Georgia-TCU national championship marks least viewed in BCS/College Football Playoff history

TCU was able to score a touchdown in the first quarter, cutting the Georgia lead to 10-7. From there on, the Bulldogs dominated in every facet of the game and head coach Kirby Smart finds himself as a back-to-back national champion. Never a close contest, the Horned Frogs were simply outmatched.

ESPN had the broadcast rights to the game, providing plenty of options for viewers. However, they had a tough time keeping people glued to the television thanks to the blowout. A 65-7 score would have a low rating during a regular season game, let alone a national championship.

According to Stewart Mandel of The Athletic, 17.2 million people watched on Monday night, making the wrong kind of history. It’s officially the least viewed national championship game of the BCS/College Football Playoff era.

The game was in well in hand just before the two teams went into the locker room for halftime. Georgia was clinging to a 31 point lead and getting the ball back to begin the second half. Even the Bulldogs’ backups had success, putting up multiple scores late in the contest.

Previously the national championship between Alabama and Ohio State was the lowest rated. Despite being two big named programs, that one was a blowout as well and affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes were able to put out better TV ratings than what transpired in Los Angeles.

Georgia has largest margin of victory in bowl game history

It’s one thing to dominate the opposition, but it’s another to dominate the opposition on college football’s biggest stage. 

Georgia‘s 65-7 win over TCU Monday night wasn’t just the largest margin of victory of any College Football Playoff game in the current era – it was the largest bowl victory in NCAA history, according to ESPN Stats & Info. 

The Bulldogs scored 55 straight points after TCU’s lone touchdown in the first quarter. Georgia out-gained the Horned Frogs 589-188 in total offensive yardage and were only able to muster 36 total rushing yards against the star-studded UGA defense.

Georgia is now the only team to win back-to-back national championships during the current CFP era featuring the four-team playoff. They’ve gone 29-1 during their two title seasons, and are looking for the first three-peat in nearly a century. Minnesota is the only program to achieve that feat, winning the title from the 1934 through 1936 seasons.

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report