I know professional football draws huge crowds, but what about college football? Could anyone tell me which are the top five most popular college football teams in the states? Let's define 'popular' as the ones with the biggest fan base or most spectators at their games.
Sure, while popularity can be somewhat subjective and can shift year over year, fan presence, television ratings, and social media following can give us some idea. Based on these metrics, as of the 2024 season, the following colleges tend to consistently draw high fan turnout and engagement:
1. University of Alabama - As part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Crimson Tide routinely packs Bryant-Denny Stadium with capacity over 100,000, and their active fanbase extends well beyond the state of Alabama.
2. University of Michigan - The Wolverines boast the largest stadium in college football, Michigan Stadium, also known as "The Big House," with a capacity of over 107,000. They fill their stadium game after game, demonstrating their huge fanbase.
3. Ohio State University - Ohio State continues to engage their dedicated fanbase, consistently filling Ohio Stadium (capacity of about 102,000) for their home games.
4. University of Texas - Now a new member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) starting from the 2025-2026 academic year, their fan engagement and television ratings have always been high and have only increased since their move to the SEC.
5. Oklahoma University - Another new member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, the Sooners also maintain a dedicated fan base and consistently draw large crowds to their games.
Remember, these rankings can shift with changes in team success, and fan engagement can fluctuate. However, these five tend to be consistent standouts.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.