Mendoza put his body on the line to score an epic touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Indiana sealed its first title with an interception that ended the Hurricanes’ potential game-winning drive.
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If a movie is made chronicling Indiana’s rise from Big Ten laughing stock to college football royalty, it could be a box office hit — that is, if the viewing figures for Monday night’s title game are any indication.
Because the thriller at Hard Rock Stadium drew 30.1 million viewers and is the second-most-watched College Football Playoff national championship, according to ESPN PR.
The CFP debuted during the 2014 season. It grew from four to 12 teams last season, culminating in Ohio State defeating Notre Dame for its first title in 10 years. That matchup drew an average of 22.1 million viewers, according to ESPN PR. At the time, viewing numbers were down compared to the previous season, when Michigan and Washington drew approximately 25 million viewers.Advertisement
The biggest game in college football came to fruition this time, and not just thanks to Indiana’s Hollywood script. Miami also had an exciting trip.
After missing the CFP during the 2024 campaign, the ‘Canes posted another 10-win season, broke into the field and made a run of their own.
As the 10th seed, they defeated seventh-seeded Texas A&M, second-seeded Ohio State and sixth-seeded Ole Miss. And they put up a fight against the top-seeded Hoosiers in a game in which 24 of their 48 total points were scored in the fourth quarter.
ESPN’s MegaCast viewership peaked at 33.2 million viewers.
According to ESPN PR, the game is now considered the most-watched non-NFL sports television broadcast since Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, in which the Chicago Cubs ended their 108-year title drought.