The 2025 season has been far from what South Carolina football fans envisioned. A team that entered the year surrounded by College Football Playoff hopes now sits at 3–6 after nine games, a record that doesn’t reflect the preseason optimism. Yet through all the disappointment, one thing has not wavered — the passion, loyalty, and sheer size of the Gamecock fanbase.
Despite the on-field frustrations, Williams–Brice Stadium continues to be packed week after week. And the support hasn’t stopped at the stadium gates. According to new Nielsen Ratings data, the Gamecocks are still drawing massive national attention on television.
Heading into the weekend, South Carolina ranks as the No. 13 most-watched team in the country, proving that USC remains one of college football’s biggest brands even in a difficult season.
Nielsen’s top 15 most-watched teams (with average viewers per game) are as follows:
- Alabama – 7.865 million
- Tennessee – 7.032 million
- Georgia – 6.996 million
- Texas – 6.479 million
- LSU – 6.420 million
- Oklahoma – 6.067 million
- Ohio State – 5.752 million
- Florida – 5.674 million
- Florida State – 4.916 million
- Ole Miss – 4.645 million
- Notre Dame – 4.450 million
- Michigan – 4.143 million
- South Carolina – 4.122 million
- Miami – 4.017 million
- Penn State – 3.981 million
For context, Nielsen is recognized as America’s “leader in audience measurement for live sports,” making the rankings a legitimate indicator of national interest.
One of the biggest boosts to USC’s viewership came earlier this season when South Carolina faced Alabama. That matchup became the most-watched game of the week, drawing an impressive 7.8 million viewers. Even more remarkable is that it happened in October, historically the quietest month for college football television numbers.
In fact, South Carolina is pulling more viewers than several major programs with better records — including teams projected to make the College Football Playoff such as Indiana, Texas A&M, and Oregon.
USC is also punching above its weight geographically. Among the top 15 most-watched teams, only four come from states with smaller populations than South Carolina, making the Gamecocks’ viewership numbers even more impressive. Within the SEC, USC ranks ninth in total audience.
With three games left — including a conference matchup and the always-heated rivalry game against Clemson — South Carolina still has a chance to climb even higher in the national viewership rankings before the year is over.
No matter the record, Gamecock Nation continues to show up. The team may be underperforming, but its fans remain elite.
