AUBURN, Alabama -- Wisconsin's dramatic and record-breaking victory against Auburn in the Outback Bowl also broke ratings records.

The New Year's Day game between Auburn and Wisconsin drew a 3.8 rating and averaged 6.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched program in ESPN2 history, the bowl announced Wednesday.

Wisconsin knocked off Auburn 34-31 in overtime. Auburn lost on Daniel Carlson's field goal attempt, which ricocheted off the right upright in overtime.

"We are extremely excited to have set a record for our network partners at ESPN as the first game to kick off the most tradition-rich day of college football - New Year's Day," Outback Bowl president Jim McVay said in a statement. "It was a wonderful kickoff to the biggest day in college football and an opportunity for millions of fans to be exposed to the Outback Bowl and our beautiful Tampa Bay community."

ESPN2 launched in the fall of 1993.

The Outback Bowl's rating beat the Chicago White Sox winning a divisional playoff series against the Boston Red Sox on Oct. 7, 2005 -- the first playoff series win for the White Sox since 1917. The game drew a 3.3 rating, ESPN spokeswoman Keri Potts said.

The average of 6.4 million viewers for the Outback Bowl crushed the previous record on ESPN2, which was 4.6 million viewers for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in Phoenix on Nov. 9, 2008.

Wisconsin set a bowl record for rushing yards (400) as Heisman runner-up Melvin Gordon picked up 251 yards against the Tigers' defense, which ended the season giving up 31 points or more to seven straight Power 5 opponents.

Wisconsin tied the game in the final seconds of regulation.