When it comes to the biggest college football brands in the country, there’s ample source material with which to rank their popularity and national standing. Let the debates begin.

Football and America go hand-in-hand, but there’s something unique and tribal about the love affair with college football — the pageantry, the history, the tradition and the many oddities — that resonates with sports fans across all time zones.

Some schools are more synonymous with college football than others, with large and loyal fanbases keeping them in the limelight and decades of great moments and unforgettable coaches and players lifting them a cut above.

Whether you’re a diehard college football fan, NFL fan or fantasy football player seeking to find out a bit more about the best prospect factories, you’ll surely have no quibbles about the order here as we count down the top 25 most popular college football teams in the country, going in reverse order.

25. Mississippi

Ole Miss just makes the cut. Lane Kiffin & Co. are among the tops in the country in terms of NIL funding, with the Grove Collective acting as a force to attract top talent to Oxford. That hasn’t translated into top results yet, though, with the Rebels still seeking their first SEC title since 1963. 

The school maintains national recognition and cachet in other ways, too. It has a significant piece of the Manning family (Archie and Eli are alums) while also being featured front and center in The Blind Side, as the alma mater of Michael Oher (although that story certainly took a turn). 

24. Virginia Tech

There are few scenes better than a packed stadium in Blacksburg rocking out to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” as the Hokies take the field at Lane Stadium. It’s that kind of tradition that keeps a team on the radar, even if its success on the field has tailed off in recent years.

Long gone are the days of Va. Tech competing for titles with Michael Vick at QB, but they’re not forgotten. With average crowds of over 60,000 (typically top-three in the ACC) still showing up on gameday, there’s a clear desire to shake the mediocre bowl finishes and get back to consistent seasons of double-digit wins.

23. South Carolina

The first of two USC’s on this list (spoilers, sorry), South Carolina is regularly supported by capacity crowds at Williams-Brice Stadium (over 75,000), and stints under famous coaches Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier put the Gamecocks firmly in the national spotlight for the first 15 years of the century. Under Shane Beamer, they’re pushing hard for national relevance once again.

22. Washington

The Huskies have emerged as a national power despite being tucked away in the Pacific Northwest, with a national runner-up finish in 2023-24 as the crowning achievement in recent years. The program also reached the 2016 College Football Playoffs and won a co-national championship in 1991 (coaches’ poll; Miami finished No. 1 in the AP poll).

There’s been a long line of talent to emerge from Husky Stadium, too, between past greats Warren Moon, Steve Emtman, Lincoln Kennedy, Lawyer Milloy and Olin Kruetz to more recent standouts like Vita Vea, Budda Baker, Rome Odunze and Michael Penix Jr.

21. Colorado

There’s a bit of recency effect taking priority here, with Deion Sanders restoring national prominence to the Buffaloes, but Colorado is a worthy inclusion based on a legacy of championships and Heisman Trophy winers. With Prime Time at the helm, the 1990 co-national champions are fully back on the college football map.

Signature moments help a program’s brand, too, and in Kordell Stewart’s famous Hail Mary to Michael Westbrook to take down Michigan in 1994, Colorado certainly has an all-timer. Travis Hunter winning the 2024 Heisman has only added to the newfound fervor around Boulder.

20. Texas A&M

Texas A&M is working on restoring glory to College Station, with the program’s lone national title coming in 1939. But with a behemoth of an NIL setup and a program that keeps attracting solid recruiting classes, the Aggies will always be a competitor in football-mad Texas. 

Regardless, Texas A&M's fan support on gameday is immense, and its list of traditions is unique to the sport. Few scenes in all of college football are as intimidating for the opposition as the moment at Kyle Field when over 100,000 Aggies fans (aka The 12th Man) begin swaying in unison. 

