As the summer heat ramps up, football fans across the country are already counting down the days until kickoff. But a fresh study from Civic Science has settled an age-old debate: which version of the sport do Americans really love more? Turns out, the answer depends entirely on where you live.
The data shows that 21 U.S. states have a stronger preference for college football over the NFL, while 29 states lean toward the professional league. The findings paint a clear geographic picture — the college game dominates in the South and parts of the Midwest, while the NFL reigns supreme everywhere else.
College Football's Heartland
The states that favor college football read like a map of Saturday-afternoon traditions. From the SEC strongholds of Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana to the Big Ten country of Michigan and Ohio, these are places where stadiums like Death Valley and the Big House are practically sacred ground. Other college-first states include Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and South Dakota.
It's no surprise that many of these states lack an NFL franchise — or that the ones that do, like Florida and Ohio, still have rabid college fanbases that often outshine the pros. In places like Alabama and Mississippi, college football isn't just a sport; it's a way of life.
The NFL's Turf
On the flip side, the NFL dominates in 29 states, including the entire West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington — though Oregon is a college state, Washington is NFL), the Northeast, and much of the Southwest. Texas, despite its legendary high school and college football culture, surprisingly prefers the pros. Other NFL-leaning states include New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, and North Carolina.
The study's methodology didn't break down exact percentages, but the split is clear: the NFL has a broader national appeal, while college football inspires fierce regional loyalty.
What It Means for the 2026 Season
With the 2026 college football season just two months away and the NFL kicking off in mid-September, fans in these 21 states will be gearing up for Saturdays full of marching bands, tailgates, and rivalry games. Meanwhile, NFL markets will focus on Sundays and Mondays, with ESPN shuffling its analyst deck to cover both leagues.
For those in college-first states, the passion runs deep. Texas tops the 2026 talent rankings, but even the Longhorns' home state prefers the NFL — a reminder that college football's grip is strongest where tradition and community intersect.
So, where do you stand? Whether you bleed your alma mater's colors or live for Sunday's kickoff, one thing's certain: football season can't get here soon enough.
