Ohio State’s 34-23 win over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff championship drew 22.1 million viewers, the highest ratings for a non-NFL event this year.
ESPN announced that an average of 22.1 million people watched Ohio State beat Notre Dame 34-23 in the College Football Playoff (CFP) championship game.
The viewership peaked at 26.1 million about an hour into the game, making it the most-watched non-NFL sporting event of the past year.
Ohio State’s victory was a perfect example of how the expanded 12-team playoff format gave teams a second chance.
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In the old format, the Buckeyes wouldn’t have made it to the championship after their 13-10 upset loss to Michigan. But with the new system, they got another shot and made the most of it.
Ryan Day’s team had an impressive playoff run. They dominated Tennessee and No. 1 Oregon in the first two rounds, then beat Texas in the semifinals.
Even in the championship, the final score doesn’t tell the full story.
The Buckeyes scored 31 unanswered points and led by three touchdowns in the third quarter.
In previous years, Ohio State might’ve only played in a bowl game, which would’ve felt like a letdown for a team with such high expectations.
Ryan Day also faced heavy criticism after the Michigan loss, with some questioning his future as head coach.
Now, the Buckeyes are celebrating their ninth national title, and Day’s popularity in Columbus is at an all-time high.
The expanded playoff seems to be doing exactly what it was designed to do—giving teams a chance to prove themselves on the field.
With a 14-2 record, nobody is questioning that Ohio State was the best team in college football this season.
Also Read: College Football Playoff Format Likely Unchanged for 2025