VIEWERSHIP for the CFP semifinals was down 17 per cent this year, new figures revealed.
The two games were played on consecutive nights on Thursday 6 January and Friday 7 January.
And they drew an average of 19.2 million viewers.
That is down from the 23.2 million average for the semifinals in 2023.
Ohio State’s 28-14 win over the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl on Friday was seen by 20.6 million viewers.
And Thursday’s Orange Bowl win for Notre Dame over Penn State was watched by 17.8 million people.
ESPN carried both of the games but in different spots than in previous seasons.
This is the first year of the 12-team CFP playoff, which has meant the games have been pushed back.
Before this season only four teams made it into the playoff straight to the semifinals stage.
Last year they were played on New Year’s Day and the holiday is one potential reason for the increased viewership.
Viewing figures have steadily increased through the rounds in the first ever 12-team playoff.
The four first round games averaged 10.6 million viewers.
Those games were played on December 20 and 21 with two on ESPN and two on TNT.
The quarterfinals over New Year saw an average audience of 16.9 million people.
Those were all shown by ESPN and made up part of the traditional New Year Six college football bowl games.
Ohio State will take on Notre Dame in the national championship game on Monday 20 January.
ESPN will show that game live in the slot usually reserved for Monday Night Football NFL games.
How the 12-team CFP works
The first ever 12-team College Football Playoff kicks off on Friday, December 20.
But who will get in?
The highest four ranked conference champions will all be guaranteed a first-round bye into the quarterfinals around New Year.
The fifth highest ranked conference champion will also be assured a place, regardless of if they’re ranked in the top 12 teams in the nation.
That ensures a champion from one of the second tier of conferences will get a chance to play for the national championship.
Teams seeded five through eight will host a first round playoff game on Friday, 20 or Saturday 21 December.
And they will go up against the teams seeded nine through 12.
All of these rankings and seedings are decided by the CFP committee – based on record and strength of schedule among other factors.
This year’s National Championship Game will take place on Monday, January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
NFL ratings for wild card fixtures were also down on last year, figures showed.
Viewership dropped 9.3 per cent to an average of 28.3 million.
Last year the figure was up at 31.2 million.
But 2023’s wild card round featured the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, two ratings powerhouses.
Dallas failed to reach the playoffs this year while Kansas City earned a first-round bye.
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