Below are national TV viewership figures for past FCS postseason games.
The two sections below are the numbers broken down by year and by round. The years go until 2018, while the national championship ratings at the bottom go until the 2012 season.
Years
2024
First Round:
Tennessee State at Montana (ESPN2) — 263K
Quarterfinals:
Idaho at Montana State (ESPN) — 738K
UIW at SDSU (ESPN) — 905K
Mercer at NDSU (ABC): 1.4 million
SWAC Championship
Southern at Jackson State (ESPN2) — 217K
Celebration Bowl
Jackson State vs. SC State (ABC) — 2.1 million
Semifinals:
SDSU at NDSU (ABC) — 1.58 million
South Dakota at Montana State (ABC) — 1.37 million
Championship:
NDSU vs. Montana State (ESPN, Monday) — 2.41 million
2023
Second Round:
Southern Illinois at Idaho (ESPN2) — 132K
Quarterfinals:
Furman at Montana (ESPN2) — 679K
Villanova at SDSU (ESPN) — 1.85 million
NDSU at South Dakota (ABC) — 1.09 million
Semifinals:
UAlbany at SDSU (ESPN2) — 476K
NDSU at Montana (ESPN2) — 790K
SWAC Championship
Prairie View A&M at FAMU (ESPN2) – 90K
Celebration Bowl
FAMU vs. Howard (ABC) — 1.51 million
Championship:
SDSU vs. Montana (ABC, Sunday) — 1.04 million
2022
First Round:
SEMO at Montana (ESPN2) — 258K
Quarterfinals:
Holy Cross at SDSU (ESPN) — 1.53 million
Samford at NDSU (ESPN2) — 671K
William & Mary at Montana State (ESPN2) — 491K
Semifinals:
UIW at NDSU (ESPN2) — 1.05 million
Montana State at SDSU (ESPN2) — 598K
SWAC Championship
Southern at Jackson State (ESPN2) – 391K
Celebration Bowl
NC Central vs. Jackson State (ABC) — 2.42 million
Championship:
NDSU vs. SDSU (ABC, Sunday) — 1.07 million
2021 Fall
Quarterfinals:
Montana at JMU (ESPN2) — 666K
ETSU at NDSU (ESPN) — 1.77 million
Semifinals:
JMU at NDSU (ESPN2) — 1.15 million
SDSU at Montana State (ESPN2) — 795K
Championship:
NDSU vs. Montana State (ESPN2) — 1.32 million
Celebration Bowl:
SC State vs. Jackson State (ABC) — 2.59 million
2021 Spring
Quarterfinals:
NDSU at SHSU (ESPN) — 328K
UND at JMU (ESPN2) — 251K
SIU at SDSU (ESPN2) — 219K
Semifinals:
JMU at SHSU (ABC) — 706K
Delaware at SDSU (ESPN) — 520K
Championship:
SDSU vs. SHSU (ABC) — 905K
2019
Quarterfinals:
Illinois State at NDSU (ESPN) — 1.78 million
UNI at JMU (ESPN2) — 563K
Montana at Weber State (ESPN2) — 438K
Semifinals:
Montana State at NDSU (ESPN2) — 518K
Championship:
NDSU vs. JMU (ABC) — 2.68 million
Celebration Bowl:
Alcorn State vs. NC A&T (ABC) — 1.8 million
2018
Quarterfinals:
Maine at Weber State (ESPN2) — 566K
Colgate at NDSU (ESPN) — 1.81 million
Semifinals:
SDSU at NDSU (ESPN2) — 846K
Maine at EWU (ESPN2) — 448K
Championship:
NDSU vs. EWU (ESPN2) — 1.00 million
Celebration Bowl:
NC A&T vs. Alcorn State (ABC) — 2.3 million
Round
First Round
2024 First Round:
Tennessee State at Montana (ESPN2) — 263K
2022 First Round:
SEMO at Montana (ESPN2) — 258K
