million viewers, highlighting the potential for MW teams to draw large audiences against power conference opponents. Week 1's Colorado State-Texas game on ESPN with 1.84 million viewers and Week 11's Nevada-Boise State game on Fox with 1.53 million viewers further demonstrate the popularity of MW football. These games show that MW teams can attract significant viewership even when facing tough opponents.

Other Notable MW Football Games

Week 6's Air Force-Navy game on CBS with 1.28 million viewers and Week 1's UCLA-Hawaii game on CBS with 1.13 million viewers also had substantial viewership. Even games with lower-ranked opponents, such as Week 10's San Diego State-Boise State game on FS1 with 656,000 viewers and Week 13's Nevada-Air Force game on FS1 with 98,000 viewers, still managed to attract a decent number of viewers.Notably absent from the list is Boise State's game at Oregon on Peacock, where ratings were not released. This highlights the importance of having games on major networks to maximize viewership. Only one regular-season MW vs. MW game made it into the top 12, the Nevada-Boise State showdown on Fox in Week 11 with 1.53 million viewers.The highest-rated games were against power-conference teams in non-league play, with the Colorado-Colorado State game topping the list with 3.25 million viewers. This shows that MW teams can generate significant interest when facing off against established programs.In conclusion, the Mountain West championship game's record viewership and the popularity of MW football games throughout the season demonstrate the growing strength and appeal of the conference. These games are attracting a large audience and providing exciting entertainment for football fans. With continued growth and development, the MW is poised to make an even bigger impact in the world of college football.