For many people, football is far more than just a game: it’s a sacred American tradition. These fans aren’t just spectators but are also participants. They do more than just proudly wear a team’s jersey, perfect game-day chili or tailgate with fellow fans. They show their passion by roaring in approval when their team scores a touchdown or crying out in disappointment when they fumble their way to failure. Football is by far Americans’ favorite sport to watch, with more popularity than basketball, baseball and soccer combined. In fact, 62% of Americans consider themselves either a fan or “somewhat” of a fan of professional football, and 54% say the same for college football.
Certain cities provide a better football experience than others, though. With Super Bowl LVII upon us, WalletHub compared more than 240 U.S. cities with at least one college or professional football team across 21 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the number of NFL and college football teams to stadium capacity to fan engagement.
For fun and interesting facts about the biggest sporting event of the year, make sure to check out WalletHub’s Super Bowl LVII By The Numbers infographic.
Main Findings
Best Football Cities for Fans
| Overall Rank | City | Total Score | Pro Football | College Football |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA | 61.61 | 1 | 10 |
| 2 | Green Bay, WI | 53.34 | 2 | 240 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | 53.2 | 3 | 240 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | 51.75 | 4 | 195 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | 51.1 | 5 | 37 |
| 6 | New York, NY | 45.54 | 10 | 33 |
| 7 | Miami, FL | 45.42 | 9 | 39 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | 45.15 | 11 | 45 |
| 9 | New Orleans, LA | 44.51 | 6 | 140 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | 42.89 | 7 | 240 |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | 42.26 | 8 | 240 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | 41.84 | 13 | 144 |
| 13 | Buffalo, NY | 41.07 | 14 | 190 |
| 14 | Glendale, AZ | 40.18 | 12 | 240 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | 39.48 | 21 | 11 |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | 38.4 | 16 | 180 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | 37.72 | 15 | 222 |
| 18 | Washington, DC | 37.49 | 20 | 149 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | 36.65 | 17 | 240 |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | 36.26 | 18 | 233 |
| 21 | Baltimore, MD | 35.83 | 19 | 236 |
| 22 | Atlanta, GA | 33.34 | 24 | 137 |
| 23 | Tampa, FL | 33.22 | 22 | 231 |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | 33.12 | 23 | 205 |
| 25 | Charlotte, NC | 30.93 | 26 | 229 |
| 26 | Tuscaloosa, AL | 30.68 | 31 | 1 |
| 27 | Cleveland, OH | 29.84 | 25 | 240 |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | 28.93 | 27 | 240 |
| 29 | Clemson, SC | 28.21 | 31 | 2 |
| 30 | Chicago, IL | 27.41 | 28 | 240 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
NFL Teams
Best-Performing
- Best-Performing
- 1. Kansas City, MO
- 2. Buffalo, NY
- 3. Green Bay, WI
- 4. Tampa, FL
- 5. Pittsburgh, PA
Worst-Performing
- Worst-Performing
- T-25. Detroit, MI
- T-25. Charlotte, NC
- 27. Denver, CO
- 28. New York, NY
- 29. Jacksonville, FL
- 30. Houston, TX
College Football (FBS & FCS) Teams
Best-Performing
- Best-Performing
- T-1. Fargo, ND
- T-1. Athens, GA
- 3. St. Paul, MN
- 4. Tuscaloosa, AL
- 5. Columbus, OH
Worst-Performing
- Worst-Performing
- 235. Pocatello, ID
- 236. Tampa, FL
- 237. Charleston, IL
- 238. Macomb, IL
- 239. Amherst, MA
Avg. Ticket Price for NFL Game
Lowest
- Lowest
- 1. Jacksonville, FL
- 2. Cincinnati, OH
- 3. Buffalo, NY
- 4. Glendale, AZ
- 5. Detroit, MI
Highest
- Highest
- T-26. Chicago, IL
- T-26. Boston, MA
- T-26. Green Bay, WI
- T-26. San Francisco, CA
- T-26. Las Vegas, NV
Min. Season-Ticket Price for College Football Game
Lowest
- Lowest
- 1. New Britain, CT
- T-2. Dayton, OH
- T-2. East Hartford, CT
- T-4. Clarksville, TN
- T-4. Elon, NC
Highest
- Highest
- 231. Gainesville, FL
- 232. Auburn, AL
- T-233. Knoxville, TN
- T-233. Ann Arbor, MI
- T-233. College Station, TX
NFL Stadiums
Most Accessible
- Most Accessible
- 1. Green Bay, WI
- 2. Buffalo, NY
- 3. Glendale, AZ
- 4. Pittsburgh, PA
- 5. Cincinnati, OH
Least Accessible
- Least Accessible
