ESPN’s college football punditry seems to be showing favoritism toward the SEC, but it is really showing favoritism toward the art of the “take.”

The TV ratings proved views were interested. Each of the four games averaged 10.6 million viewers. That’s more than the four the non-CFP New Year’s bowls after the 2023 season averaged (8.14 million), and also topped the average for this year’s four major conference championship games (10 million).

The Texas Longhorns are currently preparing for a quarterfinal matchup against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first-ever, 12-team College Football Playoff. Texas established itself as a true national title contender throughout the 2024 college football season, heading into the CFP as the No. 5 seed.