Here's The Rating For ESPN2's HS Football National Title Event

Something that stood out to me when looking at the ratings database: Broadcasts featuring public school powers — oftentimes an in-state matchup — can rate well and sometimes stronger than when elite independents like IMG are involved.

There could be a few reasons for that.

Many of those games were aired in August, when high school football is just kicking off and there is little/no competition from college ball and the NFL. Many also emanated from the South, where the passion for high school football may be at its highest.

But I also think it may be easier to sell quote-unquote traditional high school football to casual viewers than the new-age developmental programs that do not necessarily belong to a state governing body or compete in a state playoff structure.

(And I do wonder if the Bishop Sycamore debacle could still play a role.)

What’s going to be tough, though, is finding a way to harness those brand name public and private schools that shift to rigid conference and state commitments after the first month or so of the season.

For example: St. Joseph Regional finished No. 1 in the state here in New Jersey after upsetting Don Bosco Prep in the state championship game. I am 99.99% sure the NJSIAA would not have allowed SJR to play in Overtime’s event if asked — and I would imagine that is the case in most states. Corner Canyon was probably an exception, not a rule.