CFP National Title Viewership Down...Why? - Josh Pate Cut

Ryan Day and Ohio State are national champs. Ohio State vs Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game was the spotlight event Monday night and it saw Ryan Day and the Buckeyes down Marcus Freeman and the Irish. On Josh Pate's College Football Show Ep 604 Josh Pate took a look at the viewership numbers ESPN released and discussed whether there's a reason the game didn't get more viewership. Let us know what you think in the comments below and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the channel and CLICK THE BELL for notifications as we bring you multiple live shows per week!
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[@JoshPateCFB]

Keep the show free - SUBSCRIBE to the channel! - JP

[@johnfruechte3265]

​@randombutrelevant I am not staying up to watch a halftime that is way too long. I am a big college football guy and I am thinking of giving it up because of all the commercials.

[@gbrown4190]

There was no team from the south majority of college football’s audience is in the south

[@apollomiller6207]

Should have had TCU vs Ohio State…

[@therationalist234]

ESPN+ not having ESPN is like a big middle finger to sports fans.

[@willmichael4033]

Exactly. My dad wasn’t able to watch because he cut the cord recently. He has ESPN+, and he should have been able to watch it there.

[@BDEntertainment423]

Dude yes. Idek why I pay for it cause I can't watch shit.

[@MBarberfan4life]

They could have had at least one playoff game on ESPN+. Free advertising for the platform

[@kevinlindstrom8486]

True story.

[@BDEntertainment423]

@@MBarberfan4life streameast is the only way I'm able to watch good games

[@JSCONCH]

Monday is so dumb

[@INTJerk]

I understand not having the game on Saturday or Sunday and competing with the NFL playoffs, but Monday is a bad choice. Friday night would probably fare much better.

[@rickgerald2261]

It’s always been fine

[@lordredhood1858]

Every person who works midnights can't watch it cause you have to work that night or no holiday pay

[@rickgerald2261]

@@lordredhood1858 I work mids and watched most of it til I went in at 11

[@jcallen21]

​@@rickgerald2261 not really, unless it's your team playing. Why bother staying up past midnight to finish a game.

[@dragonboy141]

This is 100% a scheduling problem. The playoff should not be extended to Jan 20th.

[@shawnbrooks5293]

Exactly, more than 7 days between games is ridiculous

[@Robert-hd4ld]

It's because of the president being sworn in earlier that day, speeches and executive orders being signed on TV

[@Qwerds7]

It's definitely not just a scheduling issue. Less and less people have cable every year, less and less people have ESPN every year. If you want numbers to go up you can't be on television.

[@oscardanielweeb]

Scheduling issues. No reason playoff games should be 9-11 days apart from each other

[@bucfan28]

This was a bad matchup, played on a Monday night, after the biggest Presidential inauguration in recent memory, when a Nation is so divided one side wants the other side dead. That’s way more important than a football game.

[@bitwise2832]

It should have been on ABC also.

[@carseye1219]

This is probably the last time they can do it. For years ESPN has been able to command big $ from all the cable providers. With more options for viewers, this might be their last bite at the apple.

[@904Hurricane]

ESPN and ABC are both owned by Disney.

[@dragonsurge1]

@@carseye1219last time maybe but not the last year. Their contract gives them exclusive broadcast rights of the playoffs through 2031

[@alonzokincaid1362]

A poll was recently conducted. 1000 ppl answered that because it wasnt the sec, no one cared to watch the game.

[@BigMonty686]

@@alonzokincaid1362Maybe…..but more importantly, my 71 year old mother wanted to watch it but my parents don’t have ESPN.

[@Stringerbell5]

Well, maybe I’m speaking for myself. But most people equate the best college football games with Saturdays and beers. Monday night before work is not conducive to college games. Again, maybe this is just me

[@CC-bm3wb]

Monday is the worst day of the week to hold such a big game. Make it Friday or Saturday.

