Why are people so invested in College sports in the US?
College sports have a long-running tradition that precedes professional leagues for most if not all sports. That is an important thing to note because sports fandom is usually an inherited and familial thing. That doesn’t mean it’s the only reason people are obsessed with college games, but it is a factor.
One thing to think of with college sports is because it’s so historic, there’s so much diversity between teams, meaning that there are a lot of traditions, mascots, and even stadiums that are important to the fans, rarely seen in pro sports. Pro-teams have mascots, and college teams have unique ones, such as the Stanford Tree (the unofficial mascot) or the Ohio Buckeye. Additionally, many schools have obtuse traditions that pro-teams are much less likely to ever have due to the modernized formats and constant rotations of stadiums or even cities for teams.
Another thing is that while colleges might operate on a for-profit model in the U.S. sports teams are not privately owned for profit-colleges are clubs, not franchises. Having the college teams locked in place, due to their connection with a school keeps the fans loyal. Professional teams where the franchises can move around for higher profit or lower tax brackets and lose players locally or mid-season for better contracts alter fan connections. College teams on the other hand are a part of their community regardless of where the players come from. College teams have generational fanbases built into their communities. It’s a locally grown feeling that bigger franchise teams have but can lose over time if the team loses its way or starts to abandon its community.
For the most part, pro teams might have rivalries, but not to the same degree that college teams do. The same goes for pro loyalty which often comes back to players and not just teams. College teams keep non-players and coaches sometimes for multiple generations of fans, or even players and students. This helps build a stronger sense of loyalty to a college team. Additionally, the rivalries run deep in that they tend to be much more localized. It might be a school 30 minutes away or within the same state, whereas professional teams' rivalries are usually on the other side of the U.S.
The college team drive has a lot of history behind it. The U.S. collegiate system has a drive for scholarships and a passion for whatever sports team their college has. Bringing out a lot of lion-hearted athletes and heartfelt players to sports, some will go on to be professional athletes while others are just there to play the game they love and get an education. Most college athletes are humble and normal people, so it's much easier to relate to them and see them and their efforts, which is a huge part of the love of college athletics. You don’t see the spoils of a paycheck getting in the way of their devotion.
The amateurism (less refined or less experience compared to professionals) of college athletes also makes any game more enjoyable. It makes the games much less formulaic, even with calls and strategies from coaches. College rotation of players yearly from graduating students also helps keep the game fresh. This makes it about the team versus a significant player or team lineup. Finally, the gameday experiences of a college team are a much different experience in many ways. This is due to price points. Games are often cheaper, allowing for a more diverse crowd to go and show their love of the games they watch, whereas pro games are often more costly. The lower costs allow people to go regularly. The low cost makes the experience much more personal or lineage-based to take your family or be taken by your family heritage. That experience falls short for most pro fans and fan families because it isn’t feasible for most to go to games frequently.There are a ton of reasons why college sports have a real fanbase that is obsessive about their teams. It is a unique thing, and it is truly an American experience.
