Television viewer numbers for NCAA sports

[sigma_dawg]

Here are viewers among sports:

Football: NC game 20-25 million avg

Men’s basketball: NC game 14-18 million avg

Women’s basketball: NC game 10-11 million viewers average but rivals men’s basketball in peak years and approaches 20 million in big matchups. One of the fastest growing NCAA sports.

Volleyball: championship game 1.5-3.0 million viewers, fastest growing NCAA sport

Softball: Regular CWS games 700k-1.5 million, trending much higher over past decade and surpassed college baseball. Growth has doubled over past decade.

Baseball: Regular CWS games 600k-1.2 million, stable but no growth over past decade

The remaining sports all fall below this nationally.

Let’s think about this from a business perspective - as a University trying to promote ourselves with a finite budget. How should we distribute funds to promote MSU in the best way possible? Where would we be smart to place our efforts and resources as fans of MSU?

 

[maroontide06]

"Just keep it in the black." - LT

 

[Chesusdog]

I'd dump all money into frontal lobotomies for anyone trying to take resources from baseball.

 

[00Dawg]

Some numbers are a little off there.
2026 CWS averaged 1.4 million, and WCWS had 1.6 million. Baseball had its most-watched regular season since 2016, and softball most since 2009 (up 78%! over 2025).

 

[Maroon13]

Allocate funds to whatever brings State fans to Stark. Regardless if it's tiddlywinks or football.

because you can have millions of viewers (viewing to watch Bama beat that tail again) or 20k in the stands. The 20k in the stands matter more to msu. Although the viewers have some barring on sec membership(thanks blue bloods).

 

[Faustdog]

Y'all noticed that dudes who are really into softball and don't have a daughter on the actual team tend to be complete weirdos?

They're similar to WNBA fans.

 

[aTotal360]

As someone that donates peanuts to the NIL, I'm not overly enthusiastic about giving football much more money until we get a FB coach worth a shlt.

 

[Called3rdstrikedawg]

As someone that donates peanuts to the NIL, I'm not overly enthusiastic about giving football much more money until we get a FB coach worth a shlt.

There is a start right there!

 

[Called3rdstrikedawg]

Here are viewers among sports:

Football: NC game 20-25 million avg

Men’s basketball: NC game 14-18 million avg

Women’s basketball: NC game 10-11 million viewers average but rivals men’s basketball in peak years and approaches 20 million in big matchups. One of the fastest growing NCAA sports.

Volleyball: championship game 1.5-3.0 million viewers, fastest growing NCAA sport

Softball: Regular CWS games 700k-1.5 million, trending much higher over past decade and surpassed college baseball. Growth has doubled over past decade.

Baseball: Regular CWS games 600k-1.2 million, stable but no growth over past decade

The remaining sports all fall below this nationally.

Let’s think about this from a business perspective - as a University trying to promote ourselves with a finite budget. How should we distribute funds to promote MSU in the best way possible? Where would we be smart to place our efforts and resources as fans of MSU?

Eliminate all women’s sports and divert all academic funding to the Football Program! That aught to get some national attention!!!

 

[Darryl Steight]

Here are viewers among sports:

Football: NC game 20-25 million avg

Men’s basketball: NC game 14-18 million avg

Women’s basketball: NC game 10-11 million viewers average but rivals men’s basketball in peak years and approaches 20 million in big matchups. One of the fastest growing NCAA sports.

Volleyball: championship game 1.5-3.0 million viewers, fastest growing NCAA sport

Softball: Regular CWS games 700k-1.5 million, trending much higher over past decade and surpassed college baseball. Growth has doubled over past decade.

Baseball: Regular CWS games 600k-1.2 million, stable but no growth over past decade

The remaining sports all fall below this nationally.

Let’s think about this from a business perspective - as a University trying to promote ourselves with a finite budget. How should we distribute funds to promote MSU in the best way possible? Where would we be smart to place our efforts and resources as fans of MSU?

I fail to see what 20 million people watching the national championship game in football has diddleyshit to do with Mississippi State.

 

[olblue]

On a side note, last night’s soccer match drew 21MM.

 

[ZombieKissinger]

Since we’ll never make the NC game in basketball or football but will make CWS regularly, we should put all money in baseball

 

[OG Goat Holder]

 

[L4Dawg]

There is a start right there!

Actually that is why we have real trouble getting coaches to come here. We are our own worst enemy.

 

[L4Dawg]

Eliminate all women’s sports and divert all academic funding to the Football Program! That aught to get some national attention!!!

Can’t do that, it is actually illegal. You cut the ones that lose money to the bone and put your resources into the ones that make money. Eventually you can come back into the money losers .

 

[L4Dawg]

Since we’ll never make the NC game in basketball or football but will make CWS regularly, we should put all money in baseball

The athletic program would go under in a couple of years. Baseball can’t even pay its own bills.

 

[Chesusdog]

I fail to see what 20 million people watching the national championship game in football has diddleyshit to do with Mississippi State.

 

[Villagedawg]

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Can’t do that, it is actually illegal. You cut the ones that lose money to the bone and put your resources into the ones that make money. Eventually you can come back into the money losers .

