As a soccer program, few packages have had as a lot success or greater than the Oklahoma Sooners of their historical past. They’ve been the powerhouse within the Huge 12 for the final 20 years, successful extra convention championships than the remainder of the packages mixed.
Nestled within the coronary heart of Oklahoma, the Sooners have constructed themselves right into a blue blood program thanks partially to the work of Bennie Owen, Bud Wilkinson, Barry Switzer, Bob Stoops, and sure, even Lincoln Riley. They’re a staff synonymous with successful, offensive soccer, and Heisman trophies.
They’ve by no means been a flash-in-the-pan program. Whereas the Sooners have had short-lived durations of poor play on the sphere, they by no means lasted lengthy, and infrequently did it imply a dropping season. Based on Faculty Soccer Reference, the Oklahoma Sooners have had simply 11 dropping seasons of their 114-year run. That’s a exceptional run of success. By comparability, the Texas Longhorns have had 17 dropping seasons of their historical past.
That document of success has helped them construct one of many largest faculty soccer fanbases within the nation regardless of their residence state’s small inhabitants.
Technique analyst Tony Altimore underwent a course of to investigate the fan bases of Soccer Bowl Subdivision groups, and the Oklahoma Sooners got here in at No. 17 within the research.
Right here’s what they checked out of their research:
Contains inbound convention groups solely, excluding some newly promoted FCS groups missing prior knowledge. Source: New York Instances and NYT 538 research of fanbases in 2011 and 2014 and of Vivid Seats ticket gross sales knowledge in 2014, normalized with 2020 U.S. Census knowledge and Google tendencies knowledge and a number of research of general nationwide CFB fan help. Inputs from every research are averaged based mostly on variety of inputs to keep away from penalizing (primarily G-3) groups not included in all three research. – Tony Altimore
Ohio State got here in at No. 1, adopted by Notre Dame at No. 2. Texas, with Oklahoma heading to the SEC, had the third-biggest fanbase within the research’s estimation. Coming in forward of Penn State at No. 4 and Michigan to spherical out the highest 5.
The brand new-look SEC fared very effectively within the research as 15 of the 16 faculties made the highest 40 in estimated fan base. Vanderbilt, who has struggled in soccer in latest seasons, was tied at No. 63 with the Huge Ten’s Northwestern, who was the one faculty within the new-look convention exterior the highest 50.
Whereas Texas has a sizeable benefit within the fanbase measurement, one should additionally take into account that the state of Texas has a a lot bigger inhabitants than Oklahoma. It’s the age-old dialogue about why Oklahoma has so many gamers from Texas on the roster. There’s merely a bigger participant pool to recruit from.
The research has sure limitations, which is why it’s an estimate. The research used are almost a decade outdated. Nevertheless, it’s fascinating to see how the groups and leagues stack up based mostly on the numbers concerned. It’s unlikely issues have modified so radically in help that groups would drop off, however that’s to not say issues may look completely different in the event that they have been based mostly on newer numbers, have been they out there.
It’s not stunning that the SEC leads the way in which in common fanbase per faculty, adopted by the Huge Ten. These two conferences are thought-about one and two in unofficial rankings of the Energy 5. It’s additionally not stunning to see the Huge 12 fall to fifth among the many Energy 5, with Texas and Oklahoma shifting to the SEC.
As a result of this research got here out earlier than the strikes of USC and UCLA to the Huge Ten, it’s not been up to date to mirror the latest realignment. Nevertheless, once you add the previous Pac-12 faculties, they nonetheless lag behind the SEC.
And once you take out USC and UCLA from the Pac-12, they nonetheless rank forward of the Huge 12 in common fanbase per faculty by greater than half one million.
The ever-changing panorama of faculty soccer has led to discussions about model recognition and drawing energy. With that, let’s check out the highest 25 faculties in estimated fan base in line with this research.
