Rose Bowl Ratings Down From 2010 But Still Set Cable Record for ESPN

ESPN's coverage of the Rose Bowl game Saturday set a record overnight rating for cable, but the matchup was down from last year's game, which aired on ESPN's corporate sibling ABC.

Saturday's game, which saw Texas Christian University triumph over Wisconsin, drew a preliminary rating of 11.7, the highest figure for cable (excluding NFL games) since 2001.

However, that marks a drop from last year's Ohio State-Oregon Rose Bowl matchup, which pulled in a 13.8 overnight rating for broadcaster ABC.

ESPN also said its evening coverage of Saturday's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game -- which Connecticut lost to Oklahoma -- won the night among all broadcast and cable programs with a 6.7 overnight rating.

But that too was down from last year's game, which aired on Fox. The 2010 matchup, between Boise State and TCU, averaged an 8.6.

Still, ESPN says both games are now two of its top four college football games when looking at overnight ratings.

This marked the first year both BCS games aired on cable rather than broadcast television.