BOWL SEASON OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2025
BREAKING EXPECTATIONS How Expanded CFP and Creative Marketing Elevated Bowl Game Viewership By KEVIN McNAMARA
F
or years now, ill-informed naysayers surveyed
continued to elevate Bowl Season in the eye of the
college football’s post-season and surmised
sports world.
that an expanded championship playoff would
negatively impact the many bowl games that dot
“I have never doubted the popularity of Bowl Season and knew bowl game viewership would
the December calendar. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
remain strong…but this year’s viewership
While the expanded
“I have never doubted the
College Football Playoff
popularity of Bowl Season and
my expectations,” said
interest in the sport as
knew bowl game viewership
director of Bowl Season.
hoped for, it did not
would remain strong…but this
did, in fact, grow
come at the expense of other post-season opportunities. And the evidence is not word of
Nick Carparelli, executive According to ESPN, the 33 non-CFP bowls
year’s viewership numbers
averaged 2.7 million
exceeded even my expectations.”
percent year-over-year
mouth or hyperbole. It’s in the numbers, the TV
numbers exceeded even
– NICK CARPARELLI
Bowl Season Executive Director
numbers anyway. In fact, the expanded CFP offerings may have helped to boost viewership for the games
viewers, marking a 14 increase and the largest audience since the 201920 season. Gains were
particularly notable among viewers aged 18-49, with a 21 percent rise in that demographic.
played over the 10 days between first round and
Fourteen of the 33 bowls achieved at least a five-
quarterfinal contests. Creative marketing plays,
year high in viewership, with five reaching ten-year
interesting matchups and plenty of publicity
highs. The Valero Alamo Bowl attracted 8 million BOWL SEASON | January 2025
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