Over the past five days, sports enthusiasts were treated to a marathon of eight playoff games, spanning both college and professional football. The excitement was palpable as each night featured prime-time matchups. College football's newly expanded playoffs introduced changes that shifted the schedule and altered outcomes, while the NFL's wild card round showcased intense competition. Despite the thrilling matches, viewership numbers for both events dipped compared to the previous year.

The college football playoffs saw a significant transformation this season with an expansion from four to twelve teams. This change pushed the championship game back to January 20th. Interestingly, none of the top four seeded teams advanced past the opening rounds, leading to unexpected semifinalists such as Penn State, Notre Dame, Texas, and Ohio State. The Orange Bowl between Notre Dame and Penn State on January 9th drew 17.8 million viewers across ESPN networks, marking a notable decline from last year's New Year's Day game. However, the following night’s Cotton Bowl between Ohio State and Texas saw a rebound, attracting 20.6 million viewers. Overall, the two semifinal games averaged 19.2 million viewers, a 17% decrease from the previous year.

Shifting to the NFL, the wild card round kicked off immediately after the college semifinals concluded. CBS led the weekend with a Saturday afternoon game between Houston and the L.A. Chargers, drawing 26.6 million viewers—a slight increase from the previous year. Prime Video streamed an evening matchup between Baltimore and Pittsburgh, averaging 22.1 million viewers, setting a record for the platform but still below last year's Peacock stream. Sunday brought higher ratings, with the Fox broadcast of Philadelphia versus Green Bay attracting 35.9 million viewers—the highest of all six games. However, overall viewership for the six wild card games dropped by 8%, averaging 27.8 million viewers. The absence of popular teams like Kansas City and Dallas, along with several one-sided outcomes, likely contributed to this trend.

As we look forward to the national championship game featuring Notre Dame and Ohio State, there is a renewed sense of anticipation. Both teams bring rich histories and passionate fan bases, promising an unforgettable finale. Meanwhile, the NFL divisional playoffs will continue to captivate audiences with high-stakes matchups. These events underscore the enduring appeal of football, reminding us of the sport's ability to unite communities and inspire hope, even as viewership patterns evolve.