That tells why none of this matters, girl dad

 

[L4Dawg]

That tells why none of this matters, girl dad

Only one kid, a son. Wrong as always.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

Here are viewers among sports:

Football: NC game 20-25 million avg

Men’s basketball: NC game 14-18 million avg

Women’s basketball: NC game 10-11 million viewers average but rivals men’s basketball in peak years and approaches 20 million in big matchups. One of the fastest growing NCAA sports.

Volleyball: championship game 1.5-3.0 million viewers, fastest growing NCAA sport

Softball: Regular CWS games 700k-1.5 million, trending much higher over past decade and surpassed college baseball. Growth has doubled over past decade.

Baseball: Regular CWS games 600k-1.2 million, stable but no growth over past decade

The remaining sports all fall below this nationally.

Let’s think about this from a business perspective - as a University trying to promote ourselves with a finite budget. How should we distribute funds to promote MSU in the best way possible? Where would we be smart to place our efforts and resources as fans of MSU?

Promoting the school is just one purpose of college athletics. Alumni relations and student recruitment are other purposes. You have to make sure you distribute the funding in ways that make the alums happy

 

[gtowndawg]

If you want to matter in the athletics world, better be good (not great, good) at football or basketball, they are the only two that the masses care about or watch. Everything else is white noise.

 

[Villagedawg]

If you want to matter in the athletics world, better be good (not great, good) at football or basketball, they are the only two that the masses care about or watch. Everything else is that seem

Thats maybe 1/20 of the athletics world. What you mean is the sports entertainment world, but I get your point. But what does mattering in that world get me, a run of the mill alumnus?

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

You football centric guys are such geniuses why don't you just become a damn billionaire and solve all of our problems. You can put as much of your money as you want into football and you don't have to waste your time posting the sameshit on the message board.


I would make one more statement. I would bet at this point our baseball alumni have donated more money back to MSU than the football alumni even though it's a much smaller number of people.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

I like baseball, so I want to spend money on that. If other fanbases don't care as much, then too bad for them for missing out.

 

[thatsbaseball]

"I would make one more statement. I would bet at this point our baseball alumni have donated more money back to MSU than the football alumni even though it's a much smaller number of people."

I'd bet the same thing but this has always been strange to me and we've had some football alumni making major cash .

 

[OG Goat Holder]

"I would make one more statement. I would bet at this point our baseball alumni have donated more money back to MSU than the football alumni even though it's a much smaller number of people."

I'd bet the same thing but this has always been strange to me and we've had some football alumni making major cash .

A bunch of our football alumni still think we owe them (not Dak or Simmons).

 

[Denverdawg2]

I fail to see what 20 million people watching the national championship game in football has diddleyshit to do with Mississippi State.

It all depends on what you want for Mississippi State. If the status quo is what you like then that is great. If you want more funding and to be nationally relevant in these changing times then football and basketball carry much more weight. I have many friends that never set foot in the South, but sent their kids to Ole Miss and bought houses/condos there and are season ticket/box owners. All because of there football success and national marketing. Same goes for Alabama. They never even thought of visiting Mstate.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

It all depends on what you want for Mississippi State. If the status quo is what you like then that is great. If you want more funding and to be nationally relevant in these changing times then football and basketball carry much more weight. I have many friends that never set foot in the South, but sent their kids to Ole Miss and bought houses/condos there and are season ticket/box owners. All because of there football success and national marketing. Same goes for Alabama. They never even thought of visiting Mstate.

You have “many friends” who did that? Exactly how many do you know specifically at Ole Miss and Alabama?

I’m not saying this isn’t happening but I am calling BS on you knowing “many” of these people.

Chuck Liddell is actually one who has a daughter at Ole Miss.

 

[Denverdawg2]

You have “many friends” who did that? Exactly how many do you know specifically at Ole Miss and Alabama?

I’m not saying this isn’t happening but I am calling BS on you knowing “many” of these people.

Chuck Liddell is actually one who has a daughter at Ole Miss.

I am only one person with not a large network and know 7 families that have done this and met others on college tours from around the country doing the same.

 

[sigma_dawg]

I am only one person with not a large network and know 7 families that have done this and met others on college tours from around the country doing the same.

I completely agree. Many folks in Texas don’t even know what MSU is. They’re like “oh you guys are Ole Miss?” I’ve gotten congratulatory text messages, from folks trying to be nice, when Ole Miss advanced in the football playoffs. I just politely responded in that I hope they lose.

Baseball doesn’t even move the needle in terms of exposure and promoting MSU. Any funds spent there may as well be flushed down the toilet in terms of gaining exposure. Outside of baseball players, “I am choosing MSU because of their baseball program…” said NO ONE EVER. Football and basketball yes and women’s sports surging BIGTIME. We must be smart. Do I expect us to be? I have serious doubts about that.

 

[Villagedawg]

I completely agree. Many folks in Texas don’t even know what MSU is. They’re like “oh you guys are Ole Miss?” I’ve gotten congratulatory text messages, from folks trying to be nice, when Ole Miss advanced in the football playoffs. I just politely responded in that I hope they lose.

