Why NCAAF is a Common Favorite Sport in the US
NCAA Football is arguably the most popular college sport in the United States, and there are plenty of reasons why. While football in itself is an iconic sport for Americans, with the NFL garnering hundreds of millions of views every year, NCAA Football offers a number of things that you can only witness by watching college football.
For those who are looking to learn more about all the hype surrounding NCAA Football, here are a few of the things that make NCAA Division I Football unparalleled in terms of the entertainment it brings to football fans everywhere.
The Extensive History
NCAA Football generally refers to Division I Football, also known as the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), which is composed of the schools that we often see on TV. Division I is likewise normally where the highest caliber of players in the college level are found.
College football is a sport that has been around for more than a century. The first college football game was played in 1869, and it was in 1876 when the rules of college football that we know of today were written.
Given college football’s profound history, there are also schools that have made their mark in the sport. Like any sport in any level, college football is in part defined by the teams that have found immense success ever since the game’s inception.
Although some of these historical powerhouses are no longer as relevant in today’s game, the impact they had on college football is undeniable. The teams with the most championships in college football history are Yale, with 18, Alabama and Princeton, with 15 each, Notre Dame, with 13, and Michigan and Southern California, with 9 each.
Intense Rivalries
Of course, for a sport that has spanned as long as NCAA football, the development of rivalries is inevitable. There are a number of teams who seemingly have just gotten in each other’s way year after year, thus forming bitter rivalries that may even carry over beyond the football field.
Games between rival schools are a great source of entertainment even for those who aren’t necessarily fans of the schools involved. Facing off against rival schools often brings out the best not just out of the players, but also out of the fans, who go all out to prove that their team is better than the opposition.
Some of the most popular rivalries in college football are between Alabama and Auburn, Ohio State and Michigan, and Texas and Oklahoma. Matches between these teams are as intense as it can be and the hatred between each team’s respective fanbases is palpable.
The Bowl System
In 2014, the playoff system of NCAA football was overhauled, and the College Football Playoff which implements a unique bowl system was introduced.
Most leagues often have a tournament-style postseason composed of a great number of teams battling it out until the finals where the last two teams standing get to face off for the championship. On the other hand, in NCAA Football, only four teams compete for the national championship. However, there are other bowl games where other teams also face off for bragging rights and trophies.
The four teams that compete in the College Football Playoff as well as the other teams that compete in the bowl games are handpicked by a Selection Committee. The Selection Committee is composed of high-ranking officials which include former coaches and current athletic directors of various programs, as well as other former football players who have made an impact on the sport.
The Selection Committee meets throughout the season to determine the teams that they deem to be the most prolific in college football. They then match these teams up based on a number of factors such as their performance, the compelling storylines involved, and the overall entertainment value that these matchups can offer.
Unmatched Campus Atmosphere
School pride is always at stake during NCAA Football games. Traditionally, games are flocked by students and alumni of the respective schools that compete and these fans don’t hold back when showing off their school pride.
In college football games, emotions run high not just within the field, but also on the stands as fans get creative in cheering for their teams and making sure that the opposing team is demoralized. Even students who aren’t interested in football take the time to support their school’s squad and it just goes to show how impactful NCAA Football is.
The Best Football Players in the College Level
NCAA Division I Football is home to the best football players at the college level. Most of these players end up playing in the NFL and leaving their marks on the world of professional football. In fact, as of 2020, 89% of the players on NFL active rosters are players that have their roots in NCAA Division I Football.
Some of the NFL’s most recognizable icons likewise come from NCAA Football programs. For example, Tom Brady is a former Michigan Wolverine, Jerry Rice played for the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, and many more.
The presence of NCAA Football persists with today’s stars in the NFL as well. Patrick Mahomes was a centerpiece for the Texas Tech Raiders before he was drafted, and Lamar Jackson made his name known with the Louisville Cardinals before going to the NFL, to name a few.
