TV ratings for BCS title game down from last year

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A field goal-filled shutout couldn't compete with a thrilling finish for television viewers.

TV ratings dipped for this year's BCS title game, Alabama's 21-0 win in a rematch against Southeastern Conference rival LSU. The Crimson Tide went up 15-0 late in the third quarter on five field goals while the Tigers' offense struggled to even cross midfield.

A year ago, Auburn drove for a winning field goal on the final play to beat Oregon 22-19.

Monday's game on ESPN earned a 14.0 rating, down 8 percent from last year. It's the third-lowest rating of the 14 BCS title games, beating only a 13.9 for Miami-Nebraska in 2002 and a 13.7 for Southern California-Oklahoma in 2005.

The average of 24.2 million viewers is the second-largest audience in cable history behind the 2011 title game. The BCS championship moved to cable last year.

Ratings measure the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned into a program. The game earned a 16.2 fast national rating among households that get ESPN. Eight BCS title games have drawn a rating of more than that for all homes.