Do any Brits follow American College Football?
Posted by tommy_two_tone_@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 98 comments
Might be a stupid question either way. Do you or anyone you know there ever watch American college football? I know some probably follow the NFL.. but for a lot of us in the south, NFL pales in comparison to the greatness that is College Football. I understand that you wouldn’t have much if anything tying you to the teams, but just curious if anyone follows along for fun.
Middleand-Leg@reddit
No mate. Don’t be ridiculous. I’m amazed anyone watches it.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Well over 100 million people watch it. it’s professional athletes playing a sport we like.
Middleand-Leg@reddit
Well OK I’m not amazed Americans watch it (FREEDOM!) but I mean the rest of the world.
Fair play to you though 100million people watching students play American football is a marketing achievement like no other. Best of luck…
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Well, they’re adult professional athletes. Nearly the same thing as the NFL lmao. Have a great day
Rico1983@reddit
I'm not arguing, but they're pointedly not professional, are they? Barring some exceptions, the majority receive little to no remuneration for playing and therefore cannot be defined as professional.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
What do you mean barring some exceptions? Do you know how many college athletes are paid in the United States? Some of these guys are getting millions of dollars a year. Most big schools will have collectives that get a ton of kids paid good money to play ball, even if they’re not stars. They are now professional athletes. They have sponsorship deals, paychecks, everything every other pro athlete gets.
Rico1983@reddit
Fair enough, it's been a while since I paid any attention to college football; I'm probably basing my thoughts on the South Park episode where they compared NCAA athletes to slaves.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
That was very true for a very long time. Relatively new thing to allow students to use their name image and likeness to make money. Like 2019 I think. But in terms of speed, skill, and size, they’re so close to the nfl that it was basically highway robbery for these schools to make so much without paying players. (Some schools paid players the whole time)
Rico1983@reddit
Oh absolutely agree - especially when you consider the amount of money these schools were making off the back of those players.
not1or2@reddit
College football is kids isn’t it? Why would anyone in the uk watch it? I know one friend who follows nfl, college? No.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Like 18-26ish age range.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
And actually I don’t know 😂 it is a bit more competitive. Regional rivalries. Also, I don’t have an nfl team in my city. But I have an SEC football team.
not1or2@reddit
Ask yourself why would anyone in the uk have any interest in it? Do you watch Uni netball tournaments from the uk?
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Does that get over 20million viewers? I mean I’m not hating, I’m just asking if one of the largest sports in our country was enjoyed anywhere else. And it seems like some people do watch it
not1or2@reddit
I’ve just looked through the comments, so far no one in the uk has said they watch it or have any interest. As someone else said, who in america watches any cricket?
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Look again idiot. Also plenty of Americans watch cricket.
not1or2@reddit
Charming. No need to be rude. But then I suppose I shouldn’t expect much else.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Listen to yourself lmao
not1or2@reddit
Look at what you write, idiot?
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
It's massive in the states because two things:
There's no real concept of leagues with promotion and relegation.
You can be many hundreds of miles from your nearest NFL/MLB/etc team, so you support what you can.
We - by accident - ended up at a college game, think it was Tuscaloosa? Bloody hell, was something like a 100,000 people stadium.
not1or2@reddit
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, do Americans watch uk uni netball or basketball? No one is really interested in nfl let alone college American football, they all watch proper football, or rugby.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Oh yeah, that’s bama. Those people take it REAL seriously
BastardsCryinInnit@reddit
Very generally?
No.
NFL is barely a thing. There's more Trekkies than NFL fans.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
That’s pretty much what I imagined. Honestly don’t even know what trekkies is 😂
mr-dirtybassist@reddit
Nope
Agitated_Ad_361@reddit
Tried watching American Football once and it wasn’t for me
-You_Cant_Stop_Me-@reddit
3 hours of tedium for a 1 hour game that is split into quarters.
Captainsamvimes1@reddit
Follow what?
-You_Cant_Stop_Me-@reddit
They mean University Hand Egg games.
JDoE_Strip-Wrestling@reddit
It'd literally be deemed as noncy (paedophile) if any bloke in England said:
"I am interested in + actively watch my local college students play sports, at their college". 😂😂😂
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
That’s hilarious lmaoo I mean most are like 19-26 and bigger, faster and stronger than 99% of the rest of us so they’re not like kiddies 😂
JDoE_Strip-Wrestling@reddit
Still - That doesn't matter. 👍
Seriously mate... If you come to England, but go into any pub and say that "You enjoy watching students play sports at your local college"
=
You would literally get beaten-up for being a paedo! Lol
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
That’s weird. Brother. There are whole states who almost care more about highschool football than all the rest. Imagine explaining that one.
JDoE_Strip-Wrestling@reddit
If you think I'm exaggerating...
Create a new topic, literally just quoting what I've said, and ask people if it's true :: And I guarantee you it'll just be confirmed as basic standard, of what'd happen if you said that in any British pub! Lol
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
I mean I’ll take your word for it. Don’t reckon I’ll be around any English pubs anytime soon, but when I do I’ll keep it in mind.
