The 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) first-round viewership ratings are out, and honestly, they’re a bit of a head-scratcher. Millions tuned in, sure, but overall viewership still dipped compared to last year.
This drop has sparked a lot of chatter about the playoff format, seeding, and whether automatic bids are really worth it. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s see what the numbers might be telling us about where college football is headed.
2025 College Football Playoff Viewership: A Mixed Bag
This year, the CFP averaged 9.9 million viewers, which is a 7% decrease from 2024. Scheduling on cable networks definitely played a role, and the NFL’s presence made things even trickier.
The final game—James Madison Dukes at Oregon—aired on TNT, TBS, and truTV. Unfortunately, it went head-to-head with an NFL game in prime time, and that overlap really hurt the numbers.
Impact of NFL Competition
Fox’s NFL game between the Bears and Packers pulled in a massive 21.3 million viewers. Meanwhile, Oregon vs. James Madison only managed 4.4 million viewers—a pretty stark contrast.
Last year’s Ohio State vs. Tennessee matchup on ABC/ESPN didn’t have to compete with the NFL, and it averaged 14.3 million viewers. It’s tough for college football to grab attention when the NFL is on.
Viewership for Other First-Round Games
No. 6 Ole Miss beat No. 11 Tulane 41-10, and that game averaged 6.2 million viewers across the Turner networks. That’s down from the 8.6 million who watched last year’s Texas-Clemson game in the same slot.
But the real standout? No. 9 Alabama’s comeback win over No. 8 Oklahoma. That Friday night game on ABC/ESPN drew 14.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched of the first round.
Debate Over Playoff Format and Seeding Logic
The gap in viewership between big-name programs like Alabama and less familiar teams such as James Madison and Tulane has brought the playoff format back under the microscope. The current system gives automatic bids to the five highest-rated conference champs, which let teams like James Madison and Tulane in, but left Notre Dame out.
Analyst Perspectives
Analysts like Kirk Herbstreit haven’t been shy about weighing in. They point out that brand power and what fans expect from a matchup really drive national interest.
Honestly, when high-profile teams like Notre Dame are left out, it’s hard not to question if the system’s working as intended.
Future Adjustments to Maximize Viewership
Looking ahead, the CFP is considering tweaks to broadcast windows, seeding, and who gets in. The hope is to strike a better balance between fairness and getting people to actually watch.
Key Takeaways from the 2025 CFP First-Round Ratings
- The 2025 CFP averaged 9.9 million viewers, a 7% decrease from 2024.
- Games on cable networks and NFL competition led to lower viewership, especially for smaller programs.
- The final game between James Madison and Oregon attracted only 4.4 million viewers due to NFL competition.
- The No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane game drew 6.2 million viewers, down from last year’s Texas-Clemson game.
- The most-watched game was Alabama vs. Oklahoma, with 14.9 million viewers.
- Analysts argue that brand power and competitive expectations influence national interest.
- Discussions are ongoing about potential adjustments to the CFP format, seeding logic, and access criteria.
Conclusion
The 2025 College Football Playoff first-round viewership ratings have given us a glimpse into both the hurdles and possibilities for the sport. Even though viewership dipped, some games still pulled in millions of fans.
Debates about playoff format, seeding, and automatic bids are far from settled. People are still hashing out how to keep the CFP competitive and interesting for everyone.
If you want to dive deeper, the full article is over at Athlon Sports.
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