Overview

• NBC's Texans-Chiefs game averaged 15.5 million viewers, outperforming competing CFP games on TNT, TBS, and truTV, which drew 6.4 million and 8.6 million viewers respectively.
• FOX's Steelers-Ravens broadcast also secured strong ratings with 15.4 million viewers, surpassing the primetime CFP games aired on ESPN and ABC later that evening.
• The College Football Playoff games averaged 10.6 million viewers across all four matchups, a solid showing but unable to compete with NFL head-to-head broadcasts.
• NFL's strategic scheduling of prominent teams on Saturday broadcast windows ensured a ratings advantage over the CFP, with both games ranking among the day's top-viewed programs.
• Post-NFL programming, such as the PNC Championship and USC-UConn women’s basketball, also benefited from NFL lead-ins, achieving record or near-record audiences.