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ESPN announces big ratings for CFP quarterfinals, College GameDay on New Year’s Day
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ESPN has had a huge month thanks to the College Football Playoff. The network was the home for all 4 of the CFP quarterfinal games and each game performed well from a viewership standpoint.
On Saturday, ESPN PR revealed how successful these games and College GameDay were for the network. It was the most watched New Year’s Day episode of GameDay ever and each quarterfinal averaged at least 13.9 million viewers.
The Rose Bowl averaged 21.1 million viewers, the Peach Bowl averaged 17.3 million, the Sugar Bowl averaged 15.8 million, and the Fiesta Bowl averaged 13.9 million. The Rose Bowl was the most-watched non-NFL sporting event since the 2024 CFP championship game. Meanwhile, the Peach Bowl was the most-watched pre-3 p.m. bowl game of all time.
The Sugar Bowl peaked at 19.5 million viewers while the Fiesta Bowl peaked at 15.9 million. Meanwhile, the Rose and Peach Bowls both peaked at over 23 million viewers. It wasn’t just GameDay and the games themselves that did well. The Pat McAfee Show Field Pass was ESPN’s most-viewed AltCast ever.
Of the 4 quarterfinal games, only the Peach Bowl between Texas and Arizona State had a margin of less than 10 points. The Longhorns beat the Sun Devils 39-31 in OT to advance to the Cotton Bowl. The 3 other bowl games were all decided by at least 13 points. The biggest blowout was in the Rose Bowl when Ohio State beat Oregon 41-21.
The semifinals will kick off on Jan. 9 with the Orange Bowl between Penn State and Notre Dame. The other semifinal game, the Cotton Bowl between Texas and Ohio State, will kick off on Jan. 10.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
