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- CFP Semifinal at Rose Bowl Game Up 29%
- CFP Semifinal at Allstate Sugar Bowl Posts Strong 12.5 Overnight; Up 19%
- Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Earns Its Highest, Non-CFP Semifinal Rating in New Yearâs Six Era
- Birmingham Earns Highest Local Rating for Both CFP Semifinals
CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game Up 29% Year-Over-Year; CFP Semifinal at Sugar Bowl up 19% from Last Season
ESPNâs presentation of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual featuring a thrilling showdown between Oklahoma and Georgia (5 p.m. ET) on New Yearâs Day delivered an impressive 14.8 overnight (ESPN + ESPN2), up 29% from last seasonâs first CFP Semifinal on the same two networks and 53% from the 2015 seasonâs first CFP Semifinal, also on ESPN and ESPN2. This yearâs Rose Bowl Game on ESPN-only delivered a 14.2 overnight. The rating for the Georgia victory nearly matched the much-anticipated, record-breaking inaugural CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game (Jan. 1, 2015), which remains the highest-rated CFP Semifinal to date (15.5 overnight).
The Allstate Sugar Bowl between Clemson and Alabama (9 p.m.) delivered a very strong 12.5 overnight (ESPN and ESPN2), up 19% from last seasonâs second CFP Semifinal, also on ESPN and ESPN2, and 26% from the 2015âs season second CFP Semifinal on the same two networks. The ESPN-only presentation of the Sugar Bowl delivered a 12.0 overnight.
CFP Semifinals Average 13.9 Overnight, Up 26% Year-Over-Year; Third and Fourth Highest-Rated CFP Semifinal Ever
This seasonâs two CFP Semifinals averaged a 13.9 overnight, up 26% from last year and 42% from the 2015 season. Individually, both games rank as the third and fourth highest-rated CFP Semifinals ever, trailing only the two record-breaking CFP Semifinals from the inaugural year.
UCF-Auburn Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Posts Highest-Rated Non-CFP Semifinal Peach Bowl of New Yearâs Six Era The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl between UCF and Auburn (12:30 p.m.) earned a 5.1 overnight, the highest-rated non-CFP Semifinal Peach Bowl in the New Yearâs Six Era. The game was up 28% from the 2015 season game and 55% from the 2014 season game. The 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl was a CFP Semifinal.
ESPN Earns Highest Rating Ever for New Yearâs Six
ESPNâs presentation of the entire New Yearâs Six averaged an 8.4 overnight, the highest rated New Yearâs Six in the systemâs four-year history. This yearâs presentation of the six games was up 8% from last year, 15% from the 2015 season and 3% from year one.
Additional Rose Bowl Game and Sugar Bowl Highlights:
Overtime Peaks Rating: The Rose Bowl Game rating peaked as overtime got underway, with a 17.3 Rating (9-9:15 p.m.)
- Birmingham: Highest-Rated Local Market for Both College Football Playoff Semifinals
Birmingham was the No. 1 local market for both CFP Semifinal games, delivering a 42.8 rating for the Rose Bowl and 55.7 for the Sugar Bowl. The complete top 10 for both games:

Additional New Yearâs Day Highlights:
- Outback Bowl: Michigan vs. South Carolina (Noon, ESPN2) delivered a 3.1 overnight, up 72% from the 2015 Outback Bowl, the last time the game aired on ESPN2.
- Citrus Bowl Presented by Overtonâs: LSU vs. Notre Dame (1 p.m., ABC) earned a 5.5 overnight, up 32% from last yearâs game (LSU vs. Louisville)
Last seasonâs CFP Semifinal Schedule: Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl at 3 p.m. and PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at 7 p.m. Both games were played on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016
2015 seasonâs CFP Semifinal Schedule: Capital One Orange Bowl at 4 p.m. and Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at 8 p.m. both games were played on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015