According to Emory University professor, Michigan has a top 10 fanbase in CFB

Studies are done every day at universities around the country.

Some, to be honest, are boring. Others can be quite interesting.

Consider us interested in a piece put out by Emory University professor Michael Lewis prior to the 2018 college football season that ranked each college football fanbase and how great — or terrible — they are.

Related: Purdue has the worst fanbase of any Power 5 school

One may believe that when it comes to the top fanbases, Alabama and Ohio State would have to be up there.

Well, you’d be wrong according to this article.

The piece isn’t based solely on winning. Because, winning just means that more fans get behind you. That’s easy. But what about if a team like Michigan went on an Alabama-like run this past decade? Well, Lewis believes that Michigan’s fanbase — and brand — is stronger.

Here’s a point that’s made:

“I’ll get back to Alabama in a later entry. But, the key point is that we are looking at market place performance after controlling for team success.  I think the omission of Alabama is particularly brutal because Auburn finishes in the top ten in position 9.  The question that needs to be asked (and we will keep this in the SEC) is what would happen if Tennessee had a run like Alabama’s.  Would the Volunteer fan base be as intense as the Crimson Tide?  How about LSU?  Or Georgia?  As someone who has lived in SEC territory for the better part of the last twenty years I think the answer is yes.”

Here’s the top 10 list:

1. Texas
2. Tennessee
3. Notre Dame
4. LSU
5. Oklahoma
6. Georgia
7. Michigan
8. Oregon
9. Auburn
10. Florida

There you have it. Michigan is in the top 10.

Some Wolverines fans will of course go bonkers about how the school isn’t ranked No. 1.

But, so are Crimson Tide fans. And Buckeye fans.

The entire article can be read here.

Kevin Cunningham

Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.