ESPN announces TV ratings for Washington's win over Texas in Sugar Bowl
ESPN has announced viewership numbers for each of its College Football Playoff semifinal games.
Washington’s Sugar Bowl win over Texas drew 18.4 million viewers, according to the network. At its peak, the game was watched by 24.5 million viewers Per ESPN, it was the 4th most-watched Sugar Bowl of the last 20 years.
The Rose Bowl did draw a much larger audience in an earlier time slot. Per ESPN, an audience of 27.2 million tuned in to watch Michigan’s overtime win over Alabama.
Overall, ESPN says this was the most-watched semifinals over the last 6 years:
🎊The #CFBPlayoff Semis scored 22.6M viewers
🌹27.2M viewers tuned in for @UMichFootball & @AlabamaFTBL
– Best Semi since Year 1
– Top 10 cable telecast all-time
– Peak: 32.8M🏆18.4M watched @UW_Football & @TexasFootball, the 4th-highest Sugar Bowl audience in 20 years pic.twitter.com/0UzB0z0Z5J
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) January 2, 2024
Washington defeated Texas 37-31 thanks to a late pass breakup as time expired in regulation. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 430 yards and 2 touchdowns in the victory over the Longhorns.
Washington will now prepare to face Michigan in the national championship game. The Huskies have not been crowned national champs since the 1991 season.
Kickoff against the Wolverines is set for 4:30 p.m. PT on Jan. 8.