2024 College Football TV Ratings

[WhosYourDawggy]

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TNT games suffered big time going up against the NFL games.

I think the Rose Bowl between OSU and Oregon could top 20 million. UGA/ND I think gets around 17 million.

ND has a huge fanbase, and UGA had the most viewers this season. I don't see any reason that tOSU v. Oregon will draw better. Oregon actually had rather poor viewership unless they were playing a top B1G team.

 

[WhosYourDawggy]

ESPN was.

At the very least, it should cool playoff expansion talk.

Not if expansion gets better teams in ... numbers would have been way higher with Bama, USCjr, and OM. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying they should have been in. But it we are just looking at TV numbers, those fanbases would have driven way better numbers. Expanding to 14 and picking up 2 more SEC teams would help TV numbers, not hurt them.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

Not if expansion gets better teams in ... numbers would have been way higher with Bama, USCjr, and OM. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying they should have been in. But it we are just looking at TV numbers, those fanbases would have driven way better numbers. Expanding to 14 and picking up 2 more SEC teams would help TV numbers, not hurt them.

I'm unconvinced that South Carolina @ Notre Dame is a better draw than Indiana @ Notre Dame

 

[ericd7633]

ND has a huge fanbase, and UGA had the most viewers this season. I don't see any reason that tOSU v. Oregon will draw better. Oregon actually had rather poor viewership unless they were playing a top B1G team.

The Rose Bowl is historically the highest rated bowl game. In 2021 with OSU against Utah the Rose Bowl almost outdrew the CFP games. The 2019 Rose Bowl got over 16 million with Wisconsin vs. Oregon. It's just the most highly rated bowl game typically. Given the time slot and the teams, it's gonna be massive. I might even be underselling it some.

There's really no historical data to suggest the Sugar Bowl will outdraw the Rose Bowl. The only time it's happened going back to 2012 is when Bama played OSU in the Sugar Bowl in 2014 and FSU played Oregon in the Rose Bowl. And even then it was only by 100K viewers.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

The Rose Bowl is historically the highest rated bowl game. In 2021 with OSU against Utah the Rose Bowl almost outdrew the CFP games. The 2019 Rose Bowl got over 16 million with Wisconsin vs. Oregon. It's just the most highly rated bowl game typically. Given the time slot and the teams, it's gonna be massive. I might even be underselling it some.

There's really no historical data to suggest the Sugar Bowl will outdraw the Rose Bowl. The only time it's happened going back to 2012 is when Bama played OSU in the Sugar Bowl in 2014 and FSU played Oregon in the Rose Bowl. And even then it was only by 100K viewers.

Agreed. @WhosYourDawggy is looking at it just as a game, and not "the Rose Bowl"

Kind of a dolt take on his part.

 

[ralphiewvu]

If there is expansion ESPN will have to pony up more money. I don't think it's something they want to do (but may ultimately have too). Everything they've done in the past 6 months suggests they don't want to pay extra. They didn't want to pay for an extra SEC conference game, and they sublicensed to TNT to recoup some of the cost.

If as you stated they are going to get 37 million viewing from just two playoff games, they aren't going to absolutely say no to more games with these types of ratings. Wether that be more auto bids for the P2 or figuring out a way to play these games stand alone not against the NFL.

And even after all of this if ESPN says no, I'm sure other networks can be worked in to ease the burden.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

If as you stated they are going to get 37 million viewing from just two playoff games, they aren't going to absolutely say no to more games with these types of ratings. Wether that be more auto bids for the P2 or figuring out a way to play these games stand alone not against the NFL.

And even after all of this if ESPN says no, I'm sure other networks can be worked in to ease the burden.

ESPN was already covering the Sugar/Rose before playoff expansion and would have received similar ratings without paying a huge premium for the other games.

 

[Red_Alert]

ND has a huge fanbase, and UGA had the most viewers this season. I don't see any reason that tOSU v. Oregon will draw better. Oregon actually had rather poor viewership unless they were playing a top B1G team.

