Recently, viewership for NFL games surged past that of the College Football Playoff, indicating strong interest in professional football. The trend highlights the NFL’s continued dominance in the television landscape.
On a Saturday marked by high stakes, the Houston Texans faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs. This matchup drew an impressive average of 15.5 million viewers. In contrast, the college playoff clash between SMU and Penn State attracted only 6.4 million viewers on TNT, showcasing a clear preference among audiences.
Later that day, Clemson battled Texas in another playoff game. This contest garnered 8.6 million viewers, while the Steelers-Ravens game on Fox captured 15.4 million. These numbers reflect a consistent pattern of NFL viewership eclipsing college football events.
The College Football Playoff also aired two additional games. The Friday night game between Indiana and Notre Dame pulled in 13.4 million viewers. On Saturday night, the matchup between Tennessee and Ohio State reached 14.3 million. Despite these respectable numbers, they still fell short of NFL viewership.
Overall, the average number of viewers for this playoff weekend stood at 10.6 million. This figure outpaced all but a handful of college football games this season, reinforcing the NFL’s strong hold on American sports culture.
As the playoff format expands, reactions will emerge regarding its effectiveness and engagement. However, the latest viewing figures suggest that professional football remains the primary draw for audiences during this critical period in the sports calendar.
