Sports fandom in America is as diverse as the country itself, with varying levels of engagement across different sports and demographics. Recent data from CivicScience sheds light on how Americans follow the NFL and college football, revealing intriguing patterns based on gender, age, income, education, parental status, and living area.
Join the Conversation: Do you prefer the NFL or college football?
The survey involved over 17,000 respondents for the NFL and over 17,000 for college football. It highlights the distinct ways in which different groups engage with these sports, offering a snapshot of the American sports fan landscape.
When it comes to the NFL, 25% of respondents follow the league very closely, with a significant male majority of 68%. This contrasts with the 27% who do not follow the NFL at all, where women make up 69% of this group. The gender divide is stark, with men showing a stronger inclination towards the NFL.
Age also plays a role in NFL engagement. Those aged 35-54 are the most engaged, with 19% following very closely. Interestingly, the 65+ age group shows the highest percentage of those who follow somewhat closely, at 22%. This suggests that older fans may prefer a more moderate level of engagement.
Income levels further differentiate NFL followers. Those earning over $150,000 are the most likely to follow very closely, at 19%. Conversely, individuals earning less than $25,000 are more likely to not follow at all, at 20%. This indicates a correlation between higher income and greater NFL interest.
Education levels reveal another layer of complexity. Respondents with a bachelor’s degree are the most likely to follow the NFL very closely, at 25%. Meanwhile, those with less than a high school education are more likely to select ‘Other’ at 5%. This suggests that higher education levels may correlate with increased NFL interest.
Parental status also influences NFL engagement. Parents are the most likely to follow very closely, at 46%, while those without children are more likely to not follow at all, at 40%. This could reflect the social aspect of watching sports with family.
Living area adds another dimension to NFL fandom. Suburban residents are the most engaged, with 43% following very closely. In contrast, rural residents are more likely to not follow at all, at 31%. This highlights the suburban stronghold of NFL fandom.
Turning to college football, 18% of respondents follow very closely, with an even higher male majority of 73%. This mirrors the gender divide seen in NFL fandom, with men showing a stronger interest in college football.
Age-wise, college football sees a similar pattern to the NFL, with the 35-54 age group being the most engaged. However, the 65+ age group shows a higher percentage of those who follow somewhat closely, at 22%. This suggests that older fans may have a consistent interest in both NFL and college football.
Income levels again show a correlation with college football interest. Those earning over $150,000 are the most likely to follow very closely, at 20%. Meanwhile, individuals earning less than $25,000 are more likely to not follow at all, at 20%. This mirrors the income-related trends seen in NFL fandom.
Education levels reveal a similar pattern to the NFL. Respondents with a bachelor’s degree are the most likely to follow college football very closely, at 28%. Those with less than a high school education are more likely to select ‘Other’ at 8%. This suggests that higher education levels may correlate with increased college football interest.
Parental status also influences college football engagement. Parents are the most likely to follow very closely, at 49%, while those without children are more likely to not follow at all, at 38%. This reflects the family-oriented nature of college football fandom.
Living area shows a slightly different pattern for college football. City residents are the most engaged, with 33% following very closely. In contrast, rural residents are more likely to not follow at all, at 29%. This highlights the urban appeal of college football.
Overall, the data reveals that sports fandom in America is deeply influenced by demographic factors. Gender, age, income, education, parental status, and living area all play significant roles in shaping how individuals engage with the NFL and college football. These insights offer a nuanced understanding of the American sports fan landscape, highlighting the diverse ways in which different groups connect with their favorite sports.
This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights. Our AI content creation tool, DataScribe, supported the article.
