College football ratings decline amid ongoing off-field controversies

College football viewership has dropped 11% in 2026 compared to last year, averaging 1.7 million viewers per FBS game. This decline coincides with a rise in off-field issues such as the impact of NIL, sponsorships, and significant changes like the expanded College Football Playoff. Only two games have surpassed 10 million viewers so far this season, a notable decrease from the previous year’s strong performances. According to analysts, while total college football viewership has slightly increased due to more games airing, the trend in average viewership poses concerns for the sport's future, especially as marquee matchups are becoming fewer. This shift raises questions about fan engagement amid continuous changes in the of college football.

• 6:00 PMYahoo Sports — College football ratings seeing slide in 2026 amid off-field drama