College Football Playoff National Championship draws monster ratings

The Ohio State Buckeyes earned their ninth national championship on Monday with their 34-23 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The discussion of whether or not to have a college championship on a Monday is a great debate, one where I am of the camp that it should be played on a different day.

However, the ratings for the final game of the season tell us that it doesn't matter what day this game happens; people will watch.

NEW: The College Football Playoff National Championship between Ohio State vs. Notre Dame averaged 22.1M viewers📺

Down from last year’s game between Michigan and Washington, which averaged 25.05M📉https://t.co/jGamOTEgfD pic.twitter.com/9QSZBYHJ9u
— On3 (@On3sports) January 22, 2025

On Monday night, the national championship drew 22.1 million viewers. The highest point of viewership was reported to be 25.05 million.

Of course, it is also being reported that this year's championship was not watched by as many people as last season's, which the Buckeyes' long-time rival, the Michigan Wolverines, participated in.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Still, 20-plus million people watching your product probably means you could have it at midnight on a Wednesday, and the people will still be watching.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ratings have become a focal point for fans in all sports for some bizarre reason. The bigger the viewership, the larger bag of money the sport will walk away with in their next television rights negotiations.

So, I guess this is a congratulations to the NCAA for laughing all the way to the bank. Thankfully, players can finally get paid for their services.

Home/CFB