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What are the most popular college sports in the country?
Posted on 2/17/25 at 4:39 pm
Posted on 2/17/25 at 4:39 pm
This was spurred on my the “baseball is the red headed stepchild” thread. Obviously, football is king. Men’s basketball esp with March Madness is likely second. For many schools, that’s their #1 sport (UK, Duke, UConn, Aub? hahahaha). However, third is trickier. At LSU and broadly in the south, baseball is probs third. But the rise of interest in women’s basketball the last couple years (which is very real, sorry to the “no one pays attention to women’s sports” crowd) could put it squarely in third place. and shoot, when I was at ND, hockey was the second most popular sport. This likely varies by school and region.
Here’s an interesting graphic summing up views for national championship games in 2023. I believe 2024 women’s basketball natty had something 18 million to men’s basketballs like 14 million (though men’s still draws more views/money on average throughout the season than women’s).
So I’m curious, what would you argue are the top 5 college sports in the country based on national interest?
Here’s an interesting graphic summing up views for national championship games in 2023. I believe 2024 women’s basketball natty had something 18 million to men’s basketballs like 14 million (though men’s still draws more views/money on average throughout the season than women’s).
So I’m curious, what would you argue are the top 5 college sports in the country based on national interest?
This post was edited on 2/17/25 at 4:40 pm
11
Posted on 2/17/25 at 4:41 pm to hsgeoboy
Football
Men’s basketball
The rest
Men’s basketball
The rest
Posted on 2/17/25 at 4:45 pm to hsgeoboy
My ranking would be:
1) Football
2) Men’s Basketball
3) Women’s basketball
4) Baseball
5) Softball (though if I did just Midwest/northeast, I’d put hockey maybe even at #4)
In my brief looking up things, seems volleyball is quick on the rise which i didn’t realize
1) Football
2) Men’s Basketball
3) Women’s basketball
4) Baseball
5) Softball (though if I did just Midwest/northeast, I’d put hockey maybe even at #4)
In my brief looking up things, seems volleyball is quick on the rise which i didn’t realize
Posted on 2/17/25 at 4:46 pm to ProjectP2294
And what’s the most popular among the rest? Also I think women’s basketball had closed a lot of that gap in recent years, will be interesting to see how much of that is sustained with Reese and Clark gone tho
Posted on 2/17/25 at 4:47 pm to hsgeoboy
By total revenue, which has something to do with interest, but not completely, it’s:
1. Football
2. MBB
3. Hockey
4. Baseball
Only 1 and 2 are consistently profitable. 3 and 4 can break even or have small profits at times. Every other sport is in the red.
I don’t say this as college athletics should only be about money, that wasn’t the original intent. But profitability to pay for the sports that burn through cash is a consideration.
1. Football
2. MBB
3. Hockey
4. Baseball
Only 1 and 2 are consistently profitable. 3 and 4 can break even or have small profits at times. Every other sport is in the red.
I don’t say this as college athletics should only be about money, that wasn’t the original intent. But profitability to pay for the sports that burn through cash is a consideration.
Posted on 2/17/25 at 4:47 pm to hsgeoboy
The graphic you linked is the correct answer nationally, obviously.
Personally I really enjoy baseball season. Playing 60+ games is awesome because so much content is consumed and discussed. I also think baseball post season is the best.
Personally I really enjoy baseball season. Playing 60+ games is awesome because so much content is consumed and discussed. I also think baseball post season is the best.
Posted on 2/17/25 at 5:59 pm to hsgeoboy
Football 1a
Baseball 1b
Anything else
Baseball 1b
Anything else
Posted on 2/17/25 at 6:08 pm to Tigerfanindawgland
Women’s basketball is third (even if sec fans may think otherwise).
Posted on 2/17/25 at 6:16 pm to hsgeoboy
quote:
But the rise of interest in women’s basketball the last couple years (which is very real, sorry to the “no one pays attention to women’s sports” crowd)
At LSU, which is hugely supportive of WBB, they just lost nearly $8MM IN 2024.
