One of the most dramatic games in Rose Bowl history still earned historically low numbers.
Monday’s USC/Penn State Rose Bowl had an 8.6 final rating and 15.7 million viewers on ESPN, up 16% in ratings and viewership from Stanford/Iowa last year (7.4, 13.6M) but down 16% in both measures from Michigan State/Stanford in 2014, the final year of the BCS (10.2, 18.6M). The 2015 Oregon/Florida State Rose Bowl was part of the College Football Playoff and had a 14.8 and 28.2 million.
The Trojans’ last-second win ranks as the most-watched New Year’s Six bowl outside of the playoffs (12 telecasts dating back to 2014), topping the previous highs set by last year’s Rose Bowl.
On the other hand, it also delivered the second-lowest rating in Rose Bowl history and the game’s second-smallest audience since at least 2001 — topping only last year on both counts. Prior to the start of the College Football Playoff in 2014, the low water marks were a 9.4 and 17.0 million for Stanford/Wisconsin in 2013.
The January 2 date may have had some impact on the numbers, though it is worth noting that the last Rose Bowl to take place on the date — Oregon/Wisconsin in 2012 — had a 10.2 and 17.6 million.
Figures do not include the 300,000 who streamed coverage on WatchESPN. With those numbers added to the mix, the game had 16.0 million viewers.
(Numbers from ESPN, with additional info from ShowBuzz Daily 1/4)
