COMMERCE – The 2026 FCS Kickoff featuring the East Texas A&M University football team and Mercer University drew 822,000 viewers on ESPN, making it the second-most-watched game in the 12-year history of the FCS Kickoff.
 
The primetime matchup, played on Mercer's campus to open the 2026 season, nearly doubled the viewership from last season's FCS Kickoff. It was the fourth-highest viewed game of the opening weekend across all ESPN Networks, behind only TCU-North Carolina, NC State-Virginia, and the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Archer Construction & Design was the game's jersey patch sponsor for East Texas A&M.  
 
The record-setting audience continues a period of growing national exposure for East Texas A&M football, providing another opportunity for Lion Athletics, the university, and the greater Northeast Texas region to be showcased on a national stage.
 
"The tremendous viewership for this year's FCS Kickoff is a testament to the continued growth and momentum of East Texas A&M University and Lion Athletics," said Director of Athletics Jim Curry. "Opportunities like this allow us to showcase East Texas A&M and the greater Northeast Texas region to an ever-expanding national audience. We are incredibly grateful to ESPN and Mercer for their partnership and affording us the platform to highlight our university, our football program and our community."
 
The 2026 FCS Kickoff marked East Texas A&M's fourth national linear television appearance since moving to the NCAA Division I level. The Lions previously appeared on truTV against San Diego State in 2024 before making two appearances on ACC Network against SMU and Florida State during the 2025 season.
 
East Texas A&M is one of just three FCS programs to open the season on national linear television in each of the past three seasons, with the Lions appearing on a different network in each of those three years.
 
The 2026 FCS Kickoff surpassed 700,000 viewers for the first time since 2019, when Youngstown State faced Samford in Montgomery, Alabama. Only the 2015 FCS Kickoff between No. 13 Montana and No. 1 North Dakota State has drawn a larger audience in the event's history.
 
ESPN FCS KICKOFF VIEWERSHIP NUMBERS

2015	No. 13 Montana vs. No. 1 North Dakota State	981,000
2026	NO. 17 MERCER VS. EAST TEXAS A&M	822,000
2016	No. 1 North Dakota State vs. No. 7 Charleston Southern	797,000
2017	No. 6 Jacksonville State vs. No. 12 Chattanooga	725,000
2019	Youngstown State vs. Samford	718,000
2014	No. 1 Eastern Washington vs. No. 17 Sam Houston	676,000
2024	Southeast Missouri State vs. North Alabama	672,000
2018	No. 14 North Carolina A&T vs. No. 6 Jacksonville State	564,000
2022	Jacksonville State vs. No. 10 SFA	541,000
2020	No. 11 Central Arkansas vs. No. 13 Austin Peay	501,000
2023	No. 20 Mercer vs. North Alabama	457,000
2025	No. 7 UC Davis vs. No. 11 Mercer	422,000