For sports fans, the holiday season and the busy sports schedule that accompanies it is truly a gift. And without a doubt, some of the best gifts to unwrap this year were the New Year’s Eve College Football Playoff (CFP) games on ESPN.
This year, No. 1 Alabama defeated No. 4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl, followed by No. 3 Georgia beating No. 2 Michigan in the Orange Bowl. SEC rivals Alabama and Georgia will vie for the National Championship this Monday night (ESPN, 8pm EST).
Here at EDO, we not only enjoyed watching the games, but of course, the ads that were shown during the games. And while it’s nearly impossible to narrow them down to just a few, just like we did for the Summer Olympics, below are some of our favorite ads that were shown during this year’s CFP games.
Goodyear: Breakout
If you haven’t seen it before, the ad from the tire manufacturer, an official CFP sponsor, continues to check all the boxes.
Cool graphics? Check. In the “Breakout” ad, the Goodyear Wingfoot comes to life on a graffiti figure, who then transforms and transitions into a surfer, a figure skater, rock climber, basketball player, and astronaut.
Cool song? Check. The ad features a catchy cover of Steppenwolf’s 1968 classic “Magic Carpet Ride.”
Cool message? Check. Goodyear asserts that discovery, growth, and possibility is fueled by forward mobility.
Checks all around.
The 30-second version of the ad generated nearly 53,000 additional online searches for the tire brand in the minutes after it aired during the games on ESPN.
Capital One: Globe Hopping
Speaking of discovery, growth, and possibility, in the “Globe Hopping” ad for its new Venture X travel card, which features a man travelling around the world, Capital One, also an official CFP sponsor, simply asks, “Where next?” The ad offers viewers a glimpse at what their worldwide travels plans could look like once COVID-19 restrictions ease up.
The 30-second ad generated over 48,000 additional online searches for the credit card company in the minutes after it aired during the games on ESPN.
Allstate: Float
In its “Float” ad, the insurance company, an official CFP sponsor, features a woman driving into the town of Allstate and discovering auto insurance savings and a very cool, and unexpected, parade to celebrate. The ad is brought together by the classic 1980 song “Fantastic Voyage” by Lakeside, giving the ad a nostalgic vibe, which has been a common trend among advertisers in recent years.
This ad generated over 20,000 additional online searches for the insurer in the minutes after it aired during the games on ESPN.
Lincoln: Wish for the Unexpected
We should all get to “Wish for the Unexpected,” especially as a new year begins. In this ad, Lincoln, like Allstate and Goodyear, perfectly blends music (in this case, “It’s a Most Unusual Day” by Beverly Kenney) and storytelling to create a compelling and memorable ad. A family enjoying snow falling in the desert epitomizes an unexpected dream come true.
The 30-second ad generated over 20,000 additional online searches for the automaker in the minutes after it aired during the games on ESPN.
Interested in learning more? Find what works for your brand and what your competitors are up to. Contact us today to learn how EDO can help you generate more consumer engagement.