CFP's 12-team format produces major ratings drop

Field Level Media|published: Wed 15th January, 12:37 2025

Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Jordan Hancock (7) tackles Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (26) during the second half of the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025. Ohio State won 28-14.

Television ratings for the College Football Playoff semifinals were down about 17 percent in the first season of the expanded 12-team format.

Taking place later in January than under the previous four-team CFP, last weekend's games averaged 19.2 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.

That marked the lowest average since a New Year's Eve doubleheader in the 2021 season drew an audience of 16.9 million, according to Sports Business Journal.

The average was 22.6 million last season, when the two semifinal games aired on New Year's Day.

Ohio State's 28-14 win over Texas in Friday night's Cotton Bowl averaged 20.6 million, while Notre Dame's 27-24 win against Penn State in Thursday night's Orange Bowl had an audience of 17.8 million.

Ohio State-Texas was the most-viewed Cotton Bowl on record and also the biggest Friday audience on any network in four years, per Sports Business Journal.

The round-by-round CFP numbers have climbed steadily this postseason, from 10.6 million in the first round to 16.9 million in the quarterfinals to 19.2 million in the semifinals.

The eighth-seeded Fighting Irish (14-1) and seventh-seeded Buckeyes (13-2) meet for the national championship on Monday in Atlanta.

--Field Level Media

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