I know not everything is revenue and you asked popularity, but I imagine that the third sport is largely dependent on region, and is almost always a men’s sport.
In the Midwest it’s probably wrestling.
In the South, probably baseball
In the Atlantic to Northeast, lacrosse?
Out west, no idea
I seriously doubt WBB is 3rd anywhere.
Posted on 2/17/25 at 8:13 pm to hsgeoboy
One thing that works against college baseball is the minor league system. Majority of the worlds best baseball players will never step foot on a college campus. Maybe NIL will narrow the gap some.
Posted on 2/17/25 at 9:42 pm to High Life
The majority of major league players played college baseball. Used to not be like that but it is now.
My list starts with football then baseball. Basketball is tremendously boring and overrated. I haven’t watched an NBA basketball game in 15 years. SNOOZE FEST
My list starts with football then baseball. Basketball is tremendously boring and overrated. I haven’t watched an NBA basketball game in 15 years. SNOOZE FEST
Posted on 2/18/25 at 12:06 am to Picayuner
quote:
The majority of major league players played college baseball.
Google tells me only 47%. Regardless its significantly less than FB and MBB
Posted on 2/18/25 at 12:21 am to High Life
Obviously football and men’s basketball. In the south it has to be baseball. If LSU had hockey I would watch it before any women’s sports.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 12:22 am to ProjectP2294
quote:
Football Men’s basketball The rest
More like
1. Football
2. Men’s basketball
3. The rest
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:26 am to Oilfieldbiology
I can guarantee you that UConn women’s basketball draws more views than any lacrosse team in the northeast. Pretty sure it would be 2nd or 3rd out east. And hockey is def more popular in the Midwest than mf wrestling lol.
But I see your point. Perhaps women’s basketballs place as the country’s 3rd college sport has to do with broad albeit mild national appeal rather than intense, regional sports like hockey or baseball
But I see your point. Perhaps women’s basketballs place as the country’s 3rd college sport has to do with broad albeit mild national appeal rather than intense, regional sports like hockey or baseball
Posted on 2/18/25 at 9:13 am to hsgeoboy
Most schools make money on football and men's basketball, and lose money on every other sport. Not all the time (I believe LSU makes a profit on baseball, and hockey is popular at some schools), but that shows where the eyeballs are nationally.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 1:13 pm to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
I seriously doubt WBB is 3rd anywhere.
28 schools women's basketball teams averaged over 5000 attendance last year. I would say those in bold would classify as "#3" at their school.
1. South Carolina 16,067
2. Iowa 14,914
3. LSU 11,628
4. UConn 10,684
5. Indiana 10,336
6. Iowa St. 10,007
7. Tennessee 8,880
8. Louisville 8,640
9. Maryland 7,545
10. Ohio St. 7,498
11. Arizona 7,333
12. Texas 6,803
13. Notre Dame 6,644
14. Virginia Tech 6,642
15. Nebraska 6,088
16. Oregon 6,037
17. Purdue 5,602
18. Colorado 5,543
19. Kansas St. 5,531
20. Texas Tech 5,432
21. Gonzaga 5,401
22. NC State 5,285
23. Utah 5,209
24. Oregon St 5,156
25. Mississippi St. 5,109
26. UCLA 5,078
27. Baylor 5,030
28. New Mexico 5,010
Posted on 2/18/25 at 1:19 pm to hsgeoboy
Men’s basketball*
(* only during March madness)
Regular season basketball is about as popular as baseball.
(* only during March madness)
Regular season basketball is about as popular as baseball.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 1:20 pm to hsgeoboy
Gymnastics and women’s basketball seem to be the most popular ones here.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 1:40 pm to hsgeoboy
1. Football
2. Mens Basketball
Anything else is lucky to break even revenue wise.
2. Mens Basketball
Anything else is lucky to break even revenue wise.
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