SPORTS digest

UM-OSU most-watched college game of season

BRISTOL, Conn.

ESPN says the Michigan-Ohio State double-overtime thriller drew more than 16.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched college football game this season.

The game was also the most-watched college football game on ABC since the 2006 Michigan-Ohio State game drew more than 21 million viewers, and the most-watched noon ET kickoff for any game on an ESPN network. The 2006 game which was a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup, kicked off at 3:30 p.m. ET.

No. 2 Ohio State beat No. 3 Michigan 30-27 in Saturday’s game.

The second most-watched game this season was Notre Dame-Texas on Labor Day night, which drew almost 11 million viewers.

The viewership peaked for Michigan-Ohio State at more than 20 million viewers between 3:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET when the game went to overtime.

ESPN says the game was also streamed online more than any regular-season game it has ever carried, with more than one million unique viewers.

Nevada, Polian part ways after four seasons

RENO, Nevada

Nevada and coach Brian Polian agreed to part ways Sunday after four seasons in which the Wolf Pack never broke .500 in Mountain West games.

Polian, the son of former NFL executive and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Polian, was 23-27 since replacing Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault. Ault retired after the 2012 season.

A former assistant at Notre Dame, Stanford and Texas A&M, Polian wasn’t able to recreate the success the Wolf Pack had under Ault. Polian guided Nevada to bowl games and 7-6 seasons in years two and three.

The Wolf Pack slipped to 5-7 this season, and 3-5 in the Mountain West.

Caragher fired after four years at SJSU

SAN JOSE, Calif.

San Jose State fired coach Ron Caragher on Sunday after four seasons during which the Spartans never broke .500.

Caragher was hired to replace Mike MacIntye, who had left to take the head coaching job at Colorado after going 10-2 in 2012. Caragher had succeeded Jim Harbaugh in 2007 at FCS San Diego, where he was 44-22 in six seasons.

At San Jose State, the best he could do was 6-6 in 2013. In 2015, the Spartans went 6-7 and won a bowl game. This season San Jose State was 4-8 and 3-5 in the Mountain West.

Nebraska fires special teams coordinator

LINCOLN, Neb.

Nebraska coach Mike Riley has fired special teams coordinator Bruce Read.

The Cornhuskers have underperformed on special teams all season, and Read has been a target of fan complaints because of his $450,000 annual salary. Riley announced Read’s dismissal Sunday, effective immediately.

Nebraska ranks 127th out of 128 FBS teams in net punting and has had three punts blocked. Nebraska is second-to-last in the Big Ten in opponent punt returns and 11th in opponent kick returns.

The Huskers also have been unable to get return man De’Mornay Pierson-El many chances to run back punts. He returned three for touchdowns two years ago.

Sounders beat Rapids to advance to MLS Cup

COMMERCE CITY, Colo.

Jordan Morris scored in the 56th minute and the Seattle Sounders advanced to their first MLS Cup, beating the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on Sunday in the second leg of the Western Conference final.

Nelson Haedo Valdez set up the goal to help Seattle take the series 3-1 in aggregate scoring. The Sounders will play Toronto or Montreal on Dec. 10 for the league title.

Toronto hosts Montreal in the second leg of the Eastern final Wednesday night. The Impact won the first leg 3-2 in Montreal.

The Sounders won the first leg of the series in Seattle 2-1 on Tuesday night and needed only a tie to advance.

Associated Press