25
Washington Huskies
Sep 28, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Jacob Eason (10) celebrates with followers after a sport towards the USC Trojans at Husky Stadium. Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
2.46 million
24
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Sep 7, 2019; Boulder, CO, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers followers cheer on the finish of the second quarter towards the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Subject. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
2.55 million
23
Missouri Tigers
Nov 13, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers followers present their help towards the South Carolina Gamecocks through the sport at Faurot Subject at Memorial Stadium. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
2.64 million
22
South Carolina Gamecocks
Sep 26, 2020; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks followers cheer towards the Tennessee Volunteers at Williams-Brice Stadium. Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
2.69 million
21
North Carolina Tar Heels
Nov 6, 2021; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels followers have fun on the sphere after the sport at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
2.74 million
20
Florida State Seminoles
Nov 24, 2018; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles followers watch the sport towards the Florida Gators through the second half of motion at Doak Campbell Stadium. Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
2.79 million
19
Miami Hurricanes
Sep 4, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Hurricanes followers react after Miami turned the ball over on downs through the third quarter towards the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
2.99 million
18
Michigan State Spartans
Oct 30, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans followers have fun after the sport towards the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
3.07 million
17
Oklahoma Sooners
Oct 9, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners followers through the sport towards the Texas Longhorns on the Cotton Bowl. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
3.22 million
81.5% of the inhabitants.
16
Tennessee Volunteers
Nov 6, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers large receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) celebrates with followers after the sport towards the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Subject. Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
3.27 million
15
Auburn Tigers
Oct 10, 2020; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers followers courageous the heavy rain and robust winds through the first quarter of the Auburn Tigers sport towards the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
3.27 million
14
Syracuse Orangemen
October 18, 2008; Tampa FL, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe (8) will get tackled as he runs with the ball by Syracuse linebacker Mike Mele (50) through the first half towards the Syracuse Orangemen at Raymond James Stadium. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
3.45 million
13
Texas A&M Aggies
Nov 6, 2021; Faculty Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies followers have fun an Aggies rating towards the Auburn Tigers within the fourth quarter at Kyle Subject. Texas A&M Aggies received 20 to three. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
3.87 million
12
Georgia Bulldogs
Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs followers have fun with Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Travon Walker (44) and offensive lineman Justin Shaffer (54) after defeating Michigan Wolverines within the Orange Bowl faculty soccer CFP nationwide semifinal sport at Arduous Rock Stadium. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
3.99 million
11
LSU Tigers
Sep 25, 2021; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; LSU Tigers followers cheer earlier than the sport towards the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Subject. Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
4.02 million
10
USC Trojans
Sep 11, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans followers react throughout a sport towards the Stanford Cardinal at United Airways Subject at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
4.46 million
9
Wisconsin Badgers
Dec 7, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers followers react to a landing towards the Ohio State Buckeyes through the first half within the 2019 Huge Ten Championship Recreation at Lucas Oil Stadium. Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
4.57 million
8
Alabama Crimson Tide
Oct 9, 2021; Faculty Station, Texas, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide followers cheer towards the Texas A&M Aggies in second half at Kyle Subject. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
5.34 million
7
Oregon Geese
Nov 27, 2021; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Geese followers sing throughout a day trip through the second half towards the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium. The Geese received 38-29. Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
5.54 million
6
Florida Gators
Sep 18, 2021; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators followers cheer through the second half towards the Alabama Crimson Tide at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
5.89 million
5
Michigan Wolverines
Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A Michigan Wolverines fan reacts through the third quarter within the Orange Bowl faculty soccer CFP nationwide semifinal sport towards the Georgia Bulldogs at Arduous Rock Stadium. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
6.26 million
4
Penn State Nittany Lions
Apr 23, 2022; College Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin high-fives a younger fan previous to the Blue White spring sport at Beaver Stadium. Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
6.36 million
3
Texas Longhorns
Sep 21, 2019; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns followers within the second half at Darrell Ok Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
7.82 million
2
Notre Dame Combating Irish
Sep 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Notre Dame Combating Irish followers have fun a landing by lifting every up through the first half towards the Wisconsin Badgers at Soldier Subject. Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
8.21 million
1
Ohio State Buckeyes
Sep 18, 2021; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes followers cheer from the stands towards the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Ohio Stadium. Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whole Variety of Estimated Followers
11.26 million
