Ranking College Football's largest spring game attendance marks over last two weeks
The last two weekends have featured the welcome addition of a myriad of spring games throughout the college football world.
There’s still plenty of time before the games begin to count, but the journey has officially begun for athletes, coaches and fans throughout the sport. We’re getting some clarity and peeking through the looking glass into some of the sports top programs, and how they’re shaping up for a run in 2023.
The crowds have come out in droves across the nation, and the numbers don’t lie, people are ready and roaring for football’s return. On3’s Hayes Fawcett shared with the Twitter world the top attendance marks for the games that have been played thus far, here’s who’s fanbase showed out for their spring game.
College Football’s largest spring game attendance marks:
- Ohio State Buckeyes — 75,122
- Penn State Nittany Lions — 68,000
- Nebraska Cornhuskers — 66,045
- Alabama Crimson Tide — 58,710
- Tennessee Volunteers — 58,473
- Oklahoma Sooners — 54,409
- Georgia Bulldogs — 54,000
- South Carolina Gamecocks — 51,000
- Clemson Tigers — 50,000
- Colorado Buffaloes — 47,277
- USC Trojans — 33,427
- Florida State Seminoles — 33,107
As you can see, there are plenty of usual suspects littered throughout the attendance rankings. The Big Ten claimed the top three spots, with Ohio State, Penn State and Nebraska feeling the football fever at the moment.
Of course, the Buckeyes came close to a trip to the national title game, but they’re hoping to get there next season. The immense support from their fans shows the passion of their fans, as Spencer Holbrook of Letterman Row explained.
“It shows the power of Ohio State football,” Holbrook said. “If the Buckeyes are on the field, people will show up to watch. And while there are plenty of questions surrounding the program right now, it has championship potential to show off.”
Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions are expected to take a leap towards title contention in 2023, while Matt Rhule have given a shot in the arm to the Cornhuskers with his arrival. The conference is in good hands moving forward.
“I think it just speaks volumes to the passion within the Big Ten conference. It shows the buy-in these schools have been able to create around the direction of their team and it’s a phenomenal recruiting tool to pitch to prospects an elite game day atmosphere,” On3’s JD PicKell said, regarding the Big Ten’s turnout. “I’m extra impressed by Ohio State being able to be at the top of this list. It’s a school that isn’t this ‘up-and-comer’ or some new player to the CFP conversation. It’d be very easy for that fanbase to say ‘thanks for the invite but we’ll be back when the games count.’
“Truly the epitome what makes CFB a different beast. 70,000+ at a practice. Pretty electric.”
While the top three spots were secured by the Big Ten, the SEC claimed some of the premier spots in the rankings as well, with Alabama (No. 4), Tennessee (No. 5), Georgia (No. 7) and South Carolina (No. 8) placing in the Top 10.
The Crimson Tide and Volunteers are entering 2023 with a ton of hype after missing the College Football Playoff last season, and Shane Beamer has an energy around him and the Gamecocks. Still, the kings of college football are the Bulldogs, and it’s no surprise their fans continue to rally around their program.
Perhaps the most surprising addition to the list are the Colorado Buffaloes. Deion Sanders has the vibes right around the program, and the support is unwavering. They may not contend next season, but a foundation for success is what they’ll be looking for.
College football is so close we can almost taste it. The spring games are like an appetizer, and fans more than enjoyed them. It’s going to be a fun ride until the beginning of the season.