Baseball doesn’t even move the needle in terms of exposure and promoting MSU. Any funds spent there may as well be flushed down the toilet in terms of gaining exposure. Outside of baseball players, “I am choosing MSU because of their baseball program…” said NO ONE EVER. Football and basketball yes and women’s sports surging BIGTIME. We must be smart. Do I expect us to be? I have serious doubts about that.

I think a few of you are way overestimating the impact sports has on people’s college decision. All of us on this board love college sports. That just isn’t the case with most people in the country anymore. And it has never been the case outside the South. My kids are grown, but if we were looking at schools again, sports wouldn’t even be on the list of top 50 things to consider. Clearly, they weren’t then either since both of them went to State!

 

[OG Goat Holder]

I completely agree. Many folks in Texas don’t even know what MSU is. They’re like “oh you guys are Ole Miss?” I’ve gotten congratulatory text messages, from folks trying to be nice, when Ole Miss advanced in the football playoffs. I just politely responded in that I hope they lose.

Baseball doesn’t even move the needle in terms of exposure and promoting MSU. Any funds spent there may as well be flushed down the toilet in terms of gaining exposure. Outside of baseball players, “I am choosing MSU because of their baseball program…” said NO ONE EVER. Football and basketball yes and women’s sports surging BIGTIME. We must be smart. Do I expect us to be? I have serious doubts about that.

In the old days I’d say we are way too behind to ever make up ground and be a football school, so we better just be using the SEC as our main branding.

But Indiana proved that anybody can win nowadays with the right coach. We don’t have that. Giving NIL to a bad coach is an absolute waste of money - because that money is then gone, not reinvested into the program.

And then of course here at MSU, we also change our logo yet again, even furthering the idea that we understand nothing about branding.

So, baseball is all we got at present. Be happy with that. Ain’t nothing changing. We’ve made the decision to try and fundraise out of football, and that was a BAD one.

 

[Bulldawg77]

A bunch of our football alumni still think we owe them (not Dak or Simmons).

You couldn’t be more wrong in this statement. I swear you really need to get out rankin county

 

[Bulldawg77]

You have “many friends” who did that? Exactly how many do you know specifically at Ole Miss and Alabama?

I’m not saying this isn’t happening but I am calling BS on you knowing “many” of these people.

Chuck Liddell is actually one who has a daughter at Ole Miss.

Football recruits for the School. Football drives the ATH department followed by basketball . Baseball is something to do in the spring. We lose a million or more a year in baseball. We have since 2011, and contrary to the rumors that once the stadium is paid off we will make a profit is wrong. We still won’t make money in baseball. Doubling down on the baseball investment when our counterparts are investing heavily in football isn’t smart.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Football recruits for the School. Football drives the ATH department followed by basketball . Baseball is something to do in the spring. We lose a million or more a year in baseball. We have since 2011, and contrary to the rumors that once the stadium is paid off we will make a profit is wrong. We still won’t make money in baseball. Doubling down on the baseball investment when our counterparts are investing heavily in football isn’t smart.

We know all this. Those of us who realize baseball is necessary, are thinking much deeper than you. It’s more than just money, though we do and will make more than you say.

Baseball is a student recruiting tool, especially for students within driving distance. It’s also something we can be proud of and makes us stand out. It cannot be argued, only a fool would try.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

You couldn’t be more wrong in this statement. I swear you really need to get out rankin county

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Lolololololololololololololololol

I try to give you the benefit of the doubt because you try so hard. But it’s becoming clear you don’t know many ex-football players, at least over the past 20 years.

And you don’t even have to know them. Just look at the donations

 

[olblue]

I am only one person with not a large network and know 7 families that have done this and met others on college tours from around the country doing the same.

I recently played in a golf event at Oxford Country Club. Every member in our flight had a home in Oxford because they had a kid/kids that went to Ole Miss. Only one of them was an Ole Miss grad. Three had never been to Oxford before their kid decided to visit the school.

 

[Bulldawg77]

We know all this. Those of us who realize baseball is necessary, are thinking much deeper than you. It’s more than just money, though we do and will make more than you say.

Baseball is a student recruiting tool, especially for students within driving distance. It’s also something we can be proud of and makes us stand out. It cannot be argued, only a fool would try.

Let me explain it to you in terms you can understand.. baseball has lost over 1MM a year since 2011. We have operated in the red every year every season for the last 15 years. And before that it’ was breaking even or needing supplemental income from other sports. Now add in the ridiculous amount of debt we are carrying around for the new DNF and your talking a financial burden of over 85 million in a loss in a sport that can’t make money or revenue to support itself

 

[Bulldawg77]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Lolololololololololololololololol

I try to give you the benefit of the doubt because you try so hard. But it’s becoming clear you don’t know many ex-football players, at least over the past 20 years.

And you don’t even have to know them. Just look at the donations

You clearly don’t know anything you’re talking about. Do we have former players that don’t give. Sure, happens at a lot of places. But we most certainly have former football players who give that are not disclosed. You really don’t need to comment on things you know zero about