College Football Playoff semifinal viewership down from last year

College Football Playoff semifinal viewership has significantly decreased in the second year of the expanded playoff format. The Miami–Ole Miss Fiesta Bowl attracted 15.8 million viewers, an 11% drop from last year’s Penn State–Notre Dame Orange Bowl. The Oregon–Indiana Peach Bowl saw a 16% decline with 18.0 million viewers compared to the previous Texas–Ohio State Cotton Bowl. These declines are notable despite Nielsen’s Big Data measurement, which typically shows increased sports viewership.

The absence of high-profile teams like Alabama and Ohio State in the semifinals likely contributed to lower ratings. The most-watched quarterfinal games featured these prominent teams. Additionally, the timing of the games could be a factor, as New Year’s games performed better previously. The overall average viewership across all three playoff rounds is holding steady at 16.8 million, similar to last year. ESPN and the College Football Playoff may consider scheduling changes to boost future viewership, such as potentially