The inaugural season of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff exceeded expectations for ESPN, delivering strong viewership numbers and generating buzz for the high-stakes tournament. As the dust settles on Ohio State’s thrilling championship victory over Notre Dame, ESPN is already looking ahead to build on the momentum in future years.
Ratings Reach New Heights
According to Nielsen, the 11 College Football Playoff games aired on ESPN networks averaged an impressive 15.6 million viewers, a significant jump from the previous format. Engagement skyrocketed, with fans consuming nearly 36 billion minutes of live coverage – a staggering 63% increase year-over-year.
The newly added first-round and quarterfinal games proved to be a ratings hit, averaging 10.6 million and 16.9 million viewers respectively. The semifinals continued to draw massive audiences despite moving to mid-January, pulling in an average of 19.2 million sets of eyeballs.
Championship Ratings Dip, but Context is Key
While the Ohio State-Notre Dame title tilt drew a somewhat disappointing 22.1 million viewers, a 12% decrease from last year, ESPN programming VP Nick Dawson emphasized the need to assess the bigger picture. He pointed to the CFP’s overall success in elevating lesser matchups:
Nine of the top ten most-viewed games this season were CFP matchups. In the past, only the final three games really moved the needle. The new format is creating value for a wider range of games.
– Nick Dawson, ESPN
The championship game’s ratings peak came, unsurprisingly, during the competitive first half. Viewership topped out at 26.1 million when the game was tied 7-7 in the second quarter, before steadily declining as Ohio State pulled away. ESPN undoubtedly hopes for tighter title tilts going forward to keep fans glued to their screens.
Building for the Future
ESPN inked a massive 10-year, $7.8 billion deal to retain College Football Playoff rights through 2031. The network is bullish that the 12-team format will continue delivering improved ratings and revenue as it evolves.
- Dawson hinted at potential “tweaks and adjustments” to optimize the viewing experience in the coming years
- The semifinals will move back to New Year’s Eve and Day after season two – historically strong windows
- ABC will gain rights to simulcast the championship game starting in 2027, broadening the audience
Ultimately, ESPN is betting that the CFP’s new structure will more consistently pit the nation’s top two teams against each other with the trophy on the line. If that vision comes to fruition, college football’s already-bright future could reach unprecedented heights.
Chasing the Next Level
With promising early returns on their CFP investment, ESPN will look to innovate around college football’s marquee product in the years to come. Bolstered ratings, escalating excitement, and a rapidly expanding spotlight point to a new golden age for the sport taking shape before our eyes.
As the College Football Playoff hits its stride, ESPN stands ready to ride the wave to new peaks. Stay tuned as the most popular title chase in American sports grows ever larger in the hearts and minds of a football-crazed nation.