[@shawnbrooks5293]

Exactly, Saturdays are for college football

[@nickdodge1179]

That combined with over saturation. There’s too many games with the ones that fans used to actually care about becoming useless. Ohio state vs Michigan used to be huge, Ryan day has survived multiple Ls there and even won a title after losing to them. The sport is catered to casuals and betting. That can only carry it so far.

[@UserMcPerson]

On a Monday night, during the nfl playoffs, on a crummy network. Not surprising at all really

[@jacoblott4002]

But its been on a Monday for as long as I can remember. It was the team's, just admit. The south just cares more. I live down and I have never in my life heard so many ppl say they didn't watch. Also it could be because you have pay extra for ESPN down here. Not sure if its like that every where else. But down here, its not part of cable. If you want ESPN with your cable. You gotta pay extra. And ppl are broke right now

[@dri625]

@@jacoblott4002if the south cared more about football, they’d watch the national championship every year, regardless of conference affiliation. This is proof that they actually care less about football and have a more insular view of the sport

[@antonkeiser2466]

@@jacoblott4002i tuned in when it was 7-7, then once Ohio st scored again and took the lead I forgot to care because there was no chance in hell Notre dame would ever have the lead again. Ohio state vs anyone else would have been more interesting.

[@mgoboski]

Michigan did much better last year on Monday night.....

[@Robert-hd4ld]

​@@mgoboski mich wasn't playing on a new president taking office either

[@VonBluesman]

ESPN is too expensive. You have to have some other carrier to get it or you are forced to subscribe to other channels on a package deal.

[@jerrico001]

The CFB Playoff is one of the very few “major” sporting events that is not broadcast on an over-the-air network. The Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the World Series, the Stanley Cup Finals, Wimbledon, the Masters, the Daytona & Indianapolis 500's, etc. are all available to the public without have to pay an additional fee. BTW, ESPN+ is worthless unless you're a UFC fan (I'm not).

[@berniesans]

ESPN+ is not worthless if you're an NHL fan or randomly put money on WCC basketball games at 11pm lol

[@jerrico001]

@@berniesans 🤦🏾‍♂️😂

[@Chewy-qg3ir]

Greed by ESPN. Everyone doesn't have it

[@RetiredTop43]

You can't even read an article on their website without being a paid subscriber.

[@bearfootball1]

Im not paying for multiple apps. They make it too difficult and expensive to watch.

[@TrentSLucas]

I honestly forgot about the game. I was busy watching the inaguration and dealing with the kids being out of school. I didn't remember the NC game until i went to bed. When i checked the score the game was already over.

[@stevenundisclosed6091]

This game needs to be played on a Saturday.

[@TimmyThomas-yr8fn]

Amen!!!!!! yeah but the game needs to be played on Saturday. Most people have to work..

[@darylfoster7944]

@@TimmyThomas-yr8fn the game was over at 11 PM. That's late?

[@crewthief1431]

@@darylfoster7944it is if you have to be up at 4:00-ish.

[@Ndfourlife]

Not everyone has ESPN

[@PatBrooks-u6w]

Or cable.

[@Eaa-jz2wj]

KZbin does carry a lot of games watched it here just like I had ESPN .

[@michaeld6147]

@@Eaa-jz2wj I tried watching it, but I don't like them having to put a big box over the screen and play music in the background. Then the stream still gets taken down.

[@dany-ps2my]

There is other ways

[@kbrichmo8547]

I really like Joel Klatts schedule proposal to move the Army Navy Game to the beginning of the season as a kickoff to college football and even move the season up one week to get the playoffs started at the beginning of December and the Championship on January 1st

[@Sensiblefool]

Joel Klatt hates America. Army navy game is steeped in too many traditions that matter more than CFC game. Make the last game the Blue Vs Grey game and I’m in

[@vw8886]

Being from TX a game in August would be terrible.

