Knights, Bulls deliver big ratings

ABC found a ratings hit on Black Friday with the War On I-4 rivalry featuring an undefeated UCF football team versus a one-loss USF team.

According to ESPN, the contest did a 3.2 overnight rating, which registered as the third-best Black Friday 3:30 p.m. game on ABC dating to 2002.

The game, which saw the No. 15 Knights defeat the Bulls in a 49-42 thriller, was also up 45 percent from the same 3:30 p.m. time slot last year that ironically featured UCF coach Scott Frost’s alma mater Nebraska versus Iowa. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cornhuskers 40-10 in that game.

Orlando, which hosted the rivalry game at Spectrum Stadium, was the top local market with an 11.1, followed by Tampa, which had a 10.1.

The numbers proved to be a ratings victory for the American Athletic Conference, which is looking to renegotiate its television contract with ESPN — likely in 2019.

AAC commissioner Mike Aresco told the Orlando Sentinel in an interview earlier this year he hoped to have some preliminary discussions with the network in 2018.

“We need more revenue, and we think we can generate more revenue because we’re far more valuable. Doing those Thursday/Fridays is valuable,” Aresco told the Sentinel during AAC football media day. “Not everybody can do those games . ... Our guys know who they are, and they’re willing to do it. But TV is absolutely ... it’s the premier concern right now.”

Next game: No. 15 UCF vs. No. 20 Memphis, Saturday, Noon, ABC