“Who (sic.) is college football’s (CFB) most popular team? An unscientific (and grammatically incorrect) study.”
The above is the lead for a recent article in The Athletic (It has a pay-wall) which determined that Michigan, ironically, was CFB’s most fan-favorite team. With the Wolverines being under investigation for scouting future opponents in violation of NCAA rules, Michigan as the fan-favorite did not sit well in Columbus, Ohio, and elsewhere across ‘CFB Country,’ especially in Dixie.
Our own Mr. FishDuck set his fun at Melbet login aside for a moment, as he was curious about how Oregon fared with the factors tabulated at The Athletic. As noted below, Our Beloved Oregon Ducks (OBD) performed well in the factors considered by The Athletic that were used in determining Michigan as No. 1, as did prime conference expansion candidate Notre Dame.
Unfortunately, Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, and Miami did not stand out as viable additions to the B1G or the SEC. Not all factors considered are shown below. The factors discussed are in the order presented by The Athletic, and in every category The Athletic ranked the top 10 teams.
It is not surprising and I think appropriate, that the first two factors considered are ‘Eyes On The Prize.’ How many CFB fans are tuning in to watch a team play football? In its settlement with Clemson and Florida, the ACC agreed that the principal criteria for future media revenue disbursement would be how many fans tuned in to watch a school play ball in CFB, Men’s Basketball, and to a lesser extent, Women’s Basketball.
Rewarding ‘Eyes On The Prize’ follows the ACC’s prior agreement that allows member schools that participate in the CFB Playoff and Men’s and Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournaments, to keep what they earn. Referred to as, ‘Eat What You Kill.’ Clemson and SMU retained all of the money earned from the 2024-25 Football Playoff. Duke will keep all of the money it earned in 2025 by making it to the Elite 8. (The NCAA distributes no additional revenue beyond the Elite 8.)
Premium income from the best of Power-2 games such as Michigan vs. Alabama. (Screenshot from ESPN Video)
I expect the B1G, SEC, and B12, will adopt Eyes on the Prize, and Eat What You Kill revenue disbursement measures on or before their next respective media deals. They come due in 2030 for the B1G, 2032 for the B12, and 2036 for the SEC. I expect the SEC to adopt both revenue disbursement criteria at such time as the conference decides to play nine regular season games.
It should come as no surprise that the B1G and the SEC dominated The Athletic’s team rankings.
I. The Number of Games from 2021 through 2024 Including Post Season Games, Watched by 4-Million Plus Viewers.
1. Alabama – 37 games
2. Georgia – 36 games
3. Ohio State 34 games
4. Michigan 31 games
There is a significant falloff in numbers to No. 5. Penn State, Tennessee, and Texas tied at 19 games. Notre Dame is 8th with 15 games. OBD is 9th with 14 games. Tied for 10th with 13 games are Colorado, The Prime Effect, Florida, Florida State, and Texas A&M. (Surprise! Clemson, Miami, and North Carolina are not ranked)
II. Regular Season Games, 2021 – 2024 with 4 Million+ Viewers.
1. Alabama 22 games
2. Ohio State 15 games
3. Georgia 14 games
4. Michigan 10 games
5. Penn State 9 games
6. Texas 8 games
7. Tennessee 7 games
8. LSU 6 games
OBD, Notre Dame, Auburn, Florida, FSU, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M are tied for 9th with 5 games. Considering how Our Beloved Ducks were in the more-watched B1G only this last season, finishing in the Top 10 in both Eyes On The Prize categories speaks to the popularity of OBD, and the terrific marketing of OBD.
The Irish could be a regular Playoff participant with Coach Freeman. (Screenshot from Notre Dame Athletics Video)
Notre Dame again, shows up as the no-brainer expansion candidate. FSU again lands in the top 10. Again, no Clemson, Miami, or North Carolina.
Oregon finished 9th in Merchandise Sales; and 8th in The Most Bet On Teams, with USC No. 1 in this category in its only appearance.
Oregon finished outside the Top 10 in Social Media Hits, whereas Notre Dame and Clemson were both in the Top 10; Home Attendance where Michigan came in 1st; Stub Hub Activity, the Wolverines were again No. 1; Football Revenue 2022-2023, Notre Dame 4th and Michigan 3rd; and Estimated Living Alumni among B1G schools were; 1. Indiana, 2. Penn State, 3. Michigan, 4. UCLA, 6. Ohio State, and tied 8, Purdue and Rutgers.
No surprise that the B1G’s financial success is tied to the size of the schools and living alumni. And no surprise that OBD was not competitive in factors regarding attendance, social media, and living alumni where it is competing against far larger schools with far larger stadiums and alumni bases.
SUMMARY – Ten Most Popular CFB Programs.
1. Michigan, top 4 in every category except Sports Betting;
2. Ohio State
3. Alabama
4. Georgia
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Tennessee
8. Notre Dame
9. LSU
10. Texas A&M.
No surprise that the B1G’s Big 3 finished in the Top 10 with Michigan and Ohio State in 1st and 2nd place. Also no surprise that the SEC with its fanatical fans and on-field success, took six of the Top 10 spots.
No surprise that Oregon outperformed the expected metrics. (Photo by Kevin Cline)
Notre Dame is the undisputed Number Expansion Candidate. FSU was ranked in two categories, Clemson in one, and Miami and North Carolina were not ranked in any category. The B12’s Colorado, Viewership, and ASU, Living Alumni, were only ranked in one category.
With Eyes on the Prize, and Eat What You Kill becoming more important revenue factors than simple geography, and with the SEC having members in South Carolina and Florida, is there any value for the B1G or the SEC to add any school other than Notre Dame?
Why dilute postseason proceeds? And if Eyes On the Prize, and Eat What You Kill revenue disbursements are adopted by the B1G and the SEC as I expect will happen, why would the existing B1G and SEC schools want to add members that could compete for the most-viewed and postseason cash?
No surprise that Our Beloved Ducks punched well above its weight class in these rankings, and OBD will not be left behind whether college sports conferences expand or consolidate.
Michigan No. 1? The Wolverines are right up there, but the evidence in my and The Athletic’s opinion, is not conclusive. Let me know your thoughts in the Our Beloved Ducks forum…
Jon Joseph
Aiken, South Carolina
Top Photo by Eric Becker
Related Articles:
Jon Joseph grew up in Boston, Massachusetts but has been blessed to have lived long enough in the west to have exorcised all east coast bias. He played football in college and has passionately followed the game for seven decades. A retired corporate attorney Jon has lectured across the country and published numerous articles on banking and gaming law. Now a resident of Aiken South Carolina, Jon follows college football across the nation with a focus on the Conference of Champions and the Ducks.