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4d ago

CFP Quarterfinal Ratings Climb 14% as Rose Bowl Leads With 23.9 Million

Methodological changes at Nielsen complicate year-over-year comparisons of the playoff audience.

Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Charlie Becker (80) makes a catch for a touchdown as Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Dashawn Jones (7) chases after Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, during the Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. © Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3 in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.
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Overview

  • ESPN and Nielsen reported the College Football Playoff quarterfinals averaged 19.3 million viewers, delivering the three most-watched games of the season.
  • Indiana’s 38-3 win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl averaged 23.9 million viewers and peaked at about 25.6 million, the top audience of the 12-team era.
  • Miami–Ohio State averaged 19.0 million viewers, Ole Miss–Georgia drew 18.7 million, and Oregon–Texas Tech had 15.9 million.
  • Across the first two rounds, the CFP is averaging about 14.4 million viewers per game, up roughly 3% from last season.
  • Following a first-round dip influenced by NFL competition, the semifinals begin Thursday and Friday without NFL overlap, and next season Warner Bros. Discovery will televise two quarterfinals and a semifinal.