Rave Review Rank: #20

The biggest reason I am a USC fan is that my younger brother played offensive tackle there from 1989-92. In that time, he earned three Rose Bowl Rings, and I got to attend one of the games. We went to the Rose Bowl Parade, the tailgate parties, and the camaraderie and the rivalry of it all was just so much fun.

Growing up, my grandfather was a hater of Notre Dame. About 50 percent of the time in the 70s, USC was the only team that would beat Notre Dame, so we used to really enjoy that great rivalry. Legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson once said that, in his entire career, the 1975 USC Trojans team was the best he’d ever seen in college. They made other teams look like children.

Clay Mills

Datamax - D/FW USC Trojans

Rave Review Rank: #19

For a school that's known more for an on-campus river than any relevant football success, being a Bobcat fan can be tough. Loyalty is essential if you want to call yourself a Texas State fan. The team hasn't enjoyed a lot of success YET at the Division I level, but trust me, the potential is there.

Two years after I graduated from Texas State, the team had an absolutely epic run to the Division I-AA semifinals.  Seeing Texas State on National TV for multiple Saturdays in a row was surreal. The whole school was fanatical. And frankly, if then-coach David Bailiff would have had his head on straight, we could've gone all the way.

 I’ve followed a ton of teams over the years, but for me, the Bobcats will always be MY team, and nothing comes close to that 2005 playoff run. Eat 'em up, Cats!!

Jeff Walker

Datamax - Tyler Texas State Bobcats

Rave Review Rank: #18

SFA boasts and proves to have some of the toughest men. It is rumored the Lumberjack mascot is characterized after a young Robert Caldwell.

Lee Wheelington

Datamax - Hot Springs Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks | Glamour College of Photography, Snappin' Shutterbugs

Rave Review Rank: #17

I essentailly became a Baylor Bear in 1974 as a ball boy at the Baylor vs. Texas A&M homecoming game in Waco. At halftime, we were tasked with combing the field for some players' lost contact lens. We landed on A&M's side of the field where we promptly got mowed over by the exiting Fightin' Texas Aggie Band. That year, Baylor won the Southwest Conference for the first time in 50 years. My time at Baylor saw us lose to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, but beat Clemson in the Peach Bowl. My claim to fame, after being abused by the A&M Band, is that I’ve never lost at Kyle Field.  Sic 'em, WDE & WPS!!!

Robert Caldwell

Datamax - D/FW (Tyler Soon!) Baylor Bears

Rave Review Rank: #16

It's Burnt Orange. It's BEVO. It's atmosphere. It's Vince Young holding the football across the goal line beating USC! Longhorn fan to the core. It’s been ugly the last few years but in true fandom I’m still yelling Hook ‘Em!

Josh Sims

Datamax - Longview Texas Longhorns

Rave Review Rank: #15

Growing up in Little Rock, the Razorbacks were the only thing I knew. Growing up I would watch the games with friends, then I went to school there and continued to cheer them on. Throughout the years we have seen our ups and downs, but I never stopped cheering for them. Every year, I would never give up hope and say the same things all hogs fan would say. “There’s always next year!” or “We still have basketball to look forward to!” Currently, I am looking forward to the day when I can take Barrett (ETA. April 2021) to his first Razorback football game.

Cody Simon

Datamax - Little Rock Arkansas Razorbacks

Rave Review Rank: #14

I have been a longtime fan of the University of North Texas Mean Green and now The Tulane Green Wave since my daughter started college there. David Rhodes told me that if either of my teams ever make it to the National Championship game, he will give me the day off. Sometimes it’s not easy being green!

Sandra Roeling

Datamax - D/FW UNT Mean Green

Rave Review Rank: #13

I think the main thing that impresses me about TCU is that they do more with less talent than just about anybody in college football. Not that they don’t have a lot of talented players, but if you look at the recruiting numbers, TCU is not normally at the top of getting the most 4 and 5 star rated athletes. They also have a reputation of finding talent in small high schools that other schools overlook. That is a tribute to the hard work of the recruiting staff and the ability of the coaches to recognize talent. It is not uncommon for TCU to take a high school player who may have been a running back or a tight end or some other position and turn them into a star defensive lineman or linebacker etc.