[@CakeInTheRain22]

I get the whole rage viewership for the SEC but TRUST ME, people hate OSU and ND as well. Just a matter if they hate them enough to watch the game out of spite. The main factor was that the game had been 95% decided after the Rose Bowl and Cotton Bowl. The spreads and media talking all week were basically saying, "I love what ND has done this year and congrats to them. OSU wins by 2 scores still."

[@willow4900]

Yep, PLENTY of people hate OSU. But at this point everyone knew they were going to win and if there is no competition there is literally no point in watching it

[@noonenoone6813]

simple, more people are sailing the high seas when watching sports.

[@echt114]

The most rational and prudent ones, yes.

[@Pappagar]

sportssurge v2

[@croach69]

Had to have a free subscription to youtube tv for 3 weeks. It ended the 22nd. My buckeyes put it down on the 20th. Cancelled the 21st. Ty for the freebie

[@lindabrashear57]

Signed up for a free trial of KZbin TV at 730pm on 1/20, watched the game, canceled the KZbin TV trial 30 minutes after the game ended.

[@Jeremylee2]

Airing on the same night as the inauguration didn’t help

[@bryanneal939]

My family did both haha. Celebrated trump, to celebrating the buckeyes getting the W

[@kevinbond8966]

The game was like 6 hours after the inauguration

[@bryanneal939]

@ my family did both and partied all day.

[@ColinQuinn-w5h]

We also celebrated diversity and the end of the white race with MLK day

[@danblacksher6289]

Inauguration had a huge impact on viewership. Basically the people I know almost completely forgot about the game, and we were watching the executive orders being signed instead of the game.

[@traviswilson7969]

Exactly

[@raygowan1968]

OSU & ND are two of the biggest names in College football, they are also two of the most hated teams in all of College football. I think there were many of us (I include me in "us") who just didn't care.

[@Southprong59]

I had very little interest in the 12 team playoff. Reasons: ESPN, greed, politics involved in rankings, bad matchups, etc. All of this plus NIL and the portal has forever changed college football and not for the good.

[@haroldfarquad6886]

Exactly, all of this has soured me on the sport I've loved my whole life. I'm about one mediocre or bad season of my team away from tuning out in the Fall. The worst thing is I fear Clay Travis' idea might come into play, which is to introduce fantasy sports into college. Gambling is already half the conversation in this sport, and they think the way to save it from these bad decisions is to make it even MORE like the NFL.

[@Southprong59]

@@haroldfarquad6886 I Agree

[@MTLUVR]

The Championship needs to be January 1 in Pasadena every year. Big parade, big fan fair, game on ABC and ESPN. The playoff games should be split between all the networks building up to Jan 1. 🌹🌹🌹

[@nathanpayne5358]

I think all the talk leading up to the game was how can Notre Dame keep this game close. Analyst had already but crowned Ohio State

[@keruetz]

Put it on a broadcast network.

[@jekscie2131]

a game on monday night in damn near february with a 2 loss 4th place conference finisher who got embarrassed at home by their rival as a 3 TD favorite against a team that got pantsed at home to a MAC school as 30 point favorites, gee wonder why that wasn't the draw of the century?

[@garfieldGG]

I can attest, I watched, but I watched with basically zero hype and zero anticipation. After Penn state lost to Notre dame I could actually feel myself being done with the season. It’s too many games going too long into the new year.

[@Jalreal]

Monday Night Football used to only be on ESPN a few years back, then they caved and mirrored it on ABC. If that had been done here, maybe they would have hit 25mm or more. This is a bad viewership number given the matchup.

[@BrianK-zz4fk]

the first rd games that aired on abc had about a 7 mil increase from the other 2 just on espn. Id say 30 mil easy without the inauguration.

[@renenunez9895]

Saturday is the best day for any college football game. Two people I know didn't have ESPN.

[@BonzoDrummer]

7:30 on a Monday night is brutal. People are lucky if they can keep their eyes open for the 2nd half because it's past their bedtime, and they have work in the morning.