JDoE_Strip-Wrestling@reddit
Good lad. 🍻🏴👍
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
That’s weird.
FenianBastard847@reddit
When I was in Atlanta GA I went to Athens to watch the football. It was very exciting😊
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Sanford Stadium is an electric place to see a game, that’s awesome! Do you remember who they were playing?
FenianBastard847@reddit
Georgia Tech
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
That was probably a fun one. Athens one of the best places to see a game.
Low_Understanding_85@reddit
I enjoy the NFL, and I will watch highlights of the ncaa championship game every year.
They way your guys say Notre Dame really puts me off though 😉
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
😂 I’ve always thought about that. They pronounce it like that officially too for some reason 😂
Low_Understanding_85@reddit
A college founded by a Frenchman, pronounced in phonetical English and nicknamed "The fighting Irish"
None of it makes sense, which is very American.
I have to admit, I kinda have a soft spot for them because of how bonkers it all is.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
There is a lot of mispronouncing French here. A LOT. I’m currently in a city named after a city in France.. it is not pronounced the same and it has been embarrassing 😂
Speedbird223@reddit
As a Brit that spent a lot of my University days at US universities (and subsequently moved here) the reaction I got that in the UK I was on the “varsity hockey team” was astonishment, and that I must be some elite tier athlete…
In reality I was mostly hungover on Sunday mornings playing in pajama bottoms…
The obsession with University sports in the US is, to anyone outside the US baffling.
There are some funny statistics out there, such as the most attended match that Manchester United ever played in was an exhibition game at Michigan State where the capacity is something like 115,000.
I think if 115 people showed up to any University sports event of any kind in the UK (bar the Varsity Game or the Boat Race) it’s be some kind of miracle!
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Yeah I bet that raised some eyebrows over here 😂 you’ve seen them. They’re not little kids 😂 over 110 million Americans are college football fans. It is a bit wild
el_duderino_316@reddit
Do you watch the yearly rugby match between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge? No? Exactly.
Icy_Consideration409@reddit
That’s a terrible comparison.
College football in the U.S. is a billion dollar plus industry. The top P4 conferences form a block that’s bigger in value and average support than most professional soccer leagues in Europe.
8 of the 10 largest stadiums in the world are U.S. college stadiums.
There are 12 college stadiums larger than Wembley.
If someone watches top tier professional sport in the UK, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t watch U.S college football.
el_duderino_316@reddit
University sport v university sport. Just because one has been commercialised within an inch of its life, it doesn't change that fact.
Icy_Consideration409@reddit
It does, because that commercialization brought a huge difference in standard between college athletes on the U.S. and UK.
el_duderino_316@reddit
UK university athletes are generally Olympians, so that's not really true.
The athletes who go into the major sports (football, rugby and cricket) tend to go straight into the sport, rather than university.
Icy_Consideration409@reddit
That’s the entire point. You are making my point for me.
In the UK a talented school kid will generally go straight into professional sport.
In the U.S., college football IS professional sport. With the best teams being the equivalent of say the EFL Championship. So again, if you are a fan of professional sport in the UK… U.S. college football provides the same level of competition you enjoy in the UK.
Shoddy-Reply-7217@reddit
Do you follow our hundreds of lower league local football teams (what you call soccer)?
No? Right.
Why would we follow random people we know nothing about, from a place we don't have a connection to, in a sport that isn't even that popular (compared to football, rugby or cricket)?
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Just a question, bud.
Shoddy-Reply-7217@reddit
Haha. I said exactly what everyone else was saying but just a bit more harshly.
Apologies for possible over-reaction to the amount of American exceptionalism we see on Reddit.
(And it's lady, not bud ;)).
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Bud is gender neutral, bud.
Shoddy-Reply-7217@reddit
Whatever..don't get your knickers in a twist.
Icy-Belt-8519@reddit
My brother follows some American football, I think just the highest level? I dunno I don't pay attention 😂
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Most likely NFL 😂 sounds like
Icy-Belt-8519@reddit
I asked, he said just nfl, cause everything else is to hard to find, so maybe he would, and now he's confused why I'm randomly asking 😂
MintyMarlfox@reddit
Follow Texas Tech, but lived in Texas for 5 years so more of an exception to the rule.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
That’s what’s up.
originalcinner@reddit
I'm a Brit, but since 2004 I've lived in the US. It's hard to escape the constant TV barrage of college football.
And yet. My answer is still "no" ;-)
ErinClaymores@reddit
Same experience when I was living in the US.
Brits living in the UK have no allegiance to any US college team, so anyone into American Football will follow NFL teams that have TV coverage in the UK.
OllyDee@reddit
During my entire 40+ years I’ve only ever met one person who expressed an interest in this particular very American sport, and I’m not convinced he was serious. He was about the closest thing to what American might call Jock, or what I would call a “Barry big-balls”.
JK_UKA@reddit
I’m more interested in college football than I am in the NFL. Sky sports do show a match occasionally (notre dame are on this weekend) but I pay for an American sports service legit to watch all the games and all of the shows about it.