19. Wisconsin

The Badgers operate a couple of tiers below the upper echelon of college football royalty, but they still hold their own on the national landscape, owing to a history of great players and a reputation for playing tough, physical football. And when House of Pain’s “Jump Around” is played between the third and fourth quarters, Camp Randall loses its collective mind in what’s one of the most entrenched traditions in the country.

18. Oregon

The Ducks are about way more than just flashy and brazen uniforms — though with help from nearby Nike that is part of their allure. Oregon is a regular playoff contender and hasn’t been hampered by the move from the Pac 12 to the Big Ten in the least. With Autzen Stadium and a rowdy fanbase, the Ducks have built a fortress on their home turf, with Oregon finishing off the 12th undefeated home campaign in its history in 2024.

17. Nebraska

The Cornhuskers passed the 400-game barrier for their legendary home sellout streak in September 2024, and even though they’re no longer the perennial power they once were, support of the program is unconditional and fervent.

The Huskers hit their modern peak in the 1990s, when they won three national titles. They’ve also fielded three Heisman winners and a host of iconic figures in the sport, including former coaches Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne and players like Tommie Frazier, Ndamukong Suh, Eric Crouch, Will Shields, Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier and Irving Fryar.

16. Auburn

Auburn has won national championships and featured three Heisman winners (including two of the most entertaining ever in Bo Jackson and Cam Newton), but the program’s recent history may be best distilled into a single play.

The “Kick Six,” when Auburn’s Chris Davis returned a long, missed, last-second field goal from the back of his own end zone for a touchdown to stun rival Alabama as time expired at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2013, is one of the more indelible scenes of the modern era.

15. Florida State

The Seminoles won three national titles between 1993 and 2013, but the model of consistency they were under Bobby Bowden for over 30 years has given way to uncertainty and turbulence under the three full-time coaches they’ve had since.

No matter, Tallahassee has remained a breeding ground for NFL stars, and when the Doak Campbell Stadium renovations are done for the 2025 season opener against Alabama, the program will have a refurbished home in which to mount its charge back to the top.

14. Florida

Tebowmania may be a relic of the past, and other SEC programs have become more prominent lately, but the Gators still find themselves in the upper echelon of the sport on a national level. 

Their three national championships (1996, 2006, 2008) tie them for second-most in the last 30 years, and while the chomp may not be as fierce, the school still is a feeder system for NFL-ready talent on an annual basis.

13. Miami

It’s all about The U — at least when it comes to besting the other Florida schools on this list.

The Hurricanes may have lost their elite-tier status when it comes to competing for championships, (they last won a title in 2001, their fifth dating back to 1983), but the 'Canes still have brand-name appeal and a host of successful alums in the pros and the NFL Hall of Fame.

12. Texas

It’s a tribute to the strength and popularity of the brand (backhanded as it may sound) that whenever the Longhorns go on a hot streak, there’s a national discussion about whether “Texas is back.” It was also an acknowledgement of high status that, for a brief period, it was ruled a penalty if other teams taunted Texas with the “horns down” hand motion. 

While the 2005 title under Vince Young is Texas’s crowning achievement in the modern era, Texas remains among the country's most revered programs with its rabid fanbase and long list of celebrity fans. The average crowds of over 100,000 that pack DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin are eager for another champion.

11. Clemson

Dabo Swinney had the Tigers running with the top dogs for a good while, winning national championships in 2016 and 2018 while dominating the ACC for more than a decade. Though the Tigers have taken a small step back in recent years, a 2024 College Football Playoff appearance has fans thinking the magic is back. Nevertheless, Clemson is a national force and talent factory for the NFL, with high end prospects repeatedly following the well-worn path from Memorial Stadium to the pros.

10. Penn State

From Death Valley to Happy Valley we go.

The Nittany Lions have an impassioned fanbase and a devout network of alums who keep the support of the program going strong. Beaver Stadium ranks as the second-largest stadium in the country (capacity of over 106,000), and it’s regularly packed and looking downright majestic on the nights of a White Out.

