SEC football fans remind why college football is king of southern sports

Though the debate over College Football Playoff expansion has polarized fans, many still agree on one thing: college football fandom is strongest in the South. More specifically, SEC football culture stands apart from anything else in sports.

Whether it’s on the Plains of Auburn, in Florida’s Swamp, or atop Rocky Top, Tennessee, college football