- 26. Philadelphia, PA
- 27. Los Angeles, CA
- 28. Houston, TX
- 29. Chicago, IL
- 30. New York, NY
College Stadiums
Most Accessible
- Most Accessible
- T-1. Fayette, MS
- T-1. Itta Bena, MS
- T-1. West Point, NY
- T-1. Clemson, SC
- 5. Grambling, LA
Least Accessible
- Least Accessible
- 234. St. Paul, MN
- 235. Baltimore, MD
- 236. Washington, DC
- 237. Indianapolis, IN
- 238. New York, NY
NFL Fans
Most Engaged
- Most Engaged
- T-1. Green Bay, WI
- T-1. Pittsburgh, PA
- 3. Boston, MA
- 4. New Orleans, LA
- 5. Glendale, AZ
Least Engaged
- Least Engaged
- 26. Chicago, IL
- 27. Houston, TX
- 28. Jacksonville, FL
- 29. Los Angeles, CA
- 30. New York, NY
College Football Fans
Most Engaged
- Most Engaged
- T-1. Clemson, SC
- T-1. State College, PA
- T-1. Tuscaloosa, AL
- 4. Fayette, MS
- 5. Ann Arbor, MI
Least Engaged
- Least Engaged
- 235. San Jose, CA
- 236. Portland, OR
- 237. Richmond, VA
- 238. Baltimore, MD
- 239. New York, NY
Show More
Ranking by City Size
| Rank (1=Best) |
Large City (Score) |
Rank (1=Best) |
Midsize City (Score) |
Rank (1=Best) |
Small City (Score) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA (61.61) | 1 | Green Bay, WI (53.34) | 1 | Tuscaloosa, AL (30.68) |
| 2 | Dallas, TX (53.20) | 2 | Buffalo, NY (41.07) | 2 | Clemson, SC (28.21) |
| 3 | Boston, MA (51.75) | 3 | Glendale, AZ (40.18) | 3 | Fayette, MS (25.60) |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA (51.10) | 4 | Fargo, ND (23.04) | 4 | Stillwater, OK (22.21) |
| 5 | New York, NY (45.54) | 5 | Tallahassee, FL (22.29) | 5 | West Point, NY (22.02) |
| 6 | Miami, FL (45.42) | 6 | Athens, GA (22.12) | 6 | State College, PA (22.00) |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH (45.15) | 7 | Norman, OK (20.41) | 7 | Boone, NC (20.71) |
| 8 | New Orleans, LA (44.51) | 8 | Baton Rouge, LA (20.29) | 8 | Stanford, CA (20.04) |
| 9 | Kansas City, MO (42.89) | 9 | Provo, UT (20.04) | 9 | Princeton, NJ (19.82) |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA (42.26) | 10 | Ann Arbor, MI (18.93) | 10 | Starkville, MS (19.54) |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN (41.84) | 11 | New Haven, CT (18.00) | 11 | Buies Creek, NC (19.42) |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA (39.48) | 12 | Dayton, OH (17.91) | 12 | Statesboro, GA (19.42) |
| 13 | Seattle, WA (38.40) | 13 | Worcester, MA (17.77) | 13 | Grambling, LA (19.30) |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN (37.72) | 14 | Jackson, MS (17.42) | 14 | Brookings, SD (19.08) |
| 15 | Washington, DC (37.49) | 15 | Boise, ID (17.28) | 15 | Morgantown, WV (18.92) |
| 16 | Denver, CO (36.65) | 16 | Birmingham, AL (16.95) | 16 | Huntington, WV (18.91) |
| 17 | Las Vegas, NV (36.26) | 17 | Cambridge, MA (16.74) | 17 | Richmond, KY (18.90) |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD (35.83) | 18 | Toledo, OH (16.52) | 18 | Oxford, MS (18.88) |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA (33.34) | 19 | South Bend, IN (16.39) | 19 | Itta Bena, MS (18.74) |
| 20 | Tampa, FL (33.22) | 20 | Lafayette, LA (16.37) | 20 | Cedar Falls, IA (18.65) |
| 21 | Nashville, TN (33.12) | 21 | Durham, NC (16.18) | 21 | West Long Branch, NJ (18.63) |
| 22 | Charlotte, NC (30.93) | 22 | Murfreesboro, TN (15.88) | 22 | Hanover, NH (18.59) |
| 23 | Cleveland, OH (29.84) | 23 | Winston-Salem, NC (15.75) | 23 | Conway, SC (18.57) |
| 24 | Detroit, MI (28.93) | 24 | Richmond, VA (15.74) | 24 | Hamilton, NY (18.47) |
| 25 | Chicago, IL (27.41) | 25 | Reno, NV (15.44) | 25 | Greenville, SC (18.24) |
| 26 | Houston, TX (26.90) | 26 | Chattanooga, TN (15.28) | 26 | Cheney, WA (18.16) |
| 27 | Jacksonville, FL (24.75) | 27 | Denton, TX (15.27) | 27 | Martin, TN (18.11) |
| 28 | San Diego, CA (18.64) | 28 | Berkeley, CA (15.04) | 28 | Jacksonville, AL (17.90) |
| 29 | St. Paul, MN (18.12) | 29 | Greensboro, NC (15.00) | 29 | Harrisonburg, VA (17.81) |
| 30 | Columbus, OH (17.63) | 30 | Lincoln, NE (14.95) | 30 | Williamsburg, VA (17.61) |
| 31 | San Antonio, TX (16.74) | 31 | Clarksville, TN (14.64) | 31 | Missoula, MT (17.49) |
| 32 | Colorado Springs, CO (16.44) | 32 | Tempe, AZ (14.62) | 32 | Orangeburg, SC (17.37) |
| 33 | Sacramento, CA (16.32) | 33 | Norfolk, VA (14.57) | 33 | Loretto, PA (17.29) |
| 34 | Fresno, CA (16.28) | 34 | Macon, GA (14.53) | 34 | Carbondale, IL (17.29) |
