The highly anticipated NFL clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans kicked off at 1 p.m. ET, captivating an average of 15.5 million viewers on NBC. The football frenzy continued as the NFL and college football schedules overlapped later in the afternoon. The Clemson-Texas showdown aired at 4 p.m. ET, coinciding with the commencement of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens game just half an hour later at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Steelers-Ravens matchup saw an average viewership of 15.4 million on FOX, while the Clemson-Texas duel attracted 8.6 million viewers on TNT. Ratings soared when the NFL games were not in direct competition with the College Football Playoffs.
Indiana faced off against Notre Dame in the inaugural game of the new 12-team format on Friday night, drawing an average of 13.4 million viewers on ABC/ESPN. Saturday witnessed a successful non-NFL game as Tennessee clashed with Ohio State, garnering an average viewership of 14.3 million on ABC/ESPN. The overall average viewership for the first round of the College Football Playoffs stood at 10.6 million viewers, surpassing the viewership of all but four college games throughout the season.
The NFL and college football are set to clash once more on Saturday, with the NFL scheduling three games concurrently with a lineup of bowl games. Notable matchups include the Los Angeles Chargers against the New England Patriots at 1 p.m. ET, the Denver Broncos facing off against the Cincinnati Bengals at 4:30 p.m. ET, and the Arizona Cardinals taking on the Los Angeles Rams at 8:10 p.m. ET. Saturday also features prominent bowl games, such as the Pop-Tarts Bowl at 3:30 p.m. ET, showcasing the 18th-ranked Iowa State against the 13th-ranked Miami. The Alamo Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET will exhibit the 23rd-ranked Colorado battling the 17th-ranked BYU, with top draft prospects Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter expected to make an appearance.
In a report by The Associated Press, the Ravens-Steelers game drew in over 15 million viewers, indicating a surge in NFL viewership over College Football Playoff games. The sports world continues to witness enthralling matchups and growing audiences, with football fans eagerly tuning in to catch the latest action. For more updates on sports news, follow Fox News Digital’s comprehensive coverage and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
