Analyzing Viewership Trends in the College Football Playoff's First Round Games
The College Football Playoff's first round last weekend attracted an average of 9.9 million viewers across multiple networks, marking a 7% decrease from the previous year. The lower viewership was partly due to the final game being broadcast on TNT, TBS, and truTV instead of ABC and ESPN, as well as competing with an NFL game in prime time. The Chicago Bears' victory over the Green Bay Packers garnered 21.3 million viewers, while Oregon's win over James Madison drew 4.4 million.
Alabama's comeback win over Oklahoma was the most-watched CFP game, with 14.9 million viewers tuning in on ABC/ESPN. This game was not only the highest-viewed first-round game in the expanded 12-team field but also ranked as the fifth-most watched game of the season. Miami's victory over Texas A&M was the sixth-most watched game of the season, attracting 14.8 million viewers on ABC/ESPN.
In contrast, Ole Miss' win over Tulane saw a decrease in viewership compared to the previous year's game in the same time slot and networks. The competition from the NFL has impacted the viewership of the Saturday middle CFP game in the last two years. ESPN sublicenses CFP games to TNT/TBS and truTV, with plans for the Warner Bros. Discovery channels to broadcast two quarterfinals and a semifinal game next year.
Overall, the viewership numbers for the College Football Playoff's first round games varied, with some matchups attracting higher audiences than others. Despite the drop in viewership from the previous year, the CFP games continue to be a significant draw for college football fans.