The Rose Bowl is historically the highest rated bowl game. In 2021 with OSU against Utah the Rose Bowl almost outdrew the CFP games. The 2019 Rose Bowl got over 16 million with Wisconsin vs. Oregon. It's just the most highly rated bowl game typically. Given the time slot and the teams, it's gonna be massive. I might even be underselling it some.

There's really no historical data to suggest the Sugar Bowl will outdraw the Rose Bowl. The only time it's happened going back to 2012 is when Bama played OSU in the Sugar Bowl in 2014 and FSU played Oregon in the Rose Bowl. And even then it was only by 100K viewers.

Most viewers........

ND vs UGA: Sugar Bowl
tOSU vs Oregon: Rose Bowl

Looks like a good avy bet.

 

[ralphiewvu]

ESPN was already covering the Sugar/Rose before playoff expansion and would have received similar ratings without paying a huge premium for the other games.

These are playoff games now. If they wanted to broadcast them they were going to have to pay. Really not hard to understand.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

These are playoff games now. If they wanted to broadcast them they were going to have to pay. Really not hard to understand.

They were playoff games every couple years anyway, and the Rose still got huge ratings even when it wasn't.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

We of course realize there will be a bump in ratings.

The question is if it was worth nearly triple the amount (spoiler: it's not). ESPN was paying $470MM under the 4-team, and pays $1.3B under the new one.

That means they are paying 100 million dollars for EACH 1st and 2nd round playoff game. Then you have their production costs, etc.

 

[ralphiewvu]

They were playoff games every couple years anyway, and the Rose still got huge ratings even when it wasn't.

ESPN knew they were going to have to pay for it and still did. It is peak ignorance out right saying expansion will not happen because a game or two lacked viewing numbers. My whole point here.

 

[ericd7633]

If as you stated they are going to get 37 million viewing from just two playoff games, they aren't going to absolutely say no to more games with these types of ratings. Wether that be more auto bids for the P2 or figuring out a way to play these games stand alone not against the NFL.

And even after all of this if ESPN says no, I'm sure other networks can be worked in to ease the burden.

They wouldn't be paying more to get similar ratings to the games on NYE and NYD. They'd be paying more (or sublicensing even more) to get ratings similar to what the TNT games drew. If you go to 14, then the extra game you're paying for is Bama vs. ASU and Miami vs. Boise State.

The QF's, and Semifinals are already happening. You're paying more, for theoretically, the worst remaining games.

 

[ericd7633]

Most viewers........

ND vs UGA: Sugar Bowl
tOSU vs Oregon: Rose Bowl

Looks like a good avy bet.

I just can't see any scenario where the Sugar gets more than the Rose.

 

[ralphiewvu]

They wouldn't be paying more to get similar ratings to the games on NYE and NYD. They'd be paying more (or sublicensing even more) to get ratings similar to what the TNT games drew. If you go to 14, then the extra game you're paying for is Bama vs. ASU and Miami vs. Boise State.

The QF's, and Semifinals are already happening. You're paying more, for theoretically, the worst remaining games.

The whole premise of making this expansion work is having good matchups. If networks can secure better chances of those happening via auto berths for P2 or something more then I'm sure they'd consider this. QF ratings don't help because of who got these byes. The semifinals potentially being Texas vOSU and PSU v Georgia/ND will draw much better.

Another issue is the NFL. Finding times (not easy) to not go against the nfl would have produced better ratings last Saturday.

I refuse to believe ESPN seeing ratings from 1 game with a few factors touched on going against it would mean an automatic No on expansion.

 

[ericd7633]

The whole premise of making this expansion work is having good matchups. If networks can secure better chances of those happening via auto berths for P2 or something more then I'm sure they'd consider this. QF ratings don't help because of who got these byes. The semifinals potentially being Texas vOSU and PSU v Georgia/ND will draw much better.

Another issue is the NFL. Finding times (not easy) to not go against the nfl would have produced better ratings last Saturday.

I refuse to believe ESPN seeing ratings from 1 game with a few factors touched on going against it would mean an automatic No on expansion.

