College football is nothing if not for all the screaming, shouting, and tailgating. The NFL is nothing different, maybe even wilder. It’s hard to define exactly why. Is it the generational loyalty? Is it the proximity that comes from living in the same city? Or is it something entirely different?
Well, the answers might be missing, but there is no questioning the fight songs that roar through the stadiums packed with thousands of fans. However, five names stand above the rest regarding collegiate fandom.
Inside the Madness of College Football’s Loudest Fan Havens vs. the NFL’s Fiercest
1. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
When it comes to die-hard loyalty, Alabama’s fan base gives the Pittsburgh Steelers a serious run for their money. Alabama fans don’t just show up for their team. They take over. Since 2021, Alabama has had 37 games crossing the four-million-views threshold. They also stand tall when it comes to TV ratings and Google Trends. This was especially true during the Nick Saban retirement hullabaloo.
While Pittsburgh’s fans wait six years for season tickets and wave the iconic Terrible Towel in freezing NFL stadiums, Bama fans paint their faces and travel cross-country to follow their team to bowl games and playoff showdowns. But that’s not all.
Alabama tops the charts across Facebook, X, and Instagram, amassing over 4 million total followers. And even when Bryant-Denny Stadium hasn’t sold out every game, the energy is somehow still there.
They may not have the biggest stadium, but ‘Bama fans make every seat count, and they travel, too. Whether it’s the SEC title game or a random road trip to Knoxville, they’re there, loud, proud, and in full crimson gear.
2. Georgia Bulldogs vs. Green Bay Packers
If the Green Bay Packers are the heart and soul of a small town with a colossal legacy, then the Georgia Bulldogs are the pride of an entire southern state. The Bulldogs have emerged as college football’s new heavyweight kings, and their fan base is only growing louder by the season. Georgia has played in 36 games with more than four million viewers in the past four years.
While Packers fans have rocked Lambeau for over 260 straight sell-outs since 1960, Georgia’s fanbase has been setting records of its own, including the 93,000-strong turnout for a spring game in 2016. Whether it’s the traditional “Calling the Dawgs” chant or the iconic Uga mascot strutting down the sidelines, Georgia fans are as immersed in their team’s culture. To add on, they have become a betting and merchandise favorite.
In 2024 alone, the Bulldogs had $152.7 million in football revenue. And even online, Georgia’s presence is ferocious, to say the least, ranking in the top five across social media and StubHub ticket sales. Saturdays in Athens are nothing short of gridiron pilgrimages.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Philadelphia Eagles
If Philadelphia lives and breathes Eagles football, then Columbus might as well be renamed Buckeye Nation. The Buckeyes, as the world knows, have a following that is monstrous to say the least. They have nearly three million social media followers, a stronghold in Google search data, and a team that has played in 34 mega-viewed games since 2021.
Eagles fans are famous for their intense loyalty and, let’s be honest, their no-nonsense attitude. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes fandom is just as vocal, and equally unforgiving when expectations aren’t met.
The Horseshoe fills up week after week, and OSU consistently lands in the top three in home attendance rankings. The Buckeye fear is also something that simply cannot be missed. The fan energy in Columbus doesn’t dip, even when the team stumbles. Simply put, the Buckeye fandom does not just support their team. They bleed scarlet and grey.
4. Michigan Wolverines vs. Cleveland Browns
No matter how many losing seasons accumulate, the Browns’ Dawg Pound sticks by their team. Meanwhile, Michigan fandom is just as loyal. They have remained loyal to their team for nearly two decades despite the frustration against Ohio State. But losses aside, they have kept filling the Big House.
And ain’t nobody packing fans like the Michigan Wolverines! The Wolverines have the largest stadium in America, aka The Big House. They host 100,000 fans every week. And the Wolverines top that off by leading when it comes to attendance. Michigan also wins big on ticket sales, topping StubHub’s list with 30% more purchases than Alabama.
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They also have big numbers when it comes to merchandising, which collected $142.8 million in revenue between 2022-23. The maize and blue brand might be the most financially dominant force in college football. When “The Victors” blares, 110,000 fans jump in unison. Now, that is not just intense; it is intimidating and spine-tingling.
5. Texas Longhorns vs. Oakland Raiders
While the Raiders’ Black Hole thrives on intimidation and chaos, the University of Texas crowd shows its muscle through sheer scale, tradition, and pageantry. The Longhorns in 2023 alone had $180.6 million in football revenue, and that is the highest in the country. Their ticket sales and national TV appearances reflect that same level of clout. The Longhorns have 19 games crossing the four-million viewer mark.
The Raiders have endured years of front-office chaos and questionable seasons, yet their fans show up in full force. And for Texas, despite having been through coaching carousel after coaching carousel, it still fills the stands with the same fire.
While it is true that Texas doesn’t always fill up its stadium as tightly as Michigan or Ohio State, its fandom is just as passionate. UT fans live and breathe Longhorn football from burnt orange billboards to online buzz. They also have 2.3 million followers across social media channels.
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