The Sugar Bowl shouldn’t have dropped that much. I’d imagine east coast people checked out rather quickly once Bama UM was done. What if UT UW was the RB? I’d imagine they’d have drawn 5 million more on aggregate between the two games. That’s money left on the table.

(01-04-2024 03:41 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  The Sugar Bowl shouldn’t have dropped that much. I’d imagine east coast people checked out rather quickly once Bama UM was done. What if UT UW was the RB? I’d imagine they’d have drawn 5 million more on aggregate between the two games. That’s money left on the table.

And we have data on that, the very first Playoff in 2014:

Rose: Oregon/Florida State: 28.16M
Sugar: Ohio State/Alabama: 28.27M

Notice though that even though in terms of matchup Ohio State/Alabama should blow Oregon/Florida State out of the water the games were barely within a tenth of a million viewers apart out of over 28 million while when the better matchup is in the Rose Bowl there's almost 9 million viewers difference.

At least in the next two years, it's very likely the Big Ten Champion will be assigned to play in the Rose Bowl and the SEC Champion in the Sugar Bowl on NYD so they will be the draws. It will be impossible for more than one Big Ten or SEC team to have a first round bye under the current proposed format. I am not aware of any plans to bracket conference teams away from each other in the QF. If conference teams are allowed to rematch in the QF, you could get some rematches in the QF like Michigan-Ohio State or Georgia-Alabama. If you don't allow rematches, it's certainly possible to get another Michigan-Alabama or Ohio State-Georgia (last year's SF) a round earlier with the host bowl determined by the conference champion.

Another thing to point out, the CFP will lose the MNF following week 18 NFL Sunday on years where NYD drifts away from Monday the week prior and into the middle parts of the week, as will be the case in '25 and '26. So, if you are looking at Thursday/Friday SFs every year leading into Super WC weekend, will there be a ratings drop off for the SFs? The NCG will still be played on MNF following the Divisional playoff games, but we lose the MNF CFB game following week 18, which is a much more valuable night in my eyes because it extends the Holiday season by another week for football fans. I expect a poor ratings night for the Friday SF and a bad ratings night for a MNF NCG that is held so late into January. Early January is better than late January, and not just for attendance.

(01-04-2024 07:04 AM)schmolik Wrote:  And we have data on that, the very first Playoff in 2014:

Rose: Oregon/Florida State: 28.16M
Sugar: Ohio State/Alabama: 28.27M

And we have to acknowledge that is the absolute peak of CFB. Like Jordan in '98 (although we are unlikely to see a precipitous drop off in subsequent decades given the popularity of football). We can't expect ratings like this every year. It took once of the most compelling storylines in American sports (Harbaugh scandal) and two legendary coaches and programs to duplicate these ratings. No one nationally cares about FSU so the snub was not a turn off. People wanted Bama UM and were heavily rooting against UM. Even people in the tri-state area were talking about the game at work the next day (and I doubt they were B1G/SEC guys). It's just one of those perfect storm scenarios. It's unfortunate, because it marks the end of an era, regardless of what these coaches' plans are for next year and beyond. I don't think the sport will be the same for me going forward, and certainly not a Rose Bowl QF with a watered down 1/2 vs 7/8 matchup.

(01-04-2024 07:26 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  Another thing to point out, the CFP will lose the MNF following week 18 NFL Sunday on years where NYD drifts away from Monday the week prior and into the middle parts of the week, as will be the case in '25 and '26. So, if you are looking at Thursday/Friday SFs every year leading into Super WC weekend, will there be a ratings drop off for the SFs? The NCG will still be played on MNF following the Divisional playoff games, but we lose the MNF CFB game following week 18, which is a much more valuable night in my eyes because it extends the Holiday season by another week for football fans. I expect a poor ratings night for the Friday SF and a bad ratings night for a MNF NCG that is held so late into January. Early January is better than late January, and not just for attendance.

Oh to me there's no doubt that SF viewership will plummet off NYD. Last year the national championship game was outdrawn by the SF (although Georgia's blowout had a lot to do with it). In 2017-18, the national championship outdrew the SF's but it was pretty close (at least to the Rose Bowl) and the national championship went to OT. I feel they should have kept the SF on NYD instead of the QF.

(01-04-2024 07:33 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 07:04 AM)schmolik Wrote:  And we have data on that, the very first Playoff in 2014:

Rose: Oregon/Florida State: 28.16M
Sugar: Ohio State/Alabama: 28.27M

And we have to acknowledge that is the absolute peak of CFB. Like Jordan in '98 (although we are unlikely to see a precipitous drop off in subsequent decades given the popularity of football). We can't expect ratings like this every year. It took once of the most compelling storylines in American sports (Harbaugh scandal) and two legendary coaches and programs to duplicate these ratings. No one nationally cares about FSU so the snub was not a turn off. People wanted Bama UM and were heavily rooting against UM. Even people in the tri-state area were talking about the game at work the next day (and I doubt they were B1G/SEC guys). It's just one of those perfect storm scenarios. It's unfortunate, because it marks the end of an era, regardless of what these coaches' plans are for next year and beyond. I don't think the sport will be the same for me going forward, and certainly not a Rose Bowl QF with a watered down 1/2 vs 7/8 matchup.

