Overview
- ESPN PR reports non-College Football Playoff bowl games averaged 2.7 million viewers through Dec. 27, a 13% year-over-year increase.
- The Pop-Tarts Bowl averaged 8.7 million viewers on ABC, the largest non-CFP/New Year’s Six audience on ESPN networks since the 2019–20 Citrus Bowl and third-highest of the postseason behind two CFP games.
- Analysts cite the Saturday-after-Christmas window, strong matchups such as BYU–Georgia Tech, and a highly marketable event presentation as factors boosting tune-in.
- Several other games posted multi-year or record highs, including the Pinstripe Bowl at a record 7.6 million, the Gator Bowl at 6.0 million, the Rate Bowl at 4.4 million, and the LA Bowl at 3.8 million.
- Notre Dame’s bowl opt-out framed discussion of brand impact, as the Pop-Tarts audience topped every Irish game this season except their opener, though year-to-year comparisons carry Nielsen methodology caveats.