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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The College Football Playoff championship's viewership is down nearly a quarter from last year.
Alabama's 45-40 victory over Clemson on Monday night averaged 25.7 million viewers on ESPN, down 23 percent from the 33.4 million for the inaugural CFP title game in 2015.
The audience was smaller than that for both of last season's semifinals, along with two of the four BCS title games ESPN aired: Auburn-Oregon in 2011 and Alabama-Notre Dame in 2013.
ESPN said Monday the "Megacast" of alternate broadcasts totaled 26.2 million viewers including ESPN2 and ESPNU. Online streaming added an average of 585,000 viewers.
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