[@BrianK-zz4fk]

whats interesting is that is early compared to past years that started at 9 so should have had an increase in viewers.

[@michaeld6147]

@@BrianK-zz4fk If it would have been on ABC like past years, then they would have. Very few people have cable now.

[@Slush23]

Also, what didn’t help was Ohio State jumped up to a 31 to 7 point lead. Everyone thought it would be a blowout and just turned it off.

[@darylfoster7944]

Are you five years old? The game was over at 11. That's not late.

[@MrJaiden23]

Having playoff games on random days that are diff than the regular season is dumb. They had games on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Friday... etc. Should have the games on Saturday, we attribute college football with Saturdays.

[@lisascherer527]

No more Monday night games-be a more family/worker friendly and put on Saturday, especially on inauguration of new president! Not a mystery

[@ytharper66]

When you pay the most to buy your team, who cares if you win. It’s intuitive. Plus, when my 9-3 Bama almost made the playoffs and teams who lost their conference championships, or didn’t play one (that’s you, ND), something is wrong with the system. It’s too easy to get in. It has ruined the season in my opinion. None of the bowls or playoffs should be during the weekdays. People got to work. I also have to agree. Without the SEC making it, a large section of demographic was gone.

[@Shibdefend]

#’s down because everyone knew what was going to happen and I would bet the #’s were higher before Ohio St went up 31-7 I’m sure a lot of other fan bases turned it off at that point

[@Alana-t2o]

I bet there was fan bases that didn't even watch the game. SOS

[@brandonbiehl9855]

Monday night going into the coldest 2 days of a very cold winter... and ESPN doesnt share it on ABC

[@matthewrose8002]

It was on a network that has limited capability for people to watch. Other championships were at a time that everyone could watch as well on networks accessible over the air.

[@billieg826]

I am not going to pay to subscribe to ESPN. They have a monopoly on the bowl games. i am not going to pay for something that a major network should carry. KZbin gives me the highlights later. That is good enough for now.

[@haroldfarquad6886]

There's also the benefit of not having to sit through over an hour of commercial interruptions to watch a game that actually only needs two hours. Commercial breaks are so frequent now it makes games almost unwatchable live.

[@darylfoster7944]

@@haroldfarquad6886 that's what DVRs are for. I never watch a game live.

[@DavidGrogan-ky8qu]

Jose you know why? The folks that live in the south east didn't care one thing about watching that game.

[@kevinmcclain9255]

I live on the west coast and have to sit through traffic after work. I dont get home until after 9 PM eastern. Then I have to eat and chat with family. I can't remember the last national championship I watched live.

[@robertl8270]

When something is only on ESPN, it's a little hard to watch. I'm a die hard Ohio State fan, and yet I missed the Oregon game altogether. I just don't have cable, wasn't about to go out to watch the game in below zero weather, and don't wanna pay for streaming services. Put the game on ABC or CBS & watch those numbers skyrocket. Also, put the game on a Friday or Saturday night. People had work in the morning Monday night. Non Ohio state/ND fans weren't staying up.

[@kev614]

consider using streameast next time, though it can buffer a lot and not work at times

[@michaelthomas5140]

@@kev614Yep, or you can just get a 7-day free trial with KZbin tv, Fubo, Hulu, etc.

[@BigMonty686]

I’m an ND fan….but I gotta be at work at 6 am! I’m not staying up on a Monday night for a football game!

[@darylfoster7944]

@@BigMonty686 seriously, you can't go one day on limited sleep?

[@BigMonty686]

@@darylfoster7944 Lol….I doubt people want me starting IV’s and driving 20 ton Fire trucks dragging ass! Lol

[@soravsgoku123]

I disagree about the “rage viewing” thing. The problem isn’t that no one hates Ohio State or Notre Dame, because… lol. The problem is everyone hates them BOTH. It was hard for a lot of people to root for a team this year because everyone hated them both.

