Alabama-Michigan Rose Bowl delivers big-time ratings for ESPN
Alabama and Michigan’s Rose Bowl thriller delivered a ratings smash for ESPN.
ESPN announced that it drew 27.2 million viewers for the game, peaking at 32.8 million. It’s a top-10 all-time cable telecast and the best non-NFL sporting numbers since 2018. As far as College Football Playoff semifinals, Alabama-Michigan produced the best semifinal ratings since Year 1 of the CFP.
The Rose Bowl got the ESPN megacast treatment. Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show logged 1.4 million viewers, the most for any college football alternate telecast.
?The #CFBPlayoff Semis scored 22.6M viewers
?27.2M viewers tuned in for @UMichFootball & @AlabamaFTBL
– Best Semi since Year 1
– Top 10 cable telecast all-time
– Peak: 32.8M?18.4M watched @UW_Football & @TexasFootball, the 4th-highest Sugar Bowl audience in 20 years pic.twitter.com/0UzB0z0Z5J
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) January 2, 2024
While Alabama fans had to experience the heartbreak of an overtime loss, football fans in general were treated to a CFP classic. According to ESPN Analytics, UA had an 88.6% chance to win with less than 4 minutes to go in regulation. The Wolverines managed a rally that will be celebrated by the U-M faithful for ages, forcing overtime, taking the lead and making a 4th-and-goal stop.
The Sugar Bowl, which featured No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Texas, drew 18.4 million viewers. No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington will play Monday for the College Football Playoff National Championship.