You can't just manufacture good matchups. ESPN is at the discretion of the committee.

You're not going to avoid the NFL, especially if you expand, unless you get rid of conference championship games (very unlikely) or move up the entire calendar (very unlikely). So what you're left with is staggering games (similar to the tournament) or having a triple header on Friday. Is a game like Boise State vs. Miami starting at Noon on a Friday, followed by Bama vs. ASU at 4 going to move the needle enough to warrant to pay another $230ish million. I'd say no, but if ESPN is fine losing money with this, just to have it, then that's fine.

 

[ralphiewvu]

You can't just manufacture good matchups. ESPN is at the discretion of the committee.

You're not going to avoid the NFL, especially if you expand, unless you get rid of conference championship games (very unlikely) or move up the entire calendar (very unlikely). So what you're left with is staggering games (similar to the tournament) or having a triple header on Friday. Is a game like Boise State vs. Miami starting at Noon on a Friday, followed by Bama vs. ASU at 4 going to move the needle enough to warrant to pay another $230ish million. I'd say no, but if ESPN is fine losing money with this, just to have it, then that's fine.

If more auto bids are given to desired conferences, the good matchups (ratings wise) will have better chances of happening. Alabama going up to PSU would have tripled the number PSU/SMU was.

While avoiding the nfl completely won't happen, you can still stagger it to miss a bunch of it. Or come to some kind of agreement. At least pursue them and ask about it.

You have no idea how much money they are losing. Right now you're at best guessing. And again, if ESPN doesn't want it, I'm sure another network would agree to take some of it.

 

[michaeljordan_fan]

If more auto bids are given to desired conferences, the good matchups (ratings wise) will have better chances of happening. Alabama going up to PSU would have tripled the number PSU/SMU was.

While avoiding the nfl completely won't happen, you can still stagger it to miss a bunch of it. Or come to some kind of agreement. At least pursue them and ask about it.

You have no idea how much money they are losing. Right now you're at best guessing. And again, if ESPN doesn't want it, I'm sure another network would agree to take some of it.

Yes, I'm sure the networks that didn't want to pay the staggering amount that ESPN did will be lining up to take it off their hands!

 

[ericd7633]

If more auto bids are given to desired conferences, the good matchups (ratings wise) will have better chances of happening. Alabama going up to PSU would have tripled the number PSU/SMU was.

While avoiding the nfl completely won't happen, you can still stagger it to miss a bunch of it. Or come to some kind of agreement. At least pursue them and ask about it.

You have no idea how much money they are losing. Right now you're at best guessing. And again, if ESPN doesn't want it, I'm sure another network would agree to take some of it.

First, Bama/PSU isn't getting 20 million viewers, especially up against the NFL.

Second, if you go to 14, and the top 2 receive a bye, while still having the top 5 conferences get an AQ, these are the matchups:

#3 Texas vs. #14 Clemson
#4 Penn State vs. #13 Miami
#5 Notre Dame vs. #12 Arizona State
#6 Ohio State vs. #11 Alabama
#7 Tennessee vs. #10 SMU
#8 Indiana vs. #9 Boise State

Obviously OSU vs. Bama would do great. But none of those games jump off the screen saying ratings bonanza. That's my point, the additional matchups in the 1st round, aren't going to produce amazing ratings.

You're right, I don't know if and how much ESPN is losing. I am assuming they were worried about it because they sublicensed all those games to TNT to recoup the amount they paid to broadcast them.

 

[78Cyclones]

If more auto bids are given to desired conferences, the good matchups (ratings wise) will have better chances of happening. Alabama going up to PSU would have tripled the number PSU/SMU was.

While avoiding the nfl completely won't happen, you can still stagger it to miss a bunch of it. Or come to some kind of agreement. At least pursue them and ask about it.

You have no idea how much money they are losing. Right now you're at best guessing. And again, if ESPN doesn't want it, I'm sure another network would agree to take some of it.

Alabama doesn't deserve to be in the CFP, so don't go expanding the field just so they can get their ass kicked @ Penn State!