14.3M viewers put the Tennessee-Ohio State clash at the top of ratings after CFP Round 1 

The first round of the College Football Playoff gained a lot of attention across the country during the weekend. The new format of the postseason competition, involving 12 teams, kicked off in style in South Bend on Friday before continuing in other locations on Saturday.

As expected, all four games in the first round did well in television ratings. Fans had anticipated what the first round of the expanded format of the playoffs, which were scheduled to be held on campus, would look like since the announcement was made a few years ago

The game between Tennessee and Ohio State had the most average viewership. It was widely considered the biggest game of the first round. Held at the Ohio Stadium in Columbus, it recorded an average of 14.3 million viewers.

The matchup between Indiana and Notre Dame came second. It was the first game of the expanded 12-team playoff. Staged in South Bend, an average of 13.4 million viewers witnessed it.

Third on the list was the encounter between Clemson and Texas in Austin. The game was seen by an average of 8.6 million viewers. The game between SMU and Penn State had the least viewership in the first round. An average of 6.4 million people saw it on television.

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Larger viewership is expected in the next round of the playoffs

Things are expected to get more interesting in the next round of the playoffs. The competition advances to the quarterfinal next, with eight teams battling it out for a place in the semifinal.

At this stage, the New Year's Six bowl game gets involved. Four of the bowl games will be played in the quarterfinal, while the other two will take place in the semis. More viewers are expected in all these games.

The New Year's Six bowl games have a long-standing record of attracting large television audiences. It's expected to increase this year, as all will be involved in the playoffs at once for the first time, making things more interesting.

For the quarterfinal schedule, Oregon take on Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, while Georgia squares up with Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. Furthermore, Boise State will battle it out with Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl, while Arizona State will be out against Texas in the Peach Bowl.