Second Round
2023 Second Round:
Southern Illinois at Idaho (ESPN2) — 132K
Quarterfinals
2024 Quarterfinals:
Idaho at Montana State (ESPN) — 738K
UIW at SDSU (ESPN) — 905K
Mercer at NDSU (ABC): 1.4 million
2023 Quarterfinals:
Furman at Montana (ESPN2) — 679K
Villanova at SDSU (ESPN) — 1.85 million
NDSU at South Dakota (ABC) — 1.09 million
2022 Quarterfinals:
Holy Cross at SDSU (ESPN) — 1.53 million
Samford at NDSU (ESPN2) — 671K
William & Mary at Montana State (ESPN2) — 491K
2021 Fall Quarterfinals:
Montana at JMU (ESPN2) — 666K
ETSU at NDSU (ESPN) — 1.77 million
2021 Spring Quarterfinals:
NDSU at SHSU (ESPN) — 328K
UND at JMU (ESPN2) — 251K
SIU at SDSU (ESPN2) — 219K
2019 Quarterfinals:
Illinois State at NDSU (ESPN) — 1.78 million
UNI at JMU (ESPN2) — 563K
Montana at Weber State (ESPN2) — 438K
2018 Quarterfinals:
Maine at Weber State (ESPN2) — 566K
Colgate at NDSU (ESPN) — 1.81 million
Semifinals
2024 Semifinals:
SDSU at NDSU (ABC) — 1.58 million
South Dakota at Montana State (ABC) — 1.37 million
2023 Semifinals:
UAlbany at SDSU (ESPN2) — 476K
NDSU at Montana (ESPN2) — 790K
2022 Semifinals:
UIW at NDSU (ESPN2) — 1.05 million
Montana State at SDSU (ESPN2) — 598K
2021 Fall Semifinals:
JMU at NDSU (ESPN2) — 1.15 million
SDSU at Montana State (ESPN2) — 795K
2021 Spring Semifinals:
JMU at SHSU (ABC) — 706K
Delaware at SDSU (ESPN) — 520K
2019 Semifinals:
Montana State at NDSU (ESPN2) — 518K
2018 Semifinals:
SDSU at NDSU (ESPN2) — 846K
Maine at EWU (ESPN2) — 448K
Championship
2024 Championship:
NDSU vs. Montana State (ESPN, Monday) — 2.41 million
2023 Championship:
SDSU vs. Montana (ABC, Sunday) — 1.04 million
2022 Championship:
NDSU vs. SDSU (ABC, Sunday) — 1.07 million
2021 Championship:
NDSU vs. Montana State (ESPN2) — 1.32 million
2021 Spring Championship:
SDSU vs. SHSU (ABC) — 905K
2019 Championship:
NDSU vs. JMU (ABC) — 2.68 million
2018 Championship:
NDSU vs. EWU (ESPN2) — 1.00 million
2017 Championship:
NDSU vs. JMU (ESPN2) — 1.52 million
2016 Championship:
JMU vs. YSU (ESPN2) — 1.56 million
2015 Championship:
NDSU vs. Jacksonville State (ESPN2) — 1.35 million
2014 Championship:
NDSU vs. Illinois State (ESPN2) — 1.44 million
2013 Championship:
NDSU vs. Towson (ESPN2) — 1.2 million
2012 Championship:
NDSU vs. SHSU (ESPN2) — 1.1 million
Celebration Bowl
2024:
Jackson State vs. SC State (ABC) — 2.1 million
2023:
FAMU vs. Howard (ABC) — 1.51 million
2022:
NC Central vs. Jackson State (ABC) — 2.42 million
2021:
SC State vs. Jackson State (ABC) — 2.59 million
2019:
Alcorn State vs. NC A&T (ABC) — 1.8 million
2018:
NC A&T vs. Alcorn State (ABC) — 2.3 million
2017:
North Carolina A&T vs. Grambling State (ABC) — 2.36 million
2016:
North Carolina Central vs. Grambling State (ABC) — 2.71 million
2015:
North Carolina A&T vs. Alcorn State (ABC) — 2.56 million
