The semifinals of the College Football Playoff received poor ratings with their decision to play on New Year's Eve.

Overnight numbers for the Oklahoma-Clemson Orange Bowl and Alabama-Michigan State Cotton Bowl were 9.7 and 9.9, respectively. Last year's Rose and Sugar semis got 15.5 and 15.3.

The organizers underestimated the number of people still working during the first game and how many would alter their New Year's Eve plans for the second.

The contracts call for this same schedule seven of the next 10 years.