Ratings for OSU vs. ND Down Compared to 2024

[Sigmapolis]

This is what I never understood about networks motivation in this.

I get the schools and athletic departments want to stack the deck in a way where their team is always in the running for a championship.

But would the networks not benefit from more parity?

Let’s be honest. The fans of the Ohio States, Alabamas, and Notre Dames of the world are going to watch regardless. I don’t think you’re gaining any new eyeballs from the ACC or Big 12 fan bases if the same schools continue to be dominant year after year after year. Especially when their teams are left on the outside looking in.

This is not the NFL when you have 30 teams and a draft m/schedule structure that is designed to promote parity.

It's not like they don't know unexpected things drive ratings.

The NCAA tournament is entirely built around it!

They tried to design the rules and the system to remove all drama, surprise, and fairness and...

*surprised Pikachu face*

...suddenly fewer people care.

 

[twincyties]

It's not like they don't know unexpected things drive ratings.

The NCAA tournament is entirely built around it!

They tried to design the rules and the system to remove all drama, surprise, and fairness and...

*surprised Pikachu face*

...suddenly fewer people care.

It’s why the NCAA tournament is the best sporting event on the planet in my opinion.

 

[Sigmapolis]

It’s why the NCAA tournament is the best sporting event on the planet in my opinion.

Objectively single-elimination and short (40 minutes compared to 48 minutes in the NBA) games at neutral sites... weird gyms, weird crowds, weird refs, guys not old enough to rent a car playing basketball against one another... is an absolutely terrible way to determine the best team in any fair and efficient way.

But at the same time that is what makes it so fun. It's like watching a trainwreck. It's designed for weird things to happen, drama, comebacks, upsets, nobody players to emerge as college ball legends.

Silly. Stupid. Even a little dangerous. But absolutely glorious. Great theme songs, too.

...the CFP is the antithesis of this experience (and the NFL playoffs, for that matter).

 

[twincyties]

Objectively single-elimination and short (40 minutes compared to 48 minutes in the NBA) games at neutral sites... weird gyms, weird crowds, weird refs, guys not old enough to rent a car playing basketball against one another... is an absolutely terrible way to determine the best team in any fair and efficient way.

But at the same time that is what makes it so fun. It's like watching a trainwreck. It's designed for weird things to happen, drama, comebacks, upsets, nobody players to emerge as college ball legends.

Silly. Stupid. Even a little dangerous. But absolutely glorious. Great theme songs, too.

...the CFP is the antithesis of this experience (and the NFL playoffs, for that matter).

Totally agree. Was thinking today what a college basketball tournament with NBA style series would look like - specifically if that would increase or decrease certain teams’ chances of winning it all.

But to your point, that would completely ruin March madness for all the reasons you point out.

Anyone able to win 6 games in a row in that format is of course a great team. But there is definitely some luck involved and one bad game you’re gone. Which means it’s not always the “best” team going to win it.

 

[Cyched]

Hilarious that espn was the 4th most watched network. I know ABC owns it, but people like the broadcasts on ABC, Fox, NBC so much better.

ESPN production quality has never been great, but managing to get worse recently.

CBS, Fox and NBC do a much better job.

 

[ClubCy]

“What if we made it even later in January?”