GLENDALE, Arizona -- Ohio State football’s return to the College Football Playoff turned out to be good news for ESPN’s ratings.
Saturday’s CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl between the Buckeyes and Clemson drew 21.2 million viewers, according to ESPN. That set a new record for a non-New Year’s Day playoff game and represented a 9 % increase of last year’s late semifinal.
That viewer total also was up 10 percent from the 2016 Fiesta Bowl matchup between OSU and Clemson.
The audience for the Tigers’ victory is also up 10% from when the Fiesta Bowl previously hosted a CFP Semifinal (Dec. 31, 2015), which also featured Clemson and Ohio State on a Saturday evening.
The other semifinal between LSU and Oklahoma drew 17.2 million viewers. Combined, the playoff semifinals’ viewership was up 6 % over last year.
Around the NFL
Former Ohio State receiver Michael Thomas totaled 37 yards on four receptions in the New Orleans Saints’ 42-10 victory at the Carolina Panthers. He finished the regular season with an NFL record 149 receptions for a league-leading 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Saints play host to the Vikings on Sunday in the opening round of the NFC playoffs.
• Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown and added another score on a reception in the Dallas Cowboys’ 47-16 victory over Washington. However, the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over the New York Giants knocked Dallas out of playoff contention.
• Nick Bosa recorded six tackles in the San Francisco 49ers’ 26-21 victory at the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers locked up a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs.
• Gareon Conley collected five tackles and a pair off passes defended for the Houston Texans in a 35-14 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Key Dates
• College Football Playoff National Championship: 14 days, Jan. 13, 2020
• NFL Draft underclassmen entry deadline: 18 days, Jan. 17, 2020
• NFL Scouting Combine: 56 days, Feb. 24-March 2, 2020
• Bowling Green at Ohio State: 280 days, Sept. 20, 2020
• Michigan at Ohio State: 334 days, Nov. 28, 2020
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