[@lorenl2508]

I had to remind myself at least 3 or 4 times that the Title game was Monday. Not used to the season extending this far in to January.

[@balden4284]

I personally hate that they're playing the game on Monday night. College football belongs on Saturday.

[@TennTyler161]

Don't forget those of us bootlegging cable TV 😂

[@haroldfarquad6886]

Combination of factors. All of Josh's suggestions are true, but there's also: 1) Ohio State and Notre Dame are among the most reviled programs in sports - particularly in the south where football is much more popular. Southerners are less likely to hate watch those two programs. I wanted both teams to lose equally and celebrate a win for college football. 2) The sport has become a shell of its former self... NIL and the portal have turned off half the appeal of college football, that being player loyalty to a brand and excitement of a roster built with years' of anticipation - NOT seeing which team can slap together the best portal haul twice a year. College football was about celebrating the schools and the brand, now it's just a game of mercenaries and entitlement. It's ugly. And the 12-team playoff sucks. Should have been 8... that fixes your scheduling problem and the fatigue problem at once.

[@jemappellekarl]

The same reason that Georgia v TCU a few years ago only had 17 million. People don't like mismatches

[@BigMonty686]

Dumb!

[@vernonhuffman2311]

7:30 on a Monday night, Inauguration Day, MLK Day, during NFL playoffs, ESPN. There are many reasons.

[@jamesmobley5815]

Greedy people never know when to stop while fucking up a good thing.

[@Maal7432]

Two team yall hate the most that’s why lol. But yeah, Inauguration Day didn’t help much either. I’m just glad we won. Go Bucks.

[@pigalow2002]

Notre Dame is probably the most popular team in the country

[@echt114]

@@pigalow2002 You forgot the "un"

[@mkeleshian]

Some people just don’t like MSESPNBC

[@keahilanil3469]

They include out-of-home viewers now that wasn't included in TV audience numbers in the past. Also, another way to report the numbers is how many people didn't watch, which in this case means 313 million Americans decided NOT to tune into college football's marquee game of its 2024-2025 season. Yikes

[@EDCaub]

I didn't watch the NC this year. For me it was because it was obvious who was going to win. I'm an NFL guy through and through and for College football, it's hard for me to watch because games can be so lopsided. If I think it's going to be a close, good game, I watch it. Didn't watch TCU v GA a few years back either except I think the first 10 minutes just out of hope for the little guy. I was cheering for OSU because they beat us (VFL) and it's always nice to lose to the champ if you have to lose, but I didnt need to watch the game to know who would win. I don't enjoy watching blow outs in college, or NFL either.

[@Rageousss]

BECAUSE NIL AND TRANSFER PORTAL HAS RUINED THE SPORT FOR A LARGE PORTION OF FANS. It hurts the sport more than it helps

[@lizardinthelites]

I stopped watching after my team played their bowl game. As far as I'm concerned the season was over then and there. Literally could care less after my team is done for the year.

[@echt114]

@lizardinthelites: Then you're not a college football fan, you're just insular and resentful.

[@lizardinthelites]

@echt114 that's an interesting opinion. Remember opinions are not factual and are seldom based in reality. Thanks for sharing how you feel.

[@ShawnKennedy-w2i]

@@echt114 It's an opinion Karen,relax.

[@echt114]

@ Ooh, I seem to have touched a nerve with the resentful types.

[@echt114]

@ No it's not just an opinion that a "college football fan" doesn't abandon interest in the sport if one single team is not playing.

[@steveturansky9031]

First off, I'm a big Buckeye fan. I went to one friends house to watch 2 NFL games Saturday. Then went to another to watch 2 NFL games Sunday (fell asleep on the couch there). Went home and napped for 2 hours, then watched 10+ hours of inauguration stuff. By the time the CFP natty came on, I was absolutely beat. Of course I stayed up almost all night Monday into Tuesday and watched the entire game twice plus all the pre and post shows, but it was tough. If my team was not playing, I'd probably have just DVR'd it for the next day. 1) It shouldn't be on a Monday 2) It shouldn't be that late in January 3) It should never be on inauguration day

[@mrwhite2628]

The main reason viewership is down. Is because it's on ESPN, and not a free program like it has been forever. And it will keep going down if it stays that way. Most Americans have cut the cord and couldn't care less about ESPN. And certainly won't pay money to ever watch TV again.

