Started By
Message
Fan Fatigue
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:02 pm
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:02 pm
College Football National Championship TV ratings have fluctuated significantly from 2000 to 2024, with the 2006 Rose Bowl (Texas vs. USC) holding the highest viewership with 35.6 million viewers, and the 2022 title game (Georgia vs. TCU) drawing the fewest with 17.2 million viewers in the College Football Playoff era. Viewership for the CFP National Championship has seen a general downward trend in recent years, with the 2024 championship game (Michigan vs. Washington) drawing 25.1 million viewers and the 2025 game (Ohio State vs. Notre Dame) attracting 22.1 million viewers.
Highest-Rated Games (BCS/CFP Era)
2006 Rose Bowl (Texas vs. USC): 35.6 million viewers
2015 National Championship (Ohio State vs. Oregon): 34.1 million viewers
Most Recent National Championship Ratings
2023 (Michigan vs. Washington): 25.1 million viewers
2024 (Ohio State vs. Notre Dame): 22.1 million viewers
Lowest-Rated Games (CFP Era)
2022 (Georgia vs. TCU): 17.2 million viewers, the lowest in CFP history
General Trend
The trend in recent years has been a decline in TV viewership for the national championship game, a phenomenon attributed to viewer fatigue from a packed postseason schedule.
The four least-watched championship games in the BCS/CFP era were all decided by large margins, indicating that close games tend to draw more viewers.
Why would the post season cause viewer fatigue?
Highest-Rated Games (BCS/CFP Era)
2006 Rose Bowl (Texas vs. USC): 35.6 million viewers
2015 National Championship (Ohio State vs. Oregon): 34.1 million viewers
Most Recent National Championship Ratings
2023 (Michigan vs. Washington): 25.1 million viewers
2024 (Ohio State vs. Notre Dame): 22.1 million viewers
Lowest-Rated Games (CFP Era)
2022 (Georgia vs. TCU): 17.2 million viewers, the lowest in CFP history
General Trend
The trend in recent years has been a decline in TV viewership for the national championship game, a phenomenon attributed to viewer fatigue from a packed postseason schedule.
The four least-watched championship games in the BCS/CFP era were all decided by large margins, indicating that close games tend to draw more viewers.
Why would the post season cause viewer fatigue?
9
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:05 pm to bamaoldtimer
I find it hard to believe that Oregon-Ohio State game had close to the draw of Texas-USC
Maybe because it was the inaugural CFP? But Keith Jackson nailed it, “one game that will be as big as a college football game can be”
Maybe because it was the inaugural CFP? But Keith Jackson nailed it, “one game that will be as big as a college football game can be”
This post was edited on 8/23/25 at 9:10 pm
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:07 pm to bamaoldtimer
Americans like our underdogs ... but we'll tune out of an arse whoopin'.
We also like our epic gladiator games.
We also like upsets and we like seeing good guys beat bad guys (based upon perceptions).
We also like our epic gladiator games.
We also like upsets and we like seeing good guys beat bad guys (based upon perceptions).
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:07 pm to bamaoldtimer
quote:
2006 Rose Bowl (Texas vs. USC): 35.6 million viewers
This was hyped as a USC threepeat. Texas is a big brand. Easy to see why people tuned in.
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:09 pm to bamaoldtimer
College football playoffs just missing something that the NFL has, NFL playoffs way better for some reason. The games arent even competitive half the time.
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:19 pm to Bigbro24
Players are known on NFL teams. Under contract so you can safely root for them until free agency. Even then there are guardrails
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:23 pm to SECCaptain
I find it hard to believe that Oregon-Ohio State game had close to the draw of Texas-USC
There is no fricking way
There is no fricking way
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:27 pm to Themicah86
It was the first playoff championship
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:28 pm to Themicah86
Sure there is. tOSU has as big a following of douchebags as the steers do
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:29 pm to CarolinaGamecock99
It was also simulcast on ESPN and ABC iirc, which would inflate the numbers
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:31 pm to bamaoldtimer
Didn't they move the game to ESPN only?
Also TV ratings are down across the board... Less people watch sports these days
Also TV ratings are down across the board... Less people watch sports these days
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:32 pm to bamaoldtimer
quote:
Why would the post season cause viewer fatigue?
Possibly because casual viewers aren’t as interested the following week after their team loses..
As for Texas vs USC..
both teams were on 19+ winning streaks and USC was 30+.. Both teams were also #1 and #2 wire to wire.. so it was the game everyone was anticipating all year long..
Reggie Bush was a freak and so was Vince.. both fun to watch.. just a perfect storm at the right time
Posted on 8/23/25 at 9:32 pm to bamaoldtimer
quote:
Why would the post season cause viewer fatigue?
Reading that caused me post season fatigue.
Here is a hint. Teams with huge fanbases and blueblood teams who all the rest of football want to see lose get higher rankings than TCU and Washington.
Everyone says they want new blood.
But when new blood plays not as many people watch.
This post was edited on 8/23/25 at 9:36 pm
Posted on 8/24/25 at 6:57 am to bamaoldtimer
The playoff committee did a terrible job with the matchups last year and it set a bad tone early on in the post season.
Posted on 8/24/25 at 7:06 am to BigBro
quote:
Possibly because casual viewers aren’t as interested the following week after their team loses
The average TV audience for a college game is 1.9 million while it is almost 18 million for an NFL game. One good comparison and a recent one is the College Football Playoff championship game which had about 25 million viewers. The Kansas City vs Buffalo playoff game reached about 50 million. The Super Bowl will probably see a viewership of around 100 million.
If you were the College Football Czar, how would you increase viewership across all conferences?
Posted on 8/24/25 at 7:29 am to bamaoldtimer
quote:
If you were the College Football Czar, how would you increase viewership across all conferences?
pay Taylor Swift to date one of the coaches?
Posted on 8/24/25 at 7:54 am to bamaoldtimer
One of the draws to CFB was you knew the roster(players) for at least 3 years before it changed. Players seemed to be all about the college they picked and played for the jersey they wore. TV ratings and money grabs have led to transfer portal and NIL. There is no loyalty from the player to a school and they only care about the money.
Combine that with the expansion of the playoffs which has watered down the games and made them not interesting to watch outside of a specific fanbase. CFB was a cult following but now is just another league that only cares about the money from the top down to the players.
Combine that with the expansion of the playoffs which has watered down the games and made them not interesting to watch outside of a specific fanbase. CFB was a cult following but now is just another league that only cares about the money from the top down to the players.
Posted on 8/24/25 at 10:10 am to bamaoldtimer
USC was being touted "greatest team ever" so I'm sure that played a big part in the Texas v USC game.
one of the few times in my life that most fans were rooting for Texas
one of the few times in my life that most fans were rooting for Texas
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News