<span style='color:blue'> Adults who follow college football</span>
2004- 35%
2003- 34%
2002- 35%
1999- 42%
1998- 35%
1997- 30%
<span style='color:blue'> Demographic 2004</span>
<span style='color:blue'> Gender </span>
Men- 46%
Women- 25%
<span style='color:blue'> Region </span>
Northeast- 26%
Midwest- 38%
South- 45%
West- 28%
Population density is greatest in the Northeast than any other region of country. A 26% adults population follow college football in the Northeast maybe twice as many of 45% of adults in the South region. To test this theory we take a look at the top 10 most popular college football teams.
With a help of superior population from the Northeast region the Notre Dame, an inferior team, is the most popular or most watch team in the nation. Penn State, another inferior team, drops to #5 from #3 in 1997. There are no national level football college teams in the Northeast. A vacuum is filled by following a recognizable national program like ND and Penn St even if they are suck, 26% of population that love college must get their fix. Army has to be one of the worst Division I-A football program in the past decade and yet they has TV contract of their own with ESPN.
Maryland is in the top 10 because they are in Washington, DC area, a top 8 TV market. USC got a lot of help from Los Angeles. Chicago is Big Ten market that keeps Michigan and Ohio State in the top 10-college world. Texas jump to top 4 because they were in the Rose bowl, finally a BCS bowl.
<span style='color:blue'> Top 10 Most popular college football teams</span>
<span style='color:blue'> Notre Dame---2004 (#1)---2003 (#1)---2002 (#1)---1999 (#1)---1998 (#1)---1997 (#1)</span>
Ohio State-----2004 (#2)---2003 (#4)---2002 (#3)---1999 (#5)---1998 (#6)---1997 (#7)
Michigan------2004 (#3)---2003 (#6)---2002 (#8)---1999 (#3)---1998 (#4)---1997 (#5)
Texas----------2004 (#4)---2003 (#8)---2002 (#6)---1999 (#10)--1998 (NR)--1997 (NR)
<span style='color:blue'> Penn State-----2004 (#5)---2003 (#3)---2002 (#4)---1999 (#4)---1998 (#3)---1997 (#3)</span>
LSU------------2004 (#6)---2003 (#9)---2002 (NR)--1999 (NR)--1998 (NR)--1997 (NR)
USC------------2004 (#7)---2003 (NR)--2002 (#2)---1999 (#2)---1998 (#2)---1997 (#6)
Wisconsin-----2004 (#7)---2003 (NR)---2002 (#7)--1999 (NR)--1998 (NR)--1997 (NR)
Tennessee-----2004 (#9)---2003 (NR)--2002 (NR)--1999 (NR)--1998 (NR)--1997 (NR)
<span style='color:blue'> Maryland------2004 (#9)---2003 (NR)--2002 (#10)--1999 (#9)--1998 (#7)---1997 (NR)</span>
<a href='http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=519' target='_blank'>Harris Poll</a>
