The Michigan Wolverines came out victorious in the College Football Playoffs this year with a 34-13 victory over the Washington Huskies, and they had more eyes on them than any other college football team while doing so.
The Michigan Wolverines played in the three most-viewed college football games of the season. The top two games were both College Football Playoff games, while the third most-watched game was against Michigan’s rival the Ohio State Buckeyes. “The Game” between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines was the only non-bowl or non-conference championship to be in the top six in viewership.
The Michigan-Washington College Football Playoff Championship game was the No. 7 on the list of CFP title games. The most-watched CFP title game was the first one, which was between Ohio State and the Oregon Ducks. Michigan fans have began to dub the Michigan Wolverines as “America’s team” upon the news of the ratings.
We really are americas team 😎
— B-rock (@35_throwaway) January 10, 2024
America’s team
— Avery Noel (@avery_noel_) January 10, 2024
America’s Team😎
— Jakob Pal〽️er (@Jakob_Palmer13) January 10, 2024
Americas. Team.
— GoBlue97 (@GBlue97) January 10, 2024
Americas Team pic.twitter.com/9MQc6ILmAL
— THE RED RANGER (@THEREDRANGER3) January 10, 2024
The Rose Bowl between the Michigan Wolverines and the Alabama Crimson Tide had more viewers than the title game
The Michigan Wolverines beat the Alabama Crimson Tide 27-20 in the Rose Bowl. That matchup was the most watched college football game of the season.
The Rose Bowl garnered the largest college football audience since the 2018 national championship with nearly 28 million viewers. Alabama was in six of the top-25 most watched college football games this year, while Michigan was in five. Michigan accounted for half of the eight games with over 10 million viewers
In a Los Angeles Times article, Jim Harbaugh’s father Jack explained why the game meant so much.
“Beautiful thing is, we’ve seen this team all year, and today they just encapsulated it all, the way they performed in that final drive and the overtime stop,” Jack said.
“We all know the circumstances and the ups and downs and all that. The games [Jim didn’t coach] were great victories, but to watch our team, our coaches, the way they looked into the camera with tears rolling down their face and telling the listening audience, we play for each other … and today to take that ball down the field, and the entire nation was able to see in living color what they were talking about at the end of all those games.”
The Michigan Wolverines’ season was steeped in controversy
One potential reason that Michigan may have delivered so many views is because of the controversy that followed their team throughout the season.
Michigan was accused of a sign-stealing scheme that resulted in the firing of analyst Connor Stalions as well as the suspension of head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games. Stalions allegedly led an in-person scouting scheme that involved sending people to opponents games, which is illegal in the NCAA.
Harbaugh has yet to be punished by the NCAA, but the Big Ten conference handed down a three-game suspension at the end of the season. Harbaugh said him and his team were innocent after winning the title game, but the controversy still likely attracted many viewers.
One fact that supports this claim is the location in which viewers of the national title resided. Apart from Detroit and Seattle, Birmingham and Columbus were responsible for the third and fourth most viewers of the title game with a 20.4 rating each, according to ESPN Press Room.
Columbus is home to the Ohio State Buckeyes, who are Michigan’s most hated rival. Several fans admitted to watching the game with hopes of seeing a Michigan loss.
i watched all 3 of those games in hopes that michigan would lose.
— jaredknollenberg (@jaredknollenbe1) January 10, 2024
There is nothing worse than watching Harbaugh on my screen 🙄 but if I can watch them lose tonight it will be all worth it 💯
Jk Jk (kinda 😅😉)
Love all my Michigan peeps tho 🥰 pic.twitter.com/pWbFIUMWUI
— Angie Wright (@onlyHEisWorthy) January 9, 2024
the only reason i’m watching the national championship game tonight is to watch michigan lose 🤷🏼♀️
— Emily Grimsley (@echristiana94) January 9, 2024
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