Rose Bowl Game Quarterfinal Matchup Draws 21.1 Million Viewers

The Ohio State Buckeyes-Oregon Ducks Rose Bowl matchup drew an average of 21.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched college football game since last season’s national championship.

The game surpassed the 17.3 million viewers who tuned in earlier that day for the Texas-Arizona State matchup and was also the most-watched non-NFL sporting event since the 2024 National Championship.

To put it in perspective, more viewers watched the Rose Bowl Game than the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Basketball Championships, the NBA Finals, the World Series, and The Masters.

The NBA Finals and the World Series are multi-game events. The NBA Finals average about half of the Rose Bowl viewership with 11.1 million viewers per game, and the World Series averages nearly 16.8 million viewers per game.

In the Rose Bowl Game, Ohio State defeated Oregon 41-21. The Buckeyes wasted no time getting on the board as Jeremiah Smith scored a touchdown just one minute into the game, catching many viewers off guard as ESPN had not yet switched its feed from the Texas-Arizona State game.

By halftime, the Buckeyes held a commanding 34-0 lead. Running back TreVeyon Henderson’s breakaway touchdown punctuated the team’s early surge.

Oregon managed to narrow the deficit to 34-15 late in the third quarter, but hopes of a comeback were dashed when the Ducks punted on their next possession, leading to another Buckeyes touchdown. The Ducks added a late score to make the final margin more respectable, but Ohio State’s dominance was undeniable.

The Buckeyes advanced to the next round of the College Football Playoff with their sights set on another national title.