| 35 | San Jose, CA (16.27) | 35 | Syracuse, NY (14.34) | 35 | Troy, AL (17.18) |
| 36 | Tulsa, OK (15.86) | 36 | Orlando, FL (14.33) | 36 | Bozeman, MT (17.13) |
| 37 | Fort Worth, TX (14.43) | 37 | Abilene, TX (14.16) | 37 | Cullowhee, NC (17.03) |
| 38 | Lexington, KY (14.35) | 38 | Mobile, AL (14.01) | 38 | Youngstown, OH (16.98) |
| 39 | El Paso, TX (14.32) | 39 | Des Moines, IA (13.80) | 39 | Boiling Springs, NC (16.97) |
| 40 | Albuquerque, NM (14.20) | 40 | Springfield, MO (13.60) | 40 | Kennesaw, GA (16.93) |
| 41 | Portland, OR (14.10) | 41 | Las Cruces, NM (13.46) | 41 | Durham, NH (16.90) |
| 42 | Memphis, TN (13.86) | 42 | Salt Lake City, UT (13.44) | 42 | Ogden, UT (16.85) |
| 43 | Austin, TX (12.55) | 43 | Hampton, VA (13.40) | 43 | Mount Pleasant, MI (16.84) |
| 44 | Raleigh, NC (12.43) | 44 | North Charleston, SC (13.22) | 44 | Huntsville, TX (16.84) |
| 45 | Honolulu, HI (12.13) | 45 | Huntsville, AL (13.18) | 45 | Ypsilanti, MI (16.73) |
| 46 | Tucson, AZ (11.76) | 46 | Providence, RI (13.16) | 46 | Fairfield, CT (16.70) |
| 47 | Louisville, KY (10.50) | 47 | Montgomery, AL (13.15) | 47 | Hammond, LA (16.69) |
| Info | Info | 48 | Eugene, OR (13.10) | 48 | St. Charles, MO (16.61) |
| Info | Info | 49 | Columbia, MO (13.05) | 49 | Manhattan, KS (16.58) |
| Info | Info | 50 | Lubbock, TX (12.94) | 50 | Stony Brook, NY (16.57) |
| Info | Info | 51 | Greeley, CO (12.79) | 51 | Newark, DE (16.52) |
| Info | Info | 52 | Charleston, SC (12.69) | 52 | Kingston, RI (16.50) |
| Info | Info | 53 | Gainesville, FL (12.45) | 53 | Lewisburg, PA (16.48) |
| Info | Info | 54 | College Station, TX (12.14) | 54 | College Park, MD (16.47) |
| Info | Info | 55 | Madison, WI (11.97) | 55 | Lynchburg, VA (16.31) |
| Info | Info | 56 | Beaumont, TX (11.91) | 56 | East Lansing, MI (16.28) |
| Info | Info | 57 | Akron, OH (11.89) | 57 | Iowa City, IA (16.21) |
| Info | Info | 58 | Boulder, CO (11.47) | 58 | Morehead, KY (16.18) |
| Info | Info | 59 | Columbia, SC (11.20) | 59 | Muncie, IN (16.17) |
| Info | Info | 60 | Knoxville, TN (11.01) | 60 | Kent, OH (16.04) |
| Info | Info | 61 | Waco, TX (10.92) | 61 | Cape Girardeau, MO (15.95) |
| Info | Info | 62 | Fort Collins, CO (10.21) | 62 | Ruston, LA (15.94) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 63 | West Lafayette, IN (15.84) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 64 | Oxford, OH (15.82) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 65 | Ithaca, NY (15.70) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 66 | Prairie View, TX (15.67) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 67 | Kalamazoo, MI (15.62) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 68 | North Andover, MA (15.61) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 69 | Athens, OH (15.60) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 70 | Commerce, TX (15.59) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 71 | Poughkeepsie, NY (15.55) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 72 | Laramie, WY (15.52) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 73 | Moscow, ID (15.41) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 74 | University Park, TX (15.38) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 75 | Corvallis, OR (15.30) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 76 | Elon, NC (15.23) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 77 | Orono, ME (15.20) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 78 | Davis, CA (15.16) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 79 | Thibodaux, LA (15.12) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 80 | Normal, IL (15.07) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 81 | New Britain, CT (14.95) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 82 | Towson, MD (14.93) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 83 | Bowling Green, KY (14.80) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 84 | Natchitoches, LA (14.76) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 85 | Bethlehem, PA (14.72) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 86 | Charlottesville, VA (14.71) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 87 | Lexington, VA (14.67) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 88 | Murray, KY (14.65) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 89 | Conway, AR (14.58) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 90 | Stephenville, TX (14.57) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 91 | Nacogdoches, TX (14.53) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 92 | Vermillion, SD (14.49) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 93 | Auburn, AL (14.43) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 94 | Evanston, IL (14.42) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 95 | Greenville, NC (14.42) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 96 | DeKalb, IL (14.39) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 97 | Albany, NY (14.37) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 98 | Chapel Hill, NC (14.28) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 99 | Spartanburg, SC (14.28) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 100 | Daytona Beach, FL (14.28) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 101 | Smithfield, RI (14.25) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 102 | Fayetteville, AR (14.23) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 103 | Grand Forks, ND (14.18) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 104 | Monroe, LA (14.15) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 105 | Easton, PA (14.09) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 106 | Ames, IA (14.06) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 107 | Logan, UT (13.94) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 108 | Terre Haute, IN (13.92) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 109 | Flagstaff, AZ (13.90) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 110 | Lake Charles, LA (13.89) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 111 | Boca Raton, FL (13.81) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 112 | Jonesboro, AR (13.80) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 113 | Hattiesburg, MS (13.66) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 114 | Johnson City, TN (13.63) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 115 | San Luis Obispo, CA (13.62) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 116 | East Hartford, CT (13.58) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 117 | Bowling Green, OH (13.47) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 118 | Blacksburg, VA (13.30) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 119 | Champaign, IL (13.23) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 120 | Cedar City, UT (13.22) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 121 | Cookeville, TN (13.21) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 122 | Annapolis, MD (13.16) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 123 | Pullman, WA (13.06) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 124 | Dover, DE (13.03) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 125 | San Marcos, TX (13.00) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 126 | Pine Bluff, AR (12.92) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 127 | Charleston, IL (12.80) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 128 | DeLand, FL (12.75) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 129 | Florence, AL (12.69) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 130 | Pocatello, ID (12.49) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 131 | Amherst, MA (12.28) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 132 | Macomb, IL (12.22) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 133 | St. George, UT (11.92) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 134 | Piscatawayship, NJ (11.78) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 135 | Clinton, SC (11.63) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 136 | Bloomington, IN (11.63) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 137 | Davidson, NC (11.23) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 138 | Lawrence, KS (10.79) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 139 | Easton, MA (9.12) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 140 | Valparaiso, IN (6.93) |
Ask the Experts
Certain qualities make a city a good environment for football fans. For more insight, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on the following key questions:
- What are the biggest challenges facing professional football today?
