Top-seeded Indiana’s victory over Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday night was the most watched college football game in 11 years.
The Hoosiers’ 27-21 victory over the 10th seeded Hurricanes for their first football national title averaged 30.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen. It also is the second-most watched CFP title game and cable telecast on record. Ohio State’s win over Oregon in January 2015, still has the record at 33.9 million.
According to ESPN, it was the most-viewed, non-NFL sports telecast since Game 7 of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland. It is the fourth-most watched college football game in the last 30 years and the eighth-most watched ESPN production since the network started in 1979.
“Monday night’s record-setting National Championship game was the exclamation point on the most exciting College Football Playoff to date – and a fitting final chapter for ESPN’s highly successful 2025-26 college football season,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro told The Associated Press. “We are grateful to our CFP partners for their collaboration as this preeminent sports event continues to reach new audiences and fan bases each year.”
ESPN had its highest-viewed event on Sunday when the Houston Texans-New England Patriots NFL playoff game averaged 37.97 million.
Monday night’s audience peaked at 33.2 million viewers in the first half.
The 11 College Football Playoff games averaged 16.3 million viewers in its second year of the 12-team format.
According to Nielsen, Indiana averaged 8.44 million viewers for its 16 games (the regular season, Big Ten championship game and three CFP games). The Hoosiers averaged 2.70 million for its 12 regular-season games.
