Ducks Digest

Who Has the Best Football Fan Base in the Big Ten?

Who are the most loud, the most loyal fans in the Big Ten? With Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA making the move from the Pac-12, the Big Ten just added some die-hard fans from the West Coast.
Arden Cravalho|
Nov 24, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks fans hold up signs during the second half against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks fans hold up signs during the second half against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports | Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

Oregon DucksWisconsin BadgersOhio State BuckeyesMichigan WolverinesNebraska CornhuskersUSC TrojansUCLA BruinsWashington HuskiesIllinois Fighting IlliniIndiana HoosiersIowa HawkeyesMichigan State SpartansPurdue BoilermakersPenn State Nittany LionsMinnesota Golden GophersMaryland TerrapinsRutgers Scarlet Knights

The Oregon Ducks are blessed to have such a great fan base to support their athletics. You can walk around anywhere in this world and come across someone rockin' a green and yellow hat, shirt, jersey. It all has to do with the success of Oregon football over the last few decades. But which football fan bases in the Big Ten stand out the most now?

5. Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin Badgers fans hold their cell phones with flashlights on
Oct 28, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers fans hold their cell phones with flashlights on as the Ohio State Buckeyes huddle during the second half of the NCAA football game at Camp Randall Stadium. Ohio State won 24-10. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA

The cheese state loves its football. The last time the Badgers won the Big Ten championship was in 2012 but you can never put it past them. The state of Wisconsin lives by football on all levels.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes fan before the game against the Missouri Tigers at AT&T Stadium
Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes fan before the game against the Missouri Tigers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports | Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

THE Ohio State is still going to be THE Ohio State.

3. Michigan Wolverines

Michigan Wolverine fans take to the streets to celebrate their win at the College Football Playoff national championship
Michigan Wolverine fans take to the streets to celebrate their win at the College Football Playoff national championship against Washington in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. | Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK

The reigning national champions have a lot to prove after Jim Harbaugh left to the NFL... but that won't stop their fans.

2. Nebraska Cornhuskers

A Nebraska Cornhuskers fan during the second quarter against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Memorial Stadium.
Sep 16, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; A Nebraska Cornhuskers fan during the second quarter against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports | Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Do you remember Jim Carrey in "Yes Man" when he went to a Nebraska game with a corncob on his head? If you haven't, you should. Speaks for itself.

Plus, Husker fans also haven't stopped showing up to games despite no bowl appearances since 2016. That's devotion.

1. Oregon Ducks

Oregon Ducks fans celebrate after a touchdown against the Liberty Flames in the second half during the Fiesta Bowl
Oregon Ducks fans celebrate after a touchdown against the Liberty Flames in the second half during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Jan. 1, 2024. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY

Most Big Ten programs are in for a big surprise when they head into Autzen Stadium and realize how crazy Oregon fanatics can truly be. Michigan State, Ohio State, Illinois, Maryland. A whole new environment for those programs.

The USC Trojans and the Penn State Nittany Lions get the honorable mention nod. How about the worst football fan bases that don't seem to get much support? The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Northwestern Wildcats immediately come to mind.

Stay up to date on all things Oregon Ducks by visiting Oregon Ducks on SI daily and following Oregon Ducks on SI on Facebook and X.

Published | Modified
Arden Cravalho
ARDEN CRAVALHO

Arden Cravalho is a reporter for Oregon Ducks on SI. He has been writing extensively about college athletics beginning in 2018, specifically as the lead writer and editor for SB Nation's 'The Slipper Still Fits.' Arden is a graduate of Gonzaga University and brings a deep understanding of college sports to his writing. Residing in San Francisco, California, Arden is also a part of the California Golden Bears' athletic department as a Ticket Sales and Service Account Executive. His overall experience and dedication to college athletics are evident in his insightfulness and analysis throughout all of his work.

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