Colorado, Colorado State Game Draws Record-Breaking Viewership For ESPN

Colorado and Colorado State’s rivalry game drew record-breaking viewership for ESPN. According to the network, the game garnered 9.3 million viewers, making it the “most-watched late-night college football game ever” for ESPN.

Additionally, the game became the network’s fifth most-watched regular season game ever during any time slot. The same time slot averaged around 1.7 million viewers for the sports giant during the previous NCAA football season. The intense match-up kicked off a little after 10 p.m. ET and ended around 2:30 a.m. ET.

The rivalry game was the definition of a prime-time event. Tensions ran high leading up to the game, with Colorado State’s head coach dissing Deion Sanders. “I don’t care if they hear it in Boulder. I told them. I took my hat off and I took my glasses off and I said, ‘When I talk to grownups, I take my hat and my glasses off,'” Norvell said. “That’s what my mother taught me.”

Sanders responded, stating that Norvell made the game “personal” before gifting all of the Colorado football players with glasses from his brand.

Players on both sides of the rivalry internalized their coaches’ fire and brought their A-game to the field. During pregame warm-ups, a CSU player swatted down a pass intended for Travis Hunter. Shedeur saw the interference and began to call the players out for their lack of pregame etiquette.

The game saw CSU’s Henry Blackburn illegally hit Hunter after a dead play and the Colorado player writhed in pain on the ground. Shedeur Sanders ran down the field and pressed the Colorado State player for the dirty hit.

The Buffaloes struggled in the first two quarters but found their stride late in the 3rd quarter. The game went to two overtimes, with Colorado sealing the deal with an end-zone interception. Colorado defeated CSU 43-35.

More from VIBE.com

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• Deion Sanders Secures Sunglasses Deal After Colo. State Coach Calls Him Out For Media Etiquette

• Deion Sanders Says Colorado Home Opener Made $18 Million For City Of Boulder

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