NFL games outshine college football's playoff rollout in viewership.

Why it matters: Despite the excitement surrounding the college football playoffs, two Saturday NFL games drew higher viewership numbers, highlighting the enduring popularity of professional football.

The SMU vs. Penn State playoff game on TNT averaged 6.4 million viewers, while the Texans vs. Chiefs game on NBC attracted 15.5 million viewers.

Yes, but: This disparity in viewership raises questions about the appeal and marketing of college football's playoff format.

• The Clemson vs. Texas game on TNT drew 8.6 million viewers, compared to 15.4 million for the Steelers vs. Ravens game on Fox.

What to watch: The impact of these viewership numbers on future decisions related to scheduling and marketing of college football games.

• The overall average viewership of the NFL games, at 10.6 million, was higher than all but four college games this season.

By the numbers: Some specific viewership figures provide further context:

• The Indiana vs. Notre Dame game on Friday night attracted 13.4 million viewers.
• The Tennessee vs. Ohio State game on Saturday night drew 14.3 million viewers.

What's next: The findings from this weekend's viewership numbers may influence discussions about how to enhance the appeal and reach of college football's playoff format.

The bottom line: While college football playoffs generate significant interest among fans, they still struggle to match the viewership numbers of NFL games, highlighting the ongoing dominance of professional football in the American sports landscape.

NFL games outshine college football's playoff rollout in viewership.

Why it matters: Despite the excitement surrounding the college football playoffs, two Saturday NFL games drew higher viewership numbers, highlighting the enduring popularity of professional football.

The SMU vs. Penn State playoff game on TNT averaged 6.4 million viewers, while the Texans vs. Chiefs game on NBC attracted 15.5 million viewers.

Yes, but: This disparity in viewership raises questions about the appeal and marketing of college football's playoff format.

• The Clemson vs. Texas game on TNT drew 8.6 million viewers, compared to 15.4 million for the Steelers vs. Ravens game on Fox.

What to watch: The impact of these viewership numbers on future decisions related to scheduling and marketing of college football games.

• The overall average viewership of the NFL games, at 10.6 million, was higher than all but four college games this season.

By the numbers: Some specific viewership figures provide further context:

• The Indiana vs. Notre Dame game on Friday night attracted 13.4 million viewers.
• The Tennessee vs. Ohio State game on Saturday night drew 14.3 million viewers.

What's next: The findings from this weekend's viewership numbers may influence discussions about how to enhance the appeal and reach of college football's playoff format.

The bottom line: While college football playoffs generate significant interest among fans, they still struggle to match the viewership numbers of NFL games, highlighting the ongoing dominance of professional football in the American sports landscape.