Michigan vs. Alabama Rose Bowl Draws 27.2M Viewers; Top 10 Cable Telecast All-Time

Michigan's win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Monday drew a massive audience.

ESPN announced on Tuesday that 27.2 million viewers tuned in, marking the best viewership for a semifinal game since the first year of the College Football Playoff and making the game a top-10 cable telecast all-time.

The 27.2 million viewers are also the highest for a non-NFL sporting event since 2018. It was the third-highest viewership for a semifinal game in the 10-year history of the College Football Playoff, per Action Network's Brett McMurphy. The game peaked at 32.8 million viewers, the highest ever for a CFP semifinal. The Sugar Bowl that followed between Texas and Washington drew 18.4 million viewers and peaked at 24.5 million.

Michigan won the game in overtime after stopping the Alabama offense from reaching the end zone in the extra period.

"If ever a game was going to be won up front, it was going to be won with toughness and physicality," Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game. "Our guys were just there in rhythm and got it done. Epic game. Epic game. The stick-togetherness — I guess what people don't know, how could they know, what the togetherness is like? There's just nothing that can separate these guys."

The victory snapped a six-game losing streak in bowl games for the Wolverines, who will now have the opportunity to earn their first national championship since 1997 when they face the Huskies in the CFP final on Jan. 8.

It can be expected that the title game will draw a significant number of viewers as well.