TCU-Michigan was 21.7m last year, very nearly the same as Alabama-Michigan this year. People like to watch compelling matchups and good games, preferably games that don't end after midnight. It would have been smarter for the NCAA to have one semifinal in prime time, then the other in prime time on the following day.

(01-04-2024 11:25 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 07:33 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 07:04 AM)schmolik Wrote:  And we have data on that, the very first Playoff in 2014:

Rose: Oregon/Florida State: 28.16M
Sugar: Ohio State/Alabama: 28.27M

And we have to acknowledge that is the absolute peak of CFB. Like Jordan in '98 (although we are unlikely to see a precipitous drop off in subsequent decades given the popularity of football). We can't expect ratings like this every year. It took once of the most compelling storylines in American sports (Harbaugh scandal) and two legendary coaches and programs to duplicate these ratings. No one nationally cares about FSU so the snub was not a turn off. People wanted Bama UM and were heavily rooting against UM. Even people in the tri-state area were talking about the game at work the next day (and I doubt they were B1G/SEC guys). It's just one of those perfect storm scenarios. It's unfortunate, because it marks the end of an era, regardless of what these coaches' plans are for next year and beyond. I don't think the sport will be the same for me going forward, and certainly not a Rose Bowl QF with a watered down 1/2 vs 7/8 matchup.

TCU-Michigan was 21.7m last year, very nearly the same as Alabama-Michigan this year. People like to watch compelling matchups and good games, preferably games that don't end after midnight. It would have been smarter for the NCAA to have one semifinal in prime time, then the other in prime time on the following day.

That will be the format in the 12 team Playoff. The precedent had been to play both semifinals the same day likely because of New Year's Day in Rose Bowl/Sugar Bowl years. The original plan was New Year's Eve in other years but then it shifted to Saturday before NYD in non Rose/Sugar years with the exception being when NYD was a Saturday when they had the SF on NYE (the previous Saturday would have been Christmas). I don't know if having the two SF's on separate days would be practical on most days around NYD. If New Year's Day is on Monday, would having the second semifinal on Jan. 2 would be much better. You also give one team a full day of rest over their opponent.

(01-04-2024 11:25 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  TCU-Michigan was 21.7m last year, very nearly the same as Alabama-Michigan this year. People like to watch compelling matchups and good games, preferably games that don't end after midnight. It would have been smarter for the NCAA to have one semifinal in prime time, then the other in prime time on the following day.

21 is close to 27 million? No, not in the same ball park.

I'll say this, the Thursday Friday does have the advantage of leading into Super WC weekend. It looks like this is what they are going for. I just think that MNF game after week 18 is more valuable than either a Thursday or certainly a Friday night game. Anyhow, there is no more flexibility beyond this. Other crazy scenarios involve playing the SF/F at the same location, but unless they want to do short rest, that is not happening.

(01-04-2024 12:29 PM)RUScarlets Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 11:25 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  TCU-Michigan was 21.7m last year, very nearly the same as Alabama-Michigan this year. People like to watch compelling matchups and good games, preferably games that don't end after midnight. It would have been smarter for the NCAA to have one semifinal in prime time, then the other in prime time on the following day.

21 is close to 27 million? No, not in the same ball park.

I'll say this, the Thursday Friday does have the advantage of leading into Super WC weekend. It looks like this is what they are going for. I just think that MNF game after week 18 is more valuable than either a Thursday or certainly a Friday night game. Anyhow, there is no more flexibility beyond this. Other crazy scenarios involve playing the SF/F at the same location, but unless they want to do short rest, that is not happening.

EDIT: Deleted. I misunderstood the “MNF” reference and saw it as referring to the NFL when you meant a Monday night CFP game.

I'm surprised that people here apparently watch the Rose Bowl parade.

(01-04-2024 01:39 PM)b2b Wrote:  I'm surprised that people here apparently watch the Rose Bowl parade.

This time 1000! I wouldn't watch the Rose Bowl parade (or any other parade) if was happening in my backyard.

(01-04-2024 01:39 PM)b2b Wrote:  I'm surprised that people here apparently watch the Rose Bowl parade.

You're surprised that there's some overlap between people who watch a popular thing and people who watch a comparably more popular thing?

Rose Bowl got 27M viewers, the Rose Parade in 2018 got 44M viewers accoring to Nielsen. I'm using the 2018 number because it's sourced to Nielsen, and me, I didn't believe the unsourced claims by the Tournament of Roses websites that said 44M.

https://labusinessjournal.com/media/parade-payday/

(01-04-2024 01:52 PM)UpStreamRedTeam Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 01:39 PM)b2b Wrote:  I'm surprised that people here apparently watch the Rose Bowl parade.

