Over One-Third of Baby Boomers Love This College Sports Team

There’s something undeniably exciting about college sports, whether you’re watching in-person or parked in front of your TV: the intense camaraderie and feeling like you’re part of something greater, the smells and sounds at the tailgate, the excitement of last-second buckets or close-call touchdowns. Watching college sports also brings you more than just great plays. In 1982, the band took the field before the Cal vs. Stanford game ended, causing chaos, confusion, and a few good laughs. During the 2006 LSU vs. South Carolina game, the referee laid out the South Carolina quarterback. What we love about college sports is that nothing can be expected. Really, that’s why people of all ages watch — to have some fun and enjoy the surprise. (Here are the most popular football teams according to baby boomers, ranked.) 

Many baby boomers watch college sports. Some are doing so to connect with their younger family members, others to support their alma maters, and some just for the genuine love of the game. Regardless of the reason, they tune in every week (in season, of course). But we were curious: what’s the most popular college sports teams for people in this generation (1946-64). To answer our question, 24/ Wall St. looked at data from YouGov, an online polling service. Specifically, we used its second quarter 2024 study that looks closely at the most popular college sports teams baby boomers root for regularly. No matter what this descending order list looks like, there will be controversy over number one. 

Why Is This Important? 

Many people are more passionate about college sports than they are about professional sports. College sports programs are huge revenue generators for the schools themselves, and we’ve seen increasing investments in sports equipment, facilities, and even coaching staff. But college revenue is actually controversial. College athletes are now looking to get paid, especially considering the number of sponsors many college teams work with. (These college football stars are cashing in the biggest NIL deals.)

15. Penn State Nittany Lions

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 26%

Competing as members of the Big 10, the Penn State Nittany Lions are one of the most popular schools in the country. The school has 31 varsity teams, which makes it one of the most athletic schools on this list. The team’s long-standing popularity and success have undoubtedly influenced many baby boomers to watch whenever Penn State appears on nationally televised games. 

14. Clemson Tigers

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 27%

Located in South Carolina, the Clemson Tigers have 21 different varsity teams, many of which are former national champions. The school has won three national titles in football, the latest coming in 2018, when the team beat its rivals, Alabama. The school has appeared in the last six college playoffs and frequently wins more than 60% of its games, which places it in the top 25 all-time as far as winning percentage in college football. 

13. Tennessee Volunteers 

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 27%

Another popular school beloved by baby boomers, the Tennessee Volunteers, or “Vols” for short, is a huge name in college athletics. Fielding 20 different varsity teams, the SEC has long been a Tennessee hunting group as the school looks to dominate in basketball, football, baseball, and every other sport it offers. The school’s rivalry with the University of Alabama is almost always broadcast on national television whenever college football season is around. 

12. Michigan Wolverines 

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 29%

Whether it’s the University of Michigan’s rivalry with Michigan State or Ohio State, the Wolverines are one of the country’s most popular college sports teams. With 29 varsity teams, the Wolverines also field one of the most athletic programs in the country. The football team, the school’s most beloved sport, has won 1,004 games, the most wins of all time, and has won 12 national championships. 

11. North Carolina Tar Heels

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 29%

Running the oldest collegiate program in the Carolinas, North Carolina’s Tar Heels are immensely popular with baby boomers. The school has won a whopping 50 NCAA Division One team national championships across a variety of its 28 varsity sports, which is eighth all-time. Better yet, the school has won 52 individual national titles, further validating why it’s so popular with baby boomers who have watched its many successes. 

10. Florida Gators

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 29%

If you’ve ever heard of or visited the University of Florida, you know that the Florida Gators are known for being one of the most dominant football and basketball schools in the south, making it unsurprisingly popular with baby boomers. One big reason might be that Florida is full of baby boomers who often have children and grandchildren who attend the school, which helps drive even more popularity to its 19 athletic programs. 

9. Michigan State Spartans

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 29%

Michigan State University is one of the largest schools in the Midwest. The Michigan State Spartans are frequently ranked in basketball and football. Even the ice hockey team has had many dominant seasons. These are just a few of the 23 different varsity sports programs the college offers. One of the school’s most famous athletes, Magic Johnson, went on to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, while the basketball team’s head coach, Tom Izzo, is one of the most prominent in the country. 

8. Indiana Hoosiers

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 29%

The Indiana Hoosiers are well-known in the college sports world. Having one 24 NCAA championships, Hoosiers are loved by baby boomers. Once coached by the infamous Bob Knight, the university’s basketball team has won five NCAA championships, and its 1976 team remains the last undefeated NCAA men’s basketball champion. The school is also highly regarded for its soccer program and regularly leads players to the NWSL. 

7. Alabama Crimson Tide

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 29%

There’s almost nowhere you can go in Alabama without hearing the words “Roll Tide,” which is why it appears on this list for baby boomers. The team’s 100,077-seat football stadium is one of the largest in the country and further validates why the Crimson Tide is so popular among the boomer crowd. Better yet, the team’s rivalry with Auburn is one of the best in all college sports. 

6. Arkansas Razorbacks 

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 30%

Of course, the Arkansas Razorbacks — as a staple SEC team — made the cut. The university has 19 different varsity sports teams. While its football and basketball programs are the highlight, baseball and softball both influence the Razorbacks’ popularity. The baseball team has even reached every postseason NCAA tournament since 2003 and have reached the College World Series twice in that same period. 

5. Georgia Bulldogs

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 31%

Home to 21 different sports programs, the University of Georgia has the fifth most popular college sports program with baby boomers. In its long history, the college has won 48 national championships across its 21 sports programs and 173 SEC championships. Students of the school have even gone on to win 56 Olympic medals, which highlights just how strong of a sports program the Georgia Bulldogs have. 

4. Texas Longhorns

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 34%

Across 21 different sports, the Longhorns are one of the biggest brands in collegiate athletics, which no doubt plays a role in the school’s popularity with baby boomers. The school’s football team is ranked 2nd for all-time wins in history with 891 wins, second only to Nebraska. And more than anything else, they’re fun to watch.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 35%

One of the largest universities in the country, The Ohio State University, also has one of the biggest athletic programs. Ohio State is also among only seven schools to win an NCAA national title in baseball, basketball, and football. With 33 different varsity teams, the Ohio State Buckeyes have lots of success. The football team consistently ranks in the top 25 of football and draws big ratings around the country due to its die-hard fanbase. 

2. Navy Midshipmen

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 37%

If it comes as a surprise to see Navy Midshipmen in the number two spot, remember that plenty of baby boomers served in the Navy. As such, this school and its 36 varsity sports teams are easy favorites among the baby bomber audience. Best of all, the Army-Navy annual football game is one of the most watched in college sports, even for those who aren’t rooting for either team. 

1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 39%

When you think about sports teams that drive fans up the wall, Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish undoubtedly comes to mind. It is one of the most beloved and hated sports programs all at once, and fans of the Fighting Irish have plenty to be proud of. One of the best programs in college football history, Notre Dame also has a very competitive basketball program, which is just two of the 26 total athletic programs the school offers. 

The post Over One-Third of Baby Boomers Love This College Sports Team appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..