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The TV ratings for Monday's exciting BCS National Championship Game between Florida State and Auburn are in, and they appear to be in line with previous years. The game recorded a 15.3 rating on ESPN, tied for ninth-most in title game history, and just barely beat last year's blowout between Alabama and Notre Dame, via Jon Solomon of Al.com.
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When counting the additional channels the network utilized this year in their Megacast coverage, the rating bumps up to 15.7, still barely better than last year's 15.1. Solomon reports ESPN was hoping for a number "in the 17.0 to 17.5 range," which would make this a let-down for the corporation.
The game was expected to have one of the highest television ratings yet, because of how tight the contest was and the cold weather conditions encouraging people to stay indoors.
The network offered multiple ways to watch the game, with well-received options on its other channels. Coaches on ESPNews provided sharp analysis (and unanimously correctly predicting a trick play) and ESPN2 brought on well-known names like Johnny Manziel and Tim Tebow to lend a different perspective.
Last year's title game was lower ratings-wise as well, falling short of 2006 Texas-USC and 2000 Oklahoma-Florida State.
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• Plot twists and the ends: Bill Connelly on the Championship’s numbers
• Florida State: The SEC’s worst nightmare
• How FSU and Auburn were built: Why recruiting matters so much
• College football news | Final Top 25 led by FSU, Auburn, Michigan State
• Long CFB reads | The death of a college football player