College Football Playoff Semifinals score big ratings

The College Football Playoff Semifinal doubleheader on New Year's Day got big ratings for ESPN and ABC.

Oregon's win over Florida State in the Rose Bowl got a 15.5 metered marketing rating which is the highest overnight rating for a non-championship game on ESPN or ABC.

Ohio State defeating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl got a 15.3.

Those ratings are a 38% increase from the Jan. 1 Bowl games in those time slots in 2014. There were no playoffs in 2014.

Birmingham got the top metered market number for both telecasts which included a 50.2 for the Sugar Bowl and a 39.6 for the Rose Bowl.

Portland got a 30.8 for the Rose Bowl followed by Columbus (29.8), Dayton (26.7) and Knoxville (25.1).

Columbus scored a 43.7 for the Sugar Bowl followed by Dayton (38.7), Cleveland (32.5) and New Orleans (25.0).