5 Most-Watched G5 Bowl Games of 2023

This past college football bowl season, teams from the Group of Five played in several of the more entertaining bowl games. Sports Media Watch compiles college football television ratings each week and did so again for the postseason. While no G5 games quite reached the 27.76 million viewers of the Rose Bowl game between Alabama and Michigan, several reached at least the two-million mark. 

After diving into the numbers from each postseason matchup, these were the five most-watched bowl games that featured at least one team from the Group of Five ranks.

Fiesta Bowl - Liberty vs. Oregon

4.67 Million Viewers - ESPN

Liberty made a few interesting plays in CUSA's first appearance in a New Year's Six game, but lost to the future Big Ten members in convincing fashion.

Liberty Bowl - Memphis vs. Iowa State

3.6 Million Viewers - ESPN

The Tigers turned in a stellar defensive day in their home stadium to earn their 10th win - their best total under Ryan Silverfield.

First Responder Bowl - Texas State vs. Rice

2.8 Million Viewers - ESPN 

Texas State won the program's first-ever FBS bowl game, cementing their best season at that level and their tremendous first year under G.J. Kinne.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl - Kansas vs. UNLV

2.69 Million Viewers - ESPN

UNLV didn't execute at the level they did in the regular season, ending their season with a loss to Lance Leipold's Jayhawks 

Birmingham Bowl - Duke vs. Troy

2.67 Million Viewers - ABC

Following Jon Sumrall's move to Tulane, the Trojans were a little off, especially offensively, in a 17-10 loss to the Blue Devils.