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3h ago

CFP Semifinal TV Ratings Dip as Peach Bowl Leads With 18.0 Million

Analysts point to weaker brand draw plus off–New Year’s scheduling as key factors.

Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Charlie Becker (80) makes a catch in front of Oregon Ducks defensive back Brandon Finney (4) for a touchdown Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, during the Peach Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Overview

  • Indiana–Oregon in the Peach Bowl averaged 18.0 million viewers with a 21.4 million peak, topping the semifinals, per ESPN.
  • Miami–Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl averaged 15.8 million viewers and peaked at 17.2 million on ESPN.
  • Both games declined year over year, with the Fiesta down 11% and the Peach down 13–16% depending on the comparison window, making this the least-watched semifinal pair on record.
  • Shifts in Nielsen’s Big Data methodology, which has generally lifted sports counts this season, complicate apples-to-apples comparisons and suggest the real declines may be larger.
  • Overall CFP averages remain disputed, with ESPN citing 14.9 million as on par with last season and other aggregations reporting 16.8 million as the current average ahead of the Jan. 19 title game.