Michigan's National Championship Win Draws Record Viewership, Generates $90M for ESPN

The game marks a farewell to the Pac-12 conference as we know it, with most teams set to depart for other power conferences next season.

Michigan's victory over Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship drew in 25 million viewers, peaking at 28 million, making it the most-watched title game since 2020.
The game marked Michigan's first national championship win since 1997, and the culmination of a season filled with drama, including a three-game suspension for coach Jim Harbaugh.
The broadcast of the game generated nearly $90 million in total ad sales revenue for ESPN, with major brands investing more than $800,000 for each 30-second in-game spot.
The College Football Playoff and ESPN are currently in negotiations to maintain the network as the sole rights holder of the event for the next eight years.
The game also marked a farewell to the Pac-12 conference as we know it, with 10 of its 12 teams set to depart for other power conferences next season.