As the college football season reaches its finale with a national championship showdown between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes, the sport’s television footprint is drawing as much attention as what’s happening on the field.
Indiana’s historic 15-0 run, led by Fernando Mendoza becoming the program’s first Heisman Trophy winner, has helped cap a season that delivered both chaos and compelling storylines.
According to data released by Nielsen, college football’s most engaged media markets still skew heavily toward tradition but not without a few surprises.
Top 10 College Football markets
No. 10 — Jacksonville
Tucked near the Florida-Georgia line, Jacksonville sits at the crossroads of SEC loyalty. The Florida Gators dominate the core fan base with strong spillover support for the Georgia Bulldogs and other SEC and ACC programs.
No. 9 — New Orleans
Few cities blend culture and college football like New Orleans. The LSU Tigers once again drove ratings amid a headline-grabbing coaching transition from Brian Kelly to Lane Kiffin, while the Tulane Green Wave added a College Football Playoff run.
No. 8 — Knoxville
In East Tennessee, loyalty to the Tennessee Volunteers remains unwavering. Rocky Top still carries national weight.
No. 7 — Atlanta
Home to the College Football Hall of Fame, Atlanta continues to serve as the sport’s unofficial capital. Add in marquee kickoff games and a renewed competitiveness from the Georgia Tech, and the market’s strength is no surprise.
No. 6 — Oklahoma City / No. 5 — Tulsa
Boomer Sooner territory remains one of the sport’s strongest. The Oklahoma Sooners drive viewership statewide, while curiosity around the Oklahoma State Cowboys kept fans tuned in weekly to see if Mike Gundy would be fired.
No. 4 — Greenville–Spartanburg–
Despite being impacted by Hurricane Helene, this Carolina corridor remains deeply invested. The Clemson Tigers and Appalachian State Mountaineers anchor one of the most passionate regional markets in the country.
No. 3 — Dayton / No. 2 — Columbus
Ohio’s pull is unmistakable. Both markets orbit the Ohio State Buckeyes, reinforcing the program’s national reach well beyond Columbus.
No. 1 — Birmingham
At the epicenter of the sport, Birmingham lives and breathes college football. The rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers fuels unmatched engagement—and cements Alabama as college football’s heartland. Roll Tide or War Eagle?
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- Donald Trump set to attend College Football Playoff national championship
- Jaguars say Travis Hunter will play both ways again next season
- Indiana’s title run pushes CFP National Championship tickets to historic levels
- Demond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin being fired by LSU