The College Football season has (very sadly) come to a close. A big shoutout to Ohio State for clinching the recent national title!
To celebrate, The Action Network has put together a ranking of the Coolest College Football teams.
But let's plunge into how we define "coolness" amongst these football powerhouses. Spoiler: The criteria are about as diverse as the fans themselves!
Methodology in a Nutshell
Our data-driven approach ensures fairness in the rivalry. We collected stats from trusted sources to create the ultimate "Cool Score." Each team was evaluated on revenue (blame those accountants!), Micro Breweries near campuses (perfect for pre-game rituals), city population figures, search volume for tailgating and team interest, current rankings, championships won, and current season win vs. loss records. It’s all about blending Value, Culture, and Performance to score our contenders.
Calculation of the 'Cool Score'
Factors were assigned weights like a pro-diet plan: 30% Value, 30% Culture, and 40% Performance, balanced with the grace of a perfect spiral pass.
Scores were standardized and weighted, with higher scores winning bragging rights.
Texas Longhorns — The Coolest College Football Team
The Texas Longhorns top our list with a dazzling Cool Score of 100. This team has more charisma than a double overtime game!
With a population base in Austin of 931,840, their following is as robust as their brew scene featuring 25 microbreweries.
Revenue streams hit a high at $271 million. Four championships and a stellar 13-3 record this season justify their headline status, attracting 450,000 searches alone.
Teams Ranked 2-10
- Ohio State Buckeyes (2nd): Charging forward with a Cool Score of 97, the Buckeyes reign supreme in Columbus and over CFB with their recent National Championship. Their legacy shines through with 53 NFL players and nine national championships. Generating a spectacular $280 million in revenue, they blend tradition with tailgate fun with 1,600 searches and a spirited 49,500 searches for their team name per month, all boosted by 27 nearby breweries.
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3rd): With a stellar Cool Score of 92, Notre Dame continues to combine history with success. They count 13 national championships to their name and draw a fervent 9,900 fanbase searches in South Bend. Backed by $224 million in revenue, their status stays legacy-strong.
- Alabama Crimson Tide (4th): Tuscaloosa vibrates with Alabama’s historic prowess, scoring a Cool Score of 91. With 16 national titles and a dynamic $200 million revenue stream, they’re driven by 40,500 enthusiastic fan searches and 60 players in the NFL.
- USC Trojans (5th): Coming in at a Cool Score of 82, nestled in Los Angeles, the Trojans unite the vibrant city with nine championships. Amidst the nearly four million residents, USC stands tall with a robust support system, attracting 27,100 search fans.
- Georgia Bulldogs (6th): Holding a score of 80, the Bulldogs have a championship lineage with three titles. Their enthusiasm is unparalleled, with 301,000 fanbase searches and six microbreweries ready for game-day celebrations.
- Miami Hurricanes (7th): A (gale) force of nature with a Cool Score of 78, Miami blends five honorable titles with Coral Gables’ charm. The Hurricanes are fiercely supported by 450,000 dedicated searches and five local microbrewery ventures.
- Michigan Wolverines (8th): With a Cool Score of 74, Michigan's powerhouse burst forth from Ann Arbor with 10 championships. Supported by 90,500 dedicated fans, they hold a rich blend of history and continued success.
- Florida Gators (9th): Their Cool Score of 71 reflects their electric presence in Gainesville. Defined by three championships and a sunlit enthusiasm manifesting in 450,000 fan searches, they remain a Floridian mainstay.
- Texas A&M Aggies (10th): Anchored in College Station, Texas A&M's Cool Score of 67 marks them as an indomitable force. With three championships, they fuel pride through 8,100 searchers and recognized revenue support of $279 million.
Teams Ranked 11-20
These teams may not crack the top 10, but they sure know how to leave their mark on the college football scene:
- Oregon Ducks (11th): Flying in with a Cool Score of 66, the Ducks harness the quirky spirit of Eugene. With 21 microbreweries powering their atmosphere, they have 246,000 fan searches a month and a 13-1 record that keeps their “Quack Attack” strong, generating substantial support and $151 million in revenue.