They get their student-athletes to buy into the team concept to do what is best for the team. Also, Coach Gary Patterson is one of the longest-tenured head coaches in Division 1 football in the nation, having been the head coach since the year 2000 which has led to a lot of consistency and continuity in the program. They are a relatively small university that consistently competes at the highest level. These are the primary reasons I am always impressed with the TCU football program.

Doug "Coach" Evans

Datamax - Sulphur Springs TCU Horned Frogs

Rave Review Rank: #12

The moment that sticks out to me the most is 2011. We were not a shoe-in for the Championship. So they were going to announce it at midnight. Me and the rest of the Alabama drumline (about 50 people) were huddled around a small radio listening to Eli Gold, and at 11:59 he announced we were going to the championship against LSU. The room erupted! Alabama is my team because win or loss they never back down.

DSPN Editorial Note: We acknowledge the risk and potential backlash of ranking ANYTHING affiliated with Alabama Football Program outside of the Top 5.

Chris Bostick

Datamax - Tyler Alabama Crimson Tide

Rave Review Rank: #11

The Arkansas Razorbacks are the best because they capture the fandom of the entire State. Win or lose (losing more recently) they have the most loyal fan base in all of college football and you can see that on a cold, rainy Saturday in November.

Bobby Scheetz

Datamax - D/FW Arkansas Razorbacks

Rave Review Rank: #10

I grew up an anomaly. My step-dad was a UK Fan, my dad was an IU fan, my grandparents lived in West Lafayette, the home of the Purdue University Boilermakers! I grew up wearing an IU sweatshirt to the infamous IU – PU basketball games and saw some iconic moments, however, when it came time to commit to a school Purdue won my heart. The atmosphere, the education, the athletics (let’s be honest, the grandparents being in town was a great deal too). Purdue University is one of a kind. Seeing Purdue play Notre Dame in football or Purdue vs. IU is one of college sports' greatest spectacles in my opinion.

Grant Murray

Datamax - Little Rock Purdue Boilermakers

Rave Review Rank: #9

I have been a Baylor fan since I was born, am actually named after a Baptist preacher in Waco, TX when my folks were Bears! My most vivid memory is when the Bears beat the Longhorns in 1974 in what became known as the “Miracle on the Brazos." Baylor won the Southwest Conference and went to the Cotton Bowl that year for the first time in 50 years and I was there! To this day I have a desk ornament made of wood from the stadium bleachers from that year.

The Arkansas State Red Wolves are fighting to be relevant in the FBS football world. Nine winning seasons and nine bowl games in a row speak volumes on how far we have come…..yet the Razorbacks refuse to put us on their schedule and have for years….it’s time to have an intrastate game !!!

Dave Duke

Datamax - Little Rock Baylor Bears

Rave Review Rank: #8

As a raving Iowa State football fan, I have been waiting a long time for this season! Everyone likes an underdog, unless they are playing your team…LOL. Iowa State is a class act, starting with athletic director, Jamie Pollard. Coach Matt Campbell has created a new culture for Iowa State football. His ongoing theme is “When you fall in love with the process, the process will love you back.” I see a lot of similarities between Iowa State football and Datamax. As I prepare for my annual Datamax sales business plan, I am going to trust the Datamax process and good things will happen!

Mark Hahn

Datamax - D/FW Iowa State Cyclones

Rave Review Rank: #7

There are so many reasons why I am a OK State Cowboys fan. Simply put by Willie Nelson, “My Heroes have always been Cowboys." In my youngest days, I was a Dallas Cowboys fan ... when I moved to Oklahoma during junior high school, I was a rodeo cowboy fan ...  and then an OSU Cowboys fan. I graduated from OSU (1987), my daughter graduated there (2009), and my grandson graduates in 2022. Love our sayings, “Loyal and True," “ORANGE POWER!" “Pistols Firing," and who else has a coach with a mullet?? Go Pokes!