- How can the game be adapted to better ensure the long term health and safety of players?
- What are some strategies for fans to enjoy watching football (at home, in a bar, at the stadium) without breaking the bank?
- Is having a professional football team an economic drain or benefit for cities?
- Does hosting the Super Bowl economically help or hurt the host city?
Ask the Experts
James Weiner
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Sport Management – University of Tampa
Read More
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Sport Management – University of Tampa
Read More
Mark Conrad
Associate Professor, Law and Ethics; Director, Sports Business Initiative; Director, Sports Business Concentration, Gabelli School of Business – Fordham University
Read More
Associate Professor, Law and Ethics; Director, Sports Business Initiative; Director, Sports Business Concentration, Gabelli School of Business – Fordham University
Read More
Bridget Nichols
Professor, Marketing and Sports Business & Event Management, Haile College of Business at Northern Kentucky University
Read More
Professor, Marketing and Sports Business & Event Management, Haile College of Business at Northern Kentucky University
Read More
Mark Moore
Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology – East Carolina University
Read More
Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology – East Carolina University
Read More
Mark R. Lyberger
Professor, Sport Administration, Interim Director School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration – Kent State University
Read More
Professor, Sport Administration, Interim Director School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration – Kent State University
Read More
John C. Barnes
Ph.D. – Professor of Sport Management – The University of New Mexico
Read More
Ph.D. – Professor of Sport Management – The University of New Mexico
Read More
Methodology
In order to determine the best and worst cities for football fans, WalletHub compared 249 U.S. cities based on 21 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for football fans.
For our sample, we chose cities with at least one professional football team (NFL) or at least one college football team (NCAA, including FBS and FCS). We then grouped the cities by division — “Pro Football” and “College Football” — and assigned weights to each divisional category based on its popularity among fans.
Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. For our “Ranking by City Size,” we categorized each city according to the following population-size guidelines:
- Large cities: More than 300,000 people
- Midsize cities: 100,000 to 300,000 people
- Small cities: Fewer than 100,000 people
Pro Football – Total Points = 75
- Number of NFL Teams: Full Weight (~8.82 Points)
- Performance Level of NFL Team: Full Weight (~8.82 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated using the past three seasons’ averages and the following formula: Number of Wins / Total Number of Games Played. - Number of NFL Championships Wins: Full Weight (~8.82 Points)
- Number of NFL Division Championship Wins: Half Weight (~4.41 Points)
- Number of Hall-of-Fame Head Coaches: Half Weight (~4.41 Points)
- Franchise Value: Half Weight (~4.41 Points)
Note: This metric measures the team(s) estimated value in millions of dollars. - Average Ticket Price for an NFL Game: Full Weight (~8.82 Points)
- NFL Fan Engagement: Full Weight (~8.82 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of Twitter followers and Facebook “Likes” (on each team’s official accounts) per capita. - Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons: Half Weight (~4.41 Points)
Note: “Past 10 Seasons” include seasons 2013-2014 to 2022-2023. - NFL Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~4.41 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated using the following formula: Stadium Capacity / Total City Population. - Attendance: Half Weight (~4.41 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated using the following formula: Average Home-Fan Attendance / Stadium Capacity. - Popularity Index: Half Weight (~4.41 Points)
College Football – Total Points = 25
- Number of College Football (FBS & FCS) Teams: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
- Performance Level of College Football (FBS & FCS) Team(s): Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated using the past three seasons’ averages and the following formula: Number of Wins / Total Number of Games Played. - Number of College Football (FBS & FCS) Championship Wins: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
- Number of College Football (FBS & FCS) Conference Championship Wins: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
- Number of Hall-of-Fame Head Coaches: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
- Minimum Season-Ticket Price for College Football (FBS & FCS) Game: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
- College Football Fan Engagement: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of Twitter followers and Facebook “Likes” (on each team’s official accounts) per capita. - Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
Note: “Past 10 Seasons” include seasons 2013–2014 to 2022–2023. - College Football (FBS & FCS) Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated using the following formula: Stadium Capacity / Total City Population.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Team Marketing Report, ESPN, NCAA, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Sports Reference, Forbes, NBC Sports, Fanalytics, each team’s website and social media accounts.
