College football interest surges, with Indiana leading the way

• College football searches grew by more than 100% in seven states, with Indiana showing the highest increase at 137.51%
• Utah leads the nation in hockey interest growth at 124.34%, while North Dakota is the only state where rugby tops the list with a 92.90% surge
• Basketball ranks as the top growing sport in only one state (Washington), while Michigan shows strong growth across multiple sports

A new study has revealed that college football is experiencing the largest increase in search interest across the United States, ranking as the fastest-growing sport in 46 out of 50 states.

The analysis by esports media platform Esport Stars examined Google search data between 2024 Q1 and 2025 Q1 to determine which sports have seen the biggest percentage increases in search interest nationwide.

College football saw the largest spikes in interest in most states, with Indiana having the highest spike of 137.51%. Most colleges in the U.S. have a football team, with scholarships being a large source of income. The NFL is typically only accessible to those who have competed in a college team for three years. College football also has the highest interest in eight other states.

However, Utah ranked first for hockey interest growth at 124.34%, while North Dakota was the only state where rugby topped the list with a 92.90% increase. Washington stood alone as the only state where basketball ranked as the top-growing sport with a 51.81% surge.

Top 10 states with the highest percentage increases for their number one sport

Rank	State	Sport	% Increase
1	Indiana	College football	137.51%
2	Iowa	College football	127.17%
3	Utah	Hockey	124.34%
4	Vermont	College football	117.12%
5	Pennsylvania	College football	115.36%
6	New Mexico	College football	114.43%
7	Texas	College football	111.26%
8	Rhode Island	College football	110.73%
9	New York	College football	109.17%
10	Delaware	College football	107.58%

While college football dominated the rankings, other sports showed strong regional preferences. Hockey claimed spots in the top five across 38 states, with particularly strong growth in Utah and Idaho.

Basketball appeared in the top five for all 50 states, ranking first in Washington.

College basketball saw its strongest growth in Michigan with an increase of 91.68%. The sport ranked second in 12 states including Alabama and Kentucky. 

Baseball placed in the top five for 45 states but never reached the top position.

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) showed the greatest percentage increase in Iowa with 24.95% and ranked fifth in 14 states.

Tennis made the top five in 20 states, with the strongest interest growth in Virginia of 21.30%.

Hana Suzuki, a spokesperson for Esport Stars, commented:

“The rise in college football interest across so many states highlights how deeply connected Americans are to collegiate sports. Major leagues often sponsor sports at the collegiate level which provides a pathway to those who excel and helps to keep interest in the sport high. A report by Bloomberg stated that college collectives spend over 70% on football, with overall earnings by college athletes to reach an estimated $2 billion by 2026.

“Despite the overwhelming interest in college football, seeing sports like hockey and basketball break through in states like Utah and Washington points to more varied interest in regions where there are fewer football teams. Utah, for example, only has five collegiate teams.

“College sports are clearly dominating growth due to the income they provide, but sports like MMA and tennis are also gaining traction among the viewing public, pointing to American interests changing.”