Robert Baker

Datamax - Tyler Oklahoma State Cowboys

Rave Review Rank: #6

Hands down favorite memory was my freshman year of college (2014) Ole Miss beat Alabama in the last seconds of the game. The whole stadium rushed the field, including me. It was a once in a lifetime memory. Crazy game!! One I’ll never forget.

Tiffani Smith

Datamax - Texarkana Ole Miss Rebels

Rave Review Rank: #5

My grandfather graduated OU in 1937 as a geologist. When he graduated he walked the original stadium bowl and picked out four seats. To this day, we still have those same four seats. I've grown up going to games, it's part of our family.

Brian Drexel

Datamax - D/FW Oklahoma Sooners

Rave Review Rank: #4

There are dozens of Lions, Tigers and Bears, but in all of college athletics there is only one Razorback. The passion runs deep and once you feel it, it never goes away! The Hog Call is one of the most recognizable chants in all of sports. Here are the basics: Raise your arms above your head during the "The Hog Call," yell "Wooo" and wiggle your fingers for a few seconds. Next, bring both arms straight down with fists clinched while yelling, "Pig." Then extend your right arm with the "Sooie." Repeat these steps two more times and finish by yelling"Razor-Backs" like this:

• Wooooooooo. Pig. Sooie!
• Wooooooooo. Pig. Sooie!
• Wooooooooo. Pig. Sooie! Razorbacks!

Tommy Goucher

Datamax - Little Rock Arkansas Razorbacks

Rave Review Rank: #3

At one point in time Alabama struggled as a football team. When Nick Saban showed up he completely changed the culture of the program. You have to love a program that can turn things around like that. It’s a winning tradition now and it’s all about the process as you will hear Saban say. I believe they’re the most focused team in college football and that’s what makes them great. It’s the mindset of each player. They can continue to be great and they can stay how they are, but each individual wants to be the very best on that team and keep refining on their skill set. This is what sets them apart…. especially from the other school in the state.

As Nick Saban says, “It’s like you make an A on a test and you say, ‘I can take it easy for two weeks and make a C on the next test and have a B average.’ That’s normal. It’s special for somebody to make an A on the test and say ‘I’m going to try to make the highest grade ever in the class.’ That’s not normal, but yet you have to promote that mindset to the people in the organization.” That’s what makes them different. Also, Roll Tide Roll.

Julie Robinson

Datamax - Jonesboro Alabama Crimson Tide

Rave Review Rank: #2

I grew up in Columbus Ohio about 20 minutes from the University. My dad and uncles were ushers at the games so I was able to attend every home game. That basically made a lasting impression on me. I attended college at Ohio State and went to several big time Ohio State vs Michigan games. I also attended the 2003 National Championship game against Miami and in 2014 against Oregon here in Dallas. When you grow up watching Ohio State games and most of your family and friends are fans or alumni, then it’s hard not to love the team.

The OSU marching band is another differentiator as there are very few bands that can perform to their level. Watching the games at Ohio Stadium with 100 plus thousand screaming fans attending and the marching band playing is an experience that you just cannot get at most places and it will always have a special place in my heart and in my life.

Curt Ralph

Datamax - D/FW The Ohio State University Buckeyes

Rave Review Rank: #1

I played linebacker and defensive end for TCU from 1974 to 1977. One game sticks out in my mind. It was the  annual “Revivalry” game between my Horned Frogs and the Baylor Bears. In the second quarter, situated at outside linebacker, I approached the line of scrimmage to wait for the snap.

The ball went into motion, almost immediately I noticed it being handed off to the tailback coming over the tackle opposite of me. I froze for a second, he didn’t come my way, so I just ran down the line as fast as I could, grabbing anything I could. I reached for his jersey (and missed), but ended up trying to grab the back of his pants. What I grabbed instead was the running back’s athletic supporter. I just held on to it. I didn’t realize what I had until that thing stretched. By the time the play was over, it was stretched out six feet or so. Once we got him on the ground, it shot right back at him like a rubber band. See the video and full story here.

Keith Judy

Datamax - Longview TCU Horned Frogs