**Alabama's Triumph Over Georgia Sets ESPN Viewership Milestone**

In a thrilling matchup, No. 1 Alabama's narrow victory over No. 5 Georgia became the most-watched game of 2024 and the highest-rated ESPN game since 2017. Drawing an average of 12 million viewers and peaking at over 14.1 million, the game captivated audiences with its dramatic narrative.

Alabama initially took a commanding 28-0 lead, but Georgia's unexpected comeback spurred significant spectator interest. The Bulldogs managed to erase the deficit, even momentarily taking the lead with less than three minutes remaining. However, Alabama's Jalen Milroe sealed the victory with a decisive 75-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Williams, resulting in a 41-34 final score.

This game's viewership figures marked the highest for any ESPN network game since 2017 and the most popular regular-season prime-time game across all networks in the same period. The win also propelled Alabama to the top of the AP Top 25 rankings from No. 4, while Georgia slipped from No. 2 to No. 4.

In comparison, the most-watched regular-season game of 2023 was Michigan's win over Ohio State, which garnered just over 19 million viewers. Georgia and Alabama also featured in seven of the top 100 most-viewed college football games last season, underscoring their substantial impact on audience engagement.

ESPN and ABC's exclusive broadcasting rights to SEC games, beginning in 2024, underscore why the network invested heavily in this deal. The shift to airing SEC games in prime time is already paying off, with another major viewership opportunity on the horizon: Georgia's upcoming game against Texas and Alabama's contest with Tennessee. Both promise to be major draws, further cementing ESPN's dominance in college football broadcasting.