[@traviswilson7969]

Yep to woke of a network. Plus people was more interested in watching my president trump do his thing on Monday

[@darylfoster7944]

People don't pay to watch tv? What do you call Disney+, Max, Hulu, and Netflix?

[@mrwhite2628]

@darylfoster7944 I call it stuff I don't have and never will. Most of the people I know are the same.

[@darylfoster7944]

@@mrwhite2628 that's irrelevant to your original comment that most Americans "won't pay money to ever watch tv again", which is patently false.

[@mrwhite2628]

Actually, my comment is quite true. As evidenced by the very conversation JP is covering. And it will keep getting worse, whether you can see the forest through the trees or not.

[@chethammer]

The date the game was played had absolutely no bearing on the ratings. Being on ESPN cannot be understated. I had to buy sling to get it for me and my mom. On ABC, it would have done 30.

[@FourthDown]

Agreed, january 20 vs january 7 or so makes no difference at all. If the playoff were broadcast on multiple networks, the playoff hype would have a way bigger build up and inevitably better ratings for the NC

[@stevepollock8388]

Monday is a serious factor. But please remember not all fans have espn

[@kelbob00]

Well, and probably the majority of SEC fans didn’t tune in to watch so… That’s a lot of viewers

[@finalfantasy1201]

Maybe have the game on a Friday night instead of a Monday. Those of us in the East time zone can't stay up til Midnight to watch a freaking game when we have to go to work the next day. Your not competing with the NFL on Friday so I dont understand why they don't have the game on a Friday night

[@joelp5093]

Above all, the main reason is because it wasn't on network TV. ESPN isn't on most basic cable packages anymore and adding a sports package to Xfinity isn't worth it for most people. ESPN is also literally worthless other than actual live sports, their shows are horrible now

[@gbrown4190]

There was no team from the south the majority of college football audience is in the south

[@dg1268]

They don’t hate Ohio State and ND? 🤯😳 Those two are the two most HATED football programs in the ENTIRE country.

[@thomascook4318]

Add Michigan to that, too. Collectively, Big 10 schools hate OSU and Michigan about the same. Right now it would probably be Ohio State because the Buckeyes have been so successful the past 25 years while Michigan was dormant from 2007 - 2020.

[@jcallen21]

They are not even close to being the most hated football teams in the country,and I hate both of them lol

[@JustN0pe3]

Everyone i know hates both programs and said they were not watching due to both those teams being in. It was part of the reason I didn't watch. Also knew ND had basically ZERO chance.​ Instead watched some stupid Jamie Fox movie on Neflix​@@jcallen21

[@Braisedin]

You can't forget Alabama every video josh posts someone is taking shit about them.

[@michaeld6147]

They also have 2 of the biggest fanbases in the country.

[@Qeduhh365]

It peaked at 26.5 m at 8:30-8:45 right around when ND was getting worked in the first half

[@bobbydyne]

I forgot it was on

[@20Schmidt]

lol

[@johnpolishak5646]

The President inauguration was a factor, I was surprised by how many people said they watched the inauguration and football game. I know I did.

[@mikekittrell9059]

That's because no one, outside of OcryO St and Notre Dame's fan base, cares for those two teams.

[@traviswilson7969]

U hit the nail on the head my friend

[@haroldfarquad6886]

I would have happily watched about 20 other teams play for this game. There are no two teams I want to lose more each week than OSU and ND, other than the team my team is playing against that week.

