Where U of M Ranks Among Most Hardcore NCAA Tailgaters
College football fans are buzzing with anticipation, ready to celebrate their teams and kick off the tailgating season. Tailgating doesn’t belong exclusively to the NFL. Some enthusiasts might argue that…
College football fans are buzzing with anticipation, ready to celebrate their teams and kick off the tailgating season. Tailgating doesn't belong exclusively to the NFL. Some enthusiasts might argue that tailgating at college football games is even more enjoyable.
In a study from Crestline, a promotion and merchandise website, NFL and NCAA fans were surveyed regarding their tailgating habits. The goal was to identify which fanbases are the most hardcore and determine the key elements of the perfect tailgate.
Fans of the Michigan Wolverines are recognized as some of the most dedicated tailgaters in the NCAA. These die-hard fans turn the parking lots around the Big House and all over Ann Arbor into the ultimate tailgating hotspots. Ones that can go head-to-head with any other in the NCAA.
Michigan ranks among the top 20
Sitting comfortably at the 13th spot, Wolverine fans notched a score of 73.55 out of 100, per the study's findings. Shifting gears to the heated rivalries, the University of Michigan claims the upper hand in the all-time series against Ohio State, yet the Buckeyes take the lead in the tailgating scene at #8.
According to their study, the southern teams have the best college tailgates. Securing the top 5 spots are LSU (87.91), University of Tennessee (82.60), University of Texas (80.12), Texas A&M (80.12), and the University of Alabama (79.69).
The top conferences for most hardcore tailgaters
Given that over 100 Division I football teams are in the U.S., they decided to rank the top conferences based on their tailgating abilities. Emerging at the forefront is the SEC, securing a score of 82.24 out of 100. Completing the list are the Big 12 (78.09), Big Ten (76.20), ACC (75.54), and PAC-12 (74.70).
The study also highlights that nearly nine in ten football enthusiasts enjoy tailgating more than attending the actual game. Interestingly, one in four football fans believes a lackluster tailgating experience is worse than seeing their team perform poorly on the field. Adding a unique twist, the study reveals that one in ten football fans admit to having romantic encounters during tailgating events.
Take a look at what else the survey uncovered here.
