No one wants to miss Indiana’s first-ever national championship appearance. The Hoosiers have been so dominant this season that even fans in their 70s and 80s are showing up at stadiums just to witness it in person. For years, no one truly believed Indiana could reach this level, let alone contend for it all. Now that they’re on the brink of history, the excitement is real. And the TV numbers are soaring right along with it.

Nielsen just dropped the TV numbers heading into the national title game, and Indiana has a slight edge. The Hoosiers are averaging 6.648 million viewers across the regular season and CFP semifinals, while Miami is close behind at 5.588 million.

The Hoosiers have already featured in two of the four most-watched College Football Playoff games so far. And the numbers tell the story. The Rose Bowl led the way, with Indiana cruising past Alabama in front of 23.9 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. That game became the most-watched CFP matchup of the 12-team era and the fourth-most-watched Rose Bowl ever.

Then came the Big Ten Championship. In that game, Indiana took down Ohio State in a thriller that pulled in an average of 18.3 million viewers. It wasn’t just the most-watched Big Ten title game of all time. It legitimately beat the SEC Championship to become the top-rated game of conference championship weekend. There’s a simple reason behind all of this. Indiana turned into college football’s ultimate Cinderella story.

This kind of profile used to be reserved for SEC heavyweights like Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Even other blue chip programs like Ohio State and Michigan are more used to the kind of celebrity treatment being given out to the Hoosiers. No one saw this coming, and no one could have predicted this five years ago. Even for the casual fans, Indiana’s ascent is similar to watching a cheesy sports movie, but in real life.

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Their run through the expanded 12-team CFP was extraordinary. It was combined with star power, like Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. That in turn gave fans a storyline they couldn’t look away from. Indiana University also has a massive alumni base. Many of these people have waited decades for a moment like this, and it’s easy to see why the ratings exploded. And while Miami trails behind with an average viewership of 5.588 million, the Hurricanes are still pulling strong numbers of their own.

Eyes on Miami as they break their 23-year natty drought

Miami has also pulled its own weight on the ratings side. The Hurricanes’ Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State averaged 19.0 million viewers on New Year’s Eve. That made it the second-most-watched game of this year’s College Football Playoff, trailing only the Rose Bowl.

That national interest didn’t start in the postseason. Miami’s Week 1 win over Notre Dame drew 10.8 million viewers and ended up being a massive moment for Mario Cristobal’s squad. That head-to-head win ultimately kept the Irish out of the CFP, with Miami grabbing the final spot in the field.

The Hurricanes’ return to the big stage has been a long time coming. With five national championships in their record, fans have waited nearly 23 years to see Miami back in the Natty conversation. That legacy still carries serious importance and draws attention well beyond South Florida. Miami consistently ranks among the top 10 most-watched programs in the country and leads the ACC in viewership.

Miami football also has the benefit of having Hall of Fame alumni who have showed up on the sidelines to motivate the players. Michael Irvin is a constant figure. His reaction of hitting the Gatorade bottle with his belt went viral after the win against Ohio State. Ray Lewis is another alum who showed up for support. Miami has the history that Indiana does not.

Primetime games on ABC and ESPN only add to that hype, and the star power doesn’t hurt either. Freshman standout Malachi Toney and quarterback Carson Beck have delivered numerous highlight moments, keeping Miami at the forefront of the national spotlight.