Michigan-Alabama Rose Bowl delivers big-time ratings for ESPN

Michigan and Alabama’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

Fans were treated to a CFP classic. According to ESPN Analytics, Michigan had an 11.4% chance with 3:54 remaining in the 4th quarter. 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.

Andrew Olson

A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.