This time 1000! I wouldn't watch the Rose Bowl parade (or any other parade) if was happening in my backyard.

You woudn't, but apparently 40m+ people would. Shrug.

(01-04-2024 02:34 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 01:39 PM)b2b Wrote:  I'm surprised that people here apparently watch the Rose Bowl parade.

You're surprised that there's some overlap between people who watch a popular thing and people who watch a comparably more popular thing?

Rose Bowl got 27M viewers, the Rose Parade in 2018 got 44M viewers accoring to Nielsen. I'm using the 2018 number because it's sourced to Nielsen, and me, I didn't believe the unsourced claims by the Tournament of Roses websites that said 44M.

https://labusinessjournal.com/media/parade-payday/

I'm shocked that sports fans watch parades. Yes.

(01-04-2024 02:37 PM)b2b Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 02:34 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 01:39 PM)b2b Wrote:  I'm surprised that people here apparently watch the Rose Bowl parade.

You're surprised that there's some overlap between people who watch a popular thing and people who watch a comparably more popular thing?

Rose Bowl got 27M viewers, the Rose Parade in 2018 got 44M viewers accoring to Nielsen. I'm using the 2018 number because it's sourced to Nielsen, and me, I didn't believe the unsourced claims by the Tournament of Roses websites that said 44M.

https://labusinessjournal.com/media/parade-payday/

I'm shocked that sports fans watch parades. Yes.

Sports fans have wives.

(01-03-2024 09:19 AM)Big 12 fan too Wrote:  Top BIG vs top SEC is what a vast majority want. Particularly if 40+ schools in that P2

https://x.com/ESPNPR/status/1742329360047067249?s=20

Tired of seeing the same teams in the CFP. Just go ahead and start your own "Lil NFL" for crying out loud.

(01-04-2024 07:26 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  Another thing to point out, the CFP will lose the MNF following week 18 NFL Sunday on years where NYD drifts away from Monday the week prior and into the middle parts of the week, as will be the case in '25 and '26. So, if you are looking at Thursday/Friday SFs every year leading into Super WC weekend, will there be a ratings drop off for the SFs? The NCG will still be played on MNF following the Divisional playoff games, but we lose the MNF CFB game following week 18, which is a much more valuable night in my eyes because it extends the Holiday season by another week for football fans. I expect a poor ratings night for the Friday SF and a bad ratings night for a MNF NCG that is held so late into January. Early January is better than late January, and not just for attendance.

There is no MNF ever on week 18 to give teams same time off bfore playoffs.

I think most years, the title game will be on MLK day.

(01-04-2024 03:30 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 07:26 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  Another thing to point out, the CFP will lose the MNF following week 18 NFL Sunday on years where NYD drifts away from Monday the week prior and into the middle parts of the week, as will be the case in '25 and '26. So, if you are looking at Thursday/Friday SFs every year leading into Super WC weekend, will there be a ratings drop off for the SFs? The NCG will still be played on MNF following the Divisional playoff games, but we lose the MNF CFB game following week 18, which is a much more valuable night in my eyes because it extends the Holiday season by another week for football fans. I expect a poor ratings night for the Friday SF and a bad ratings night for a MNF NCG that is held so late into January. Early January is better than late January, and not just for attendance.

There is no MNF ever on week 18 to give teams same time off bfore playoffs.

I think most years, the title game will be on MLK day.

The conflict the CFP title game will have to worry about won't be the Week 18 MNF game, it will be the Wild Card Round MNF game.

(01-04-2024 09:56 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 03:30 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(01-04-2024 07:26 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  Another thing to point out, the CFP will lose the MNF following week 18 NFL Sunday on years where NYD drifts away from Monday the week prior and into the middle parts of the week, as will be the case in '25 and '26. So, if you are looking at Thursday/Friday SFs every year leading into Super WC weekend, will there be a ratings drop off for the SFs? The NCG will still be played on MNF following the Divisional playoff games, but we lose the MNF CFB game following week 18, which is a much more valuable night in my eyes because it extends the Holiday season by another week for football fans. I expect a poor ratings night for the Friday SF and a bad ratings night for a MNF NCG that is held so late into January. Early January is better than late January, and not just for attendance.

There is no MNF ever on week 18 to give teams same time off bfore playoffs.

I think most years, the title game will be on MLK day.

The conflict the CFP title game will have to worry about won't be the Week 18 MNF game, it will be the Wild Card Round MNF game.

Not really.

Quarterfinals on New Year's Day. (One on New Years' Eve)

Semifinals on the Thursday and Friday before NFL Wild Card Weekend.

National Championship Game on the Monday 10-11 days after the semifinals.

There will currently be no football game period following week 18, that’s what I meant.