- Penn State Nittany Lions (12th): With a Cool Score of 65, Penn State thrives in State College’s community spirit. Boasting four championships, they incite 6,600 fan searches, and their storied history is augmented by 30 NFL players and $202 million in athletic revenue.
- LSU Tigers (13th): Baton Rouge roars with a Cool Score of 64. These Tigers decorate their legacy with five championships, 27,100 fan searches, and a robust $200 million revenue stream, proving that grit and glory coexist.
- Tennessee Volunteers (14th): Knoxville’s pride, with a Cool Score of 61, combines two championships and delightful dedication across 18 microbreweries. Driven by 27,100 fan searches, they embody the Rocky Top fervor in their pursuits.
- Illinois Fighting Illini (15th): With a Cool Score of 56, Champaign cheers on the Illini’s blend of three championships and relentless pursuit. Supported by 2,900 fan lookups and $148 million in revenue, they craft a steady, impactful journey on and off the field.
- TCU Horned Frogs (16th): Rooted in the land of cowboys, the Horned Frogs boast a Cool Score of 56 with support from nine microbreweries in Fort Worth. Galvanized by 8,100 fan searches, they persist with determination within a $149 million revenue framework.
- Minnesota Golden Gophers (17th): Echoing through Minneapolis with a Cool Score of 55, the Gophers thrive backed by six championships and the support of 44 microbreweries, manifesting a rich community spirit and $149 million in revenue.
- Clemson Tigers (18th): Clemson radiates a Cool Score of 55, bolstered by three championships and a dedicated fanbase generating 18,100 searches. Their resilience is amplified by 30 NFL players and a solid $196 million revenue haul.
- Oklahoma Sooners (19th): Norman’s narrative is penned with a Cool Score of 54, crowned by seven championships and 49,500 fan searches per month.
- SMU Mustangs (20th): Nestled in Dallas, the Mustangs gallop along with a Cool Score of 51. Fifteen microbreweries stir spirits along with 12,100 fan searches, stretching aspirations supported by 11 pro players and an $86 million athletics revenue.
For aficionados demanding specifics: In the end, college football isn’t just about victories; it’s the culture, loyalty, and local flavors that make up the epic game-day experience. Game on!
This content was created to entertain and inform avid College Football bettors and enthusiasts! The same people might also be interested in checking out these bet365 Promo Code and Fanatics Sportsbook Promo pages.
Methodology
You can find the full dataset here.
Data Collection
Our analysis for ranking the coolest college football teams involved collecting data from several sources to ensure a comprehensive evaluation. Below are the data points we used and their respective sources:
Revenue:
SportsData USA Today
NBC DFW
Sportico
Micro Breweries (within five miles of the city center):
BreweryDB
Population of City/Town:
Public Open Data Soft
Search Volume for 'Tailgating' (average over 12 months):
Google Keyword Planner
Search Volume for Football Team (average over 12 months):
Google Keyword Planner
Championships (*anything the NCAA recognized as a Championship):
ESPN
Win vs Loss Record:
ESPN
Calculation of 'Cool Score'
Each college football team was evaluated based on three main categories: Value, Culture, and Performance. Each category includes specific factors that contribute to the overall "Cool Score". The factors and their corresponding weights are listed below:
Value (30% Total Weight)
Players that have gone pro (Currently Active NFL Players): 15%
Revenue: 15%
Culture (30% Total Weight)
Micro Breweries (within 5 miles of city centre): 5%
Population of City: 5%
Tailgating: 10%
Fanbase Dedication (Search Volume for Team): 10%
Performance (40% Total Weight)
Championships: 20%
Win vs Loss Ratio: 20%
Scoring Process
Standardization: Each data point was standardized to ensure comparability across teams. This was done using z-scores to normalize the values.
Weighting: Each standardized score was multiplied by its respective weight to reflect the importance of the factor in the overall "Cool Score".
Aggregation: The weighted scores for each factor were summed to produce a final "Cool Score" for each team.
Ranking: Teams were ranked based on their "Cool Score", with higher scores indicating a higher ranking.
