Why did Alabama vs. Oklahoma have high CFP ratings?

The Alabama vs. Oklahoma game featured major brands and was one of the highest-rated first-round matchups in CFP history.

Which CFP games had the lowest ratings?

The Ole Miss-Tulane and Oregon-James Madison games recorded the two lowest viewership numbers in the 12-team CFP's history.

How did NFL games affect CFP viewership?

NFL games airing concurrently with Group of 5 CFP matchups drew higher viewership, significantly impacting the college football games' audiences.

Home / Sports / CFP Ratings: Big Brands Shine, G5 Games Flop

CFP Ratings: Big Brands Shine, G5 Games Flop

24 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Major brands drew highest-rated CFP first-round games on record.
Group of 5 games recorded the two lowest-rated contests ever.
NFL games preempted Group of 5 CFP matchups with higher viewership.

CFP Ratings: Big Brands Shine, G5 Games Flop

The College Football Playoff's 12-team format delivered record-breaking viewership for its marquee first-round games. Alabama versus Oklahoma garnered 14.9 million viewers, while Miami versus Texas A&M attracted 14.8 million, marking the two highest-rated contests in CFP history. These figures highlight the strong appeal of major college football brands.

However, a significant ratings gap emerged for games involving Group of 5 teams. Ole Miss-Tulane drew 6.2 million viewers, and Oregon-James Madison fell to 4.4 million, representing the two lowest-rated CFP first-round games to date. This decline was partly attributed to direct competition from highly-rated NFL matchups.

Last year's CFP also saw lower viewership for Group of 5 games, but this year's NFL schedule featured more prominent teams in head-to-head time slots. The NFL's Washington-Philadelphia and Chicago-Green Bay games both achieved higher viewership than the TNT-broadcasted CFP contests, underscoring the challenge for non-Power 5 teams in attracting broad audiences.