I don’t even have a team I support really, an underdog winning is always fun to see, a big upset like NIU over notre dame was great last season
They used to show a lot matches for £10 a month, basically all espn games were on. But since that service shut down im paying much more for it
LensmanUK@reddit
I was lucky to see some high school and college football last time I was in the USA. FSU, go Noles!
Don't see any of it now I'm home.
RealAlePint@reddit
I’m American and was in London during the FSU/Alabama game. Absolutely nowhere to watch it and wasn’t going to sit around in the hotel playing games with a VPN.
mrshakeshaft@reddit
Why the fuck Were you expecting there to be?
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Go NOLES!
Mikeytee1000@reddit
No
syfimelys2@reddit
I’ve literally met anyone who watches American Football, let alone college stuff (I know college American football is massive)
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Do Americans follow high school county Cricket? There is your answer pal.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
Oh, I mean okay.
Atheissimo@reddit
All I know about college football is that UGA's mascot is Uga the bulldog, because one of the many Ugas was in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, a movie set in Savannah.
I think that sort of local colour is cool and it reminds me of lower league football in the UK, which I guess is the equivalent of College sports.
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
That makes sense. Could be the same. Some of these teams spend like $220million each year to operate
SnoopyLupus@reddit
In the U.K. we don’t give a crap about university teams in our own popular sports. My University footy pitch had no stands for spectators, because they didn’t get them.
Dio_Yuji@reddit
Probably about as many Americans who follow the English Championship, adjusted for population size
tommy_two_tone_@reddit (OP)
I feel that. Hey, I’d give it a go! Good sport is good sport!
Dio_Yuji@reddit
There are a number of Americans playing for various clubs in the Championship. Most notably, Josh Sargent, who is currently the league’s top scorer, though it’s very early in the season.
Icy_Consideration409@reddit
I started following Rice University back in the mid 80’s.
Back then, you would just get weekly scores in Touchdown magazine.
Supporting became much more convenient with the Internet.
FinneyontheWing@reddit
I've met a handful of people that stay up for the Superbowl but don't think I've ever known watch college stuff.
A mate of mine used to run a bar that showed things like baseball, American football, etc but it didn't last very long. It was called Bad Sports - but great food and a funny name only get you so far!
feeb75@reddit
I lived in Anderson S.C for 10 years..
Go Tigers.
hallerz87@reddit
NFL is growing in popularity but I don't think there will ever be any interest in college football. Generally speaking, youth sports aren't respected in the same way that they are in the US. UK doesn't have the same culture of scholarships and multi, multi million pound investments in university stadiums and the like. Talented football (soccer) players will join the youth academy of a professional team and work their way up within that system. Youth football might be televised e.g., under 18 england squad, but the general population aren't going to be following it.
slackingindepth3@reddit
I know a few who do?
wicket42@reddit
Not really and we don't really have anything like it. I wouldn't even call NFL mainstream in the UK and college football is apparently only streamed on a network called DAZN which I had never heard of until today.
We do have an annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge.
freebiscuit2002@reddit
Very few. Brits mostly have never heard of American colleges outside of the Ivy League. There's no reason to know about them.
Vinegarinmyeye@reddit
Nah, the fanbase for American football in the UK is small anyway, I've maybe met 2 people who vaguely give a shit about NFL... I've never encountered anyone, or heard of anyone, who follows College level.
I'm sure there are some folks here who do, but it's not a thing.
I don't even imagine it's televised here, I've never seen it on rotation on any of the sports channels.
Ill_Soft_4299@reddit
Ive followed the NFL since 86. Ive tried College football a few times, can't get into it. Not sure why.
Dennyisthepisslord@reddit
It is or was shown here on sky and tnt I think. I don't watch NFL so absolutely don't watch collage but remember seeing it on tv guides
But a quick Google suggests it hasn't got rights yet this year so can't be that popular
ChiswellSt@reddit
I don’t (more passing interest in the Super Bowl and attending one of the games in London) although I had a colleague who preferred college American football over the NFL. I think the main issue would be access to broadcasts here in the UK.
SeniorDisplay1820@reddit
I watch both, but I don't know anyone else who does
Immorals1@reddit
I was in Gainesville for a gators home match in 2018, the sport itself seemed to last forever and was mind numbingly boring, but the atmosphere, the tailgating etc was amazing apart from the very few people that got pissed off at a group of brits trying to get into the spirit of things!
essexboy1976@reddit
Very few. I'm not aware of any mainstream TV services that show it here. It would be considered a rather niche interest. The NFL is only vaguely on the radar, so college football would be even less followed.
benson1975@reddit
No.
ProfessionalEven296@reddit
I played american football for my college back in the day. No one was interested in watching students play games (even other students, or - too often - the players). For us, college was a place to learn, and sports were Wednesday afternoon.
In the usa now, and I never understand why the people in charge of games are paid more than the people in charge of education.
Bananasincustard@reddit
I've been following NFL for 12 years and never met or heard of a single person who follows college football myself