With two national championships (1982, 1986), PSU ranks a bit behind the top tier of the college football elite, but it’s consistently in the national conversation. After securing a spot in the 2024 College Football Playoff, Penn State looks to be one of the programs most likely to benefit from the expansion to a 12-team field.

9. Tennessee

The checkered orange and white end zones on Rocky Top are a fixture of the college football landscape, and the Volunteers have done plenty of scoring and celebrating in them over the years. It was never as good as when Peyton Manning was running the show from 1994-1997 and when Tee Martin guided the Vols to an undefeated national title a year later, but there’s still plenty to love about UT’s aura.

Neyland Stadium, the sixth-largest venue in the sport, is constantly rocking with some of the nation's loudest crowds of over 100,000 fans, a sign that football is king in Knoxville, no matter the record.

8. Oklahoma

The shouts of “Boomer Sooner” echo through the Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where over 80,000 strong regularly show out to throw their support behind the crimson and cream. The move to the SEC along with Texas was a blow to some of the Big 12 tradition left behind. But the Red River Rivalry thankfully continues, and the step up in competition may force the program to adjust in order to stay elite.

Over time, that has never been an issue. The Sooners have boasted seven Heisman winners and had three QBs go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft in the 2010s (Sam Bradford, 2010; Baker Mayfield, 2018; Kyler Murray, 2019) — to go along with OU's seven national championships.

7. USC

The Trojans long for the days of Pete Carroll, Carson Palmer, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and top-dog status, but they’re still a fixture on the national landscape — even after a geographically challenged move to the Big Ten.

USC’s national-record eight Heisman winners and six No. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft are testament to the program’s longevity and excellence, and it’s still a top-five team in terms of titles won in the poll era — even if its 2004 crown was vacated.

6. LSU

Geaux Tigers, Geaux. Things remain entertaining down on the bayou, where the likes of Heisman-winning QBs Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels have come through to reinvigorate the LSU program after Nick Saban guided it to a BCS national championship in 2003. 

The unmistakable purple and yellow jerseys and the on-field markers every five yards (instead of the customary 10) at Tiger Stadium are hallmarks of LSU football and recognizable immediately by any fan. Beyond that, the team’s social media following on major platforms is among the most potent in the nation.

5. Georgia

Resurgent under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs are perennial playoff and national title contenders and a go-to destination for top recruits in the ever-competitive SEC. After leading all college programs in number of NFL Draft picks since 2020, and posting back-to-back national titles in 2021-22 and 2022-23, the 'Dawgs have firmly cemented themselves among the nation's most elite teams.

Greatness at UGA is nothing new — the program boasts five all-time No. 1 overall picks in the draft and a pair of Heisman winners — and Sanford Stadium is typically a raucous environment, with more than 92,000 regularly showing out on gamedays in Athens.

4. Ohio State

O-H-I-O!

Even the most casual NFL fan can mimic “THE Ohio State University” during TV introductions when schools are announced for each player, and that’s as good of a lasting legacy as any. But the Buckeyes have the track record of success, seven Heisman winners and a long line of first-round NFL draft talent to back it up, too. Beyond that, they’re constantly packing Ohio Stadium with nearly 103,000 fans who all are treated to the marching band’s famous “dotting the I” in Script Ohio at halftime.

In terms of hardware, OSU has claimed eight national titles, with the most recent coming under Urban Meyer in 2014-15 — a rout of Oregon in the inaugural College Football Playoff championship game.

The Big Ten may have grown and absorbed some of the Pac-12’s best, turning what used to be Rose Bowl matchups (or national championship games, as it turns out) into conference showdowns, but none of that has changed Ohio State’s status as a perennial contender in the league and in the country.

3. Michigan

The Wolverines regularly treat their masses of fans at the Big House (average attendance of well over 100,000) to a top-level product, and that crested in 2023-24 with a national championship.

