Outback Bowl Scores With Fans Posting a 7.1 TV Rating

Tampa, FL –Nielson Media Research has reported that the Outback Bowl 25th Anniversary game on New Year’s Day Bowl generated a 7.05 national TV rating on ABC. The Outback Bowl was the highest rated college football game on ABC this year and the highest rated non-BCS Bowl in three years. The game featured two traditional powerhouses in Penn State and Florida, along with college football icon Joe Paterno and Urban Meyer, who was coaching his final game for the Gators.

“The Florida Gators and the Nittany Lions put on a tremendous show for our ABC national audience,” said Outback Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay. “A record number of viewers for the Outback Bowl were treated to an exciting Big Ten – SEC match-up that enabled us to positively showcase our Tampa Bay community. A special thanks to Urban Meyer’s Florida Gators, Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions, our title sponsor Outback Steakhouse and ESPN for making our 25th Anniversary special.”

The exposure from the telecast coupled with a half-hour Preview Special aired nationally on ESPN networks, and record national and regional media coverage from more than 600 media representatives generated millions of dollars in publicity for the Tampa Bay region on top of the economic impact created from the visiting fans.