Rose Bowl Game Ratings Bonanza

Michigan’s thrilling overtime victory over Alabama in this year’s Rose Bowl Game was the most-watched College Football Playoff semifinal since the system’s first year and the most-watched CFP semifinal as a whole in six seasons.

On average 27.2 million viewers watched the game, which peaked at 32.8 million viewers according to the Detroit Free Press, making it the third most watched college football game ever behind only the 2014 Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl (28.2 million and 28.3 million, respectively).

The game is also the top non-NFL sporting event since 2018.

Last year’s Rose Bowl was among the worst-rated Rose Bowls ever. Just 10.2 million viewers watched Penn State beat Utah in the 2023 game. The lower numbers were attributed to several factors, including the game being held on Jan.2 and the contest not being part of the College Football Playoffs.