But it’s in the history of coaches like Bo Schembechler, Lloyd Carr and Jim Harbaugh and players like Tom Brady, Charles Woodson, Ty Law and Desmond Howard where Michigan’s clout really shows. If you take issue with any of Michigan’s individuals, you can’t argue with the scoreboard, where the school is the winningest program in college football history and the only one with over 1,000 all-time wins.

2. Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish may have lost their status as serious national championship contenders (they haven’t won it all since 1988!) and have been lapped in the talent department by a slew of schools, but this is largely a popularity contest and not a merit-based ranking. And in that department, Notre Dame still has clout.

Whether it’s the unique NBC TV deal that places the Irish front and center to the general public, the famous “Play Like a Champion Today” sign every player hits on the way to the field at Notre Dame Stadium or simply the legacy of “Rudy,” Notre Dame is still on the forefront of college football minds. It’s why the Irish are regularly grouped with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers and Duke men’s basketball in conversations about teams that are, for whatever reason, supported en masse beyond their regional footprint.

In the poll era, Notre Dame’s eight titles still rank second (and its seven Heisman winners are tied for second). In the current landscape, the Irish may never win another natty. But you can count on them remaining in the national discussion on a yearly basis. 

1. Alabama

Nobody from, say, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee or Florida has an issue with this, right? 

It’s hard to argue with the Crimson Tide, whose 13 championships are the most in the poll, BCS and playoff eras and whose list of iconic figures and great alumni is innumerable. Between Bear Bryant and Nick Saban, Joe Namath and John Hannah and the never-ending array of first-round picks that continue to come through Tuscaloosa, Alabama has a wave of undeniable evidence to claim the top spot on our list. 

Don’t forget that the fictional Forrest Gump ran right through Bryant-Denny Stadium, too. And while ‘Bama may be more vulnerable in the post-Saban days, it seems like there’s always a slew of blue-chip talent ready to keep on running — or at the very least contend annually.

Roll Tide.

This is an admittedly subjective process, but there are criteria that lend some objectivity to the proceedings as well. Fanbase size and reputation, well-known traditions and catchphrases, legendary and iconic figures and championship history all factor into the decisions, which are not easy ones to make.

Above all else, with any list, there is room for discussion, argument and banter. Nothing here is binding or official. And the best part is that year after year more chapters lend more fodder to the conversation and potentially tweak the order.

Read more: The Difference Between College Football and NFL

Frequently Asked Questions

Which college football team has the largest fanbase? 

Fanbase can be measured in myriad ways, whether it be in-stadium attendance, social media following, TV ratings and engaged alumni, among others. Based on average attendance over the last five years (2019-2024), Michigan leads the way with over 110,000 fans at each game, followed by Penn State (over 106,000), Ohio State (over 102,000), Texas A&M and Alabama (each over 100,000).

As of the start of 2024, Alabama (4 million), LSU (3.4 million) and Michigan (3.3 million) had the most combined followers on three major social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

While those figures are not the end-all, they are indicators of the passionate following those programs have and play a role in our rankings.

How are college football teams ranked? 

There are two main polls, the Associated Press poll (where 62 media members vote) and the coaches poll (where 55 coaches vote). Neither determines which teams make the 12-team College Football Playoff, though. 

That bracket (and a full top 25 ranking of its own) is determined by a selection committee, which takes much of the same criteria the media and coaches do into account but also has its own methods for deciding which programs are worthy enough of competing for the national championship.

Those voting in the AP and coaches polls are not obligated to select the winner of the national championship game as their No. 1, but during the playoff era there has never been a conflict. It would have to take something awfully drastic in order to have that transpire given the controversy that would surely ensue.  

Who played in the first college football game?

The southeast and midwest may be the home to the majority of college football’s powerhouse programs now, but the first college football game on record was played between two New Jersey schools: Rutgers and Princeton (then known as The College of New Jersey) in 1869. Rutgers won, 6-4 — with rules, fanfare and equipment all vastly different to what you see today.

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