CFP Sees 9% Viewership Increase Despite National Championship Flop

Viewership for this year’s College Football Playoff was up an average of 9% overall compared with last year despite a historic flop from the National Championship game, ESPN announced. 

Monday night’s blowout between Georgia and TCU drew an abysmal 17.2 million viewers across networks —  fewer than any championship matchup since the BCS era began. Last year’s battle between Alabama and Georgia drew five million more.

Even a new innovative broadcast featuring Pat McAfee on ESPN2 couldn’t hold the attention of fans wholly uninterested in watching TCU get annihilated by the Bulldogs — a beatdown that began within minutes of kickoff.  

The National Championship also drew fewer viewers than both semifinal games, which ESPN is touting as their saving grace for this year’s CFP.

The Peach and Fiesta Bowls drew an average of 21.7 million viewers in total, 28% more than last year and higher than any semifinal pair over the previous five years.

College Sports

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• The Peach Bowl between Georgia and Ohio State garnered an average of 22.1 million viewers and peaked at 23.9 million.
• The Fiesta Bowl between TCU and Michigan averaged 21.4 million viewers and peaked at 26.4 million.

This marks the second-to-last four-game CFP matchup in history. The new 12-team playoff format will begin in 2024.