Impact of football success on college reputation and applications?

Hello everyone! I was wondering if anyone knows about the impact of a successful college football program, say a coach with the most bowl wins, on a university's overall reputation. Does it generally lead to an increase in applications? Also, does it have any impact on the competitiveness of admissions?

The success of a college's sports teams, including football, can often serve to raise a college's profile and can contribute to a phenomenon known as the "Flutie Effect." Named after Doug Flutie, a Boston College quarterback, whose successful Hail Mary pass in 1984 boosted the school's applications by 30% in the following years. It suggests that when a school's athletic teams succeed, it boosts the visibility and recognition of the school, subsequently enhancing its attractiveness to potential applicants.

However, the relationship between college sports success and application rates or competitiveness of admissions isn't linear or universal. Instead, the impact varies based on numerous factors, such as the prestige of the institution, the level of the achievement in sports, media coverage, and more.

To illustrate, after the University of Alabama won the National Championship in 2012, they experienced a 203% increase in out-of-state applications over the next several years. The exposure from prime-time television coverage and consistent media attention helped boost their national profile.

Yet, the impact on overall competitiveness of admissions may not be as straightforward. While having a stronger pool of applicants could raise the average SAT/ACT score or GPA needed for admission, it may not make the school any “harder” to get into. The increase in applicants could lead to a lower acceptance rate, but that does not necessarily correlate to the institution becoming more academically rigorous or prestigious.

Consider that this effect may be temporary or cyclical; the reputation boost and the increase in applications could fade over time if the sports teams do not maintain their high level of success. Thus, potential applicants should not base their college choice primarily on recent sports successes but instead focus on academic offerings, campus culture, and other vital factors.