Top 5 States for College Football in 2022

By

American football is the most popular sport in the United States, and many fans are even more enthusiastic about college teams than about the professionals in the NFL. Despite the extreme prices for some high-profile games, it’s easy to find cheap college football tickets if you know where to look, which makes this version of the sport particularly appealing. Fans can use helpful websites like koobit.com to compare ticket prices and deals, and wherever you are in the US, there will be a college team not too far away. Every state has its own universities and local stars, but which states have the most to offer for fans of college football in 2022? 

Florida

The Sunshine State has always been a college football powerhouse, featuring numerous elite teams. Although some of the traditionally top-tier programs have struggled more than usual in recent decades, Florida is still home to a number of the best college teams in the country. The state does not always manage to retain its homegrown talent, with many top prospects leaving Florida each year to play in different parts of the country, but locals have high hopes for the near future. The Florida Gators are now under the experienced leadership of Billy Napier, who brought great success to his previous team, the Ragin’ Cajuns of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The Florida State Seminoles have also enjoyed a strong last decade, qualifying for multiple New Year’s Six bowl games and establishing themselves as the most consistent team in the state over recent years. Not many states can boast a slate of top teams as impressive as the Gators, the Seminoles, the UCF Knights and the Miami Hurricanes. 

Utah

Despite its relatively small number of universities, Utah has become a hotbed of college football skill. The Utah Utes have found incredible form over the past few seasons, winning the Pac-12 Championship in 2021 and making it to the Rose Bowl in the same year. The Utes were unfortunate to lose that bowl game by just a few points to a powerful Ohio State team, but their talent is undeniable – and the Utes are not the only program bringing sporting pride to the Beehive State. Brigham Young University (BYU), based in Provo, have also found their share of success in recent years. The Cougars won 10 games in the 2021 season and 11 in the year before, making their case as one of the most underrated teams in the FBS. Utah’s final top-tier program is the Utah State Aggies, who won 11 games in 2021 and cruised to the Mountain West title. 

Michigan

There are 2 teams in Michigan that dominate the state’s football rankings: the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans have won 6 national championships and 11 conference championships, including 9 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are even more successful, claiming 11 national titles and an incredible 43 conference championships, most recently the Big Ten title in 2021. Beyond the Power Five conferences, the state also boasts 3 more bowl teams: the Central Michigan Chippewas, the Western Michigan Broncos, and the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Few states have so many local powerhouses, and even fewer can enjoy a nearby team as dominant as the Wolverines. Football is huge in Michigan, and the remarkable achievements of its college teams form one of the state’s greatest sources of pride.

North Carolina

Fans might be surprised by the absence of Texas in this list, but in recent seasons the Lonestar State has not enjoyed the local college football success its passionate supporters have come to expect. North Carolina, on the other hand, seems to be in a dramatic ascendance in the sport. The North Carolina Tar Heels are boosted by one of the best QBs in college football, freshman Drake Maye. At one point this season, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud looked a lock for the Heisman Trophy. Maye’s campaign has been a shock for most viewers, but his abilities are irrefutable, and the Tar Heels’ victory in the ACC Coastal is due in large part to the young QB and his powerful arm. The NC State Wolfpack are another strong team in the state, with 11 conference championships to their name, and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons enjoyed perhaps their best ever season in 2021.

California

The most populated state in the country also features a huge number of talented college football teams. Like Florida, the top prospects in the state frequently leave sunny California to play elsewhere, but stars also come to the Golden State from across the country to play for its best programs. The USC Trojans have traditionally been one of the most successful teams, and they are always a danger despite their relatively underwhelming 2021 season. The UCLA Bruins have won the Pac-12 on 17 occasions, while the Stanford Cardinal have contested 30 bowl games, including 3 Rose Bowls in the last decade alone. These top California schools also benefit from some of the strongest coaching staffs in the country, with Lincoln Riley at USC and David Shaw at Stanford bringing great hopes to the fanbases of these historically dominant colleges.