[@AlexMorcom-yb4xb]

For me it was on espn I’m not paying for it to watch the games I enjoyed it when it was on fox and stuff

[@1SCme]

*You missed an aspect in comparing ND to a P4 conference member* (not just SEC) - ND's high interest is primarily from 1 team's fans, a P4 team draws broader interest from their conference.

[@TK-ui2jg]

the 4 most hated college football programs: Texas, Ohio State, Norte Dame, Alabama

[@jamesmurphy5415]

Tennessee and Penn St are pretty hated but they’re just not as good

[@darylfoster7944]

Success usually breeds jealousy

[@derekmoffitt3470]

For the viewership number to max, put it on ABC both are owned by Disney

[@dylanZZzzz21]

You had Trump dropping executive orders live and the 2nd Monday night Raw on Netflix at the same time. Saturdays are for college football

[@goskawow1943]

Add in that the spread was -8.5 and a vast majority of talking heads thought the game wouldn't be all that close

[@cheriekalel9578]

Adding in the bizarre winter weather in the South kept people distracted from the NC, too.

[@dbenedict357]

Miss me with the “biggest brands” comment. I think if anything this proves that the “brands” or if someone is a “blue blood program” … doesn’t matter in this day and age.

[@progun2012]

Wow… you really took the long way around. All you had to say is, everyone knew Notre Dame was walking dead and in the SEC, it just means more.

[@nobodyshome2024]

Numbers were down because Michigan was not involved and it was inauguration day and people were locked in on Trump...and most people hate Ohio St and Notre Dame

[@robmel0703]

Twelve teams is too many ... I lost interest and stopped keeping track by the time the championship game rolled around.

[@anthonyhipps8500]

I think it is bigger than that Josh. I think a lot of CFB fans are now "former fans" because of NIL and millionaires playing CFB. I believe "the folks" are fed up with it. Not all of them, but enough of them to make the numbers go way down. Just my 2 cents worth. Great program BTW.

[@rhetriver]

The expanded playoff and the fact that it goes so long into January is not the friend of mass viewership. And, of course, not having it on a standard network.

[@hugebamafan]

Because we all knew osu was going to win

[@icyballerj5857]

And the streaming service debacle

[@KosisochiIfediba]

@@NdfourlifeI think he was just stating a fact😂. You appear to be a ND fan lashing out here

[@jbjohnson4728]

Did you boycott the championship game because a Southern team wasn't in it. 🥲

[@KosisochiIfediba]

@@jbjohnson4728 no boycott. I think people just couldn’t find anything compelling about it🤷🏾‍♂️. Then the game proved out to be a snooze

[@antonkeiser2466]

@@jbjohnson4728I’m a southern fan and still tuned in, but only for a second because it was obvious going into it that Ohio State was the best team this year by far and Notre Dame is Notre Dame and they’re always gonna lose big in the championship. (And they definitely lost big, despite how “close” this game looked at the end)

[@drewdozerthaprophet9568]

A combination of the presidential inauguration, MLK day, and stretching the cfp all the way to the 20th creates cfp fatigue. Just a few reasons that come to mind …

[@ShoopDaWhoop781]

Because this one doesn't feel like anything. OSU lost to Michigan, did not even play in their conference championship, and won during a year that the rules will be changing going into next season. It's like the covid year in a way. Who cares.

[@vinnythewebsurfer]

Having every ESPN tv “personality” talk about how fraudulent the playoffs was, I’m not shocked.

[@obraking3179]

@joshpatecfb think you forget 2014 title game was highest viewership and there were zero sec teams playing in that game

[@bignastytiger4174]

Because it was the inaugural playoffs

[@thomasneal7126]

Rage viewing has two sides. A lot of people I talked with said they could care less to watch because they hated both teams and did not want to see either win a title. Let me preface these were all SEC fans. Had it been any team playing either of these two teams, some SEC folks would have watched just hoping to see OSU or Notre Dame get beat.

[@EricBanner]

The ones below 20 million, were blowouts. This one was was a blowout for a while so people turned it off. If it was competitive the whole game, there would be more viewers

[@jesuslover8]

For the Saturday bit with the NFL, Mr. Pate, you would need the FCS Championship on Friday. I think that would be the total package, for all, the FCS, the FBS, and the NFL.

[@oscardanielweeb]

Playoff rounds are way to far apart, everyone forgets by the time the final comes

[@Braisedin]

Couldn't agree more.

[@Slush23]

I also think 12 teams is too much. I think 8 would be better. Wouldn’t have blowout games like we did this year on way too many games.

[@darylfoster7944]

Did it occur to you that these are young kids playing an NFL length schedule?

[@oscardanielweeb]

@@darylfoster7944 They already get a month break between the end of the regular season and the playoffs

[@jayanderson7508]

2 teams that people outside of 3 states don’t care about with a pretty much foregone conclusion didn’t really help

[@cadenliams1]

ESPN ruined MLB and NBA and now CFP. I had it on in the background but didn’t watch it. I asked friends and family why they didn’t watch it and they said not interested in Play to Win Sports.

[@antelopedon6341]

The problem with working with the NFL to resolve the Saturday night scheduling solution is College Football has no leadership or commissioner. Pate for CF Commissioner now!

[@Chewy-qg3ir]

NFL wouldn't dare put games on 1 network only

[@michaeld6147]

The ONLY reason it was down, was because very few people have cable anymore. I wanted to watch it, but I don't have ESPN. If it would have been on ABC like it was for the past 15 years or so, it would have much higher.

[@Godsbackhand7]

All college playoff and NC games should occur on Saturday. Saturday is college football day. This shouldn’t be that complicated. Also, any changes to the playoff must be unanimous between all conferences. The Big10 has no incentive to change the format. There will be no major changes.

[@Ohhelmno]

Because it was two of the most hated teams in the nation outside of their own fanbases lol

[@shawnbrooks5293]

Right! Most people I know wished both teams could lose. I was pulling for ND because OSU fans are the worst

[@jbjohnson4728]

🥲🥲🥲

[@Ohhelmno]

@@shawnbrooks5293 yeah, I know a lot of people who were rooting for a meteor.

[@antonkeiser2466]

@@Ohhelmnomy preference was a sinkhole on the 50 yard line

[@shawnbrooks5293]

@Ohhelmno I was watching at my local and the majority wanted the ground to open up and swallow both teams

[@irwingreen7764]

The viewership numbers look to be a reaction to the point spread of the game. If these same two teams had played a game with a one point or a pick em number going in then the numbers would reflect that but the -8.5 hurt the numbers

[@JimmyHetherington]

Thank you needs to be on regular tv

[@lazzyfrog94]

I mean, I watch as many college football games as anyone. I watched tons of Sunbelt games. I watched tons of SEC games. I watched tons of Big Ten games. The playoff sucked. I’m sorry 12 team sucks. If I’m turning the game off because I know Ohio State is gonna win. I’m sure tons of other people did too.

[@Chefbriank]

I went to the LSU Championship game in New Orleans and remember Beanie Running right up to my seat in the End zone in the first quarter! Depressing we didn't win. I had single 1st row endzone seat since my wife was working the pregame! My wife was sent there from the foodservice company she worked for at Louisville Cardinals Stadium who had the Contract at the N.O. Stadium and convention center next door to run the pre game Fan Party! Sooo! I had a free room in the Quarter with a Balcony so we could pour Beer on LSU fans walking by! The Quarter was electric all week with Bucks fans until the day before the game when LSU fans showed up! LOL We Ended up first in line for a table for lunch at Antoinnes with John Cooper and two of his family members right behind us and I told the Seater that we were one party together so they got us a big table and we got to eat Lunch with Coach Cooper who was grateful because next table was 45 minutes to wait the seater told them. Thats when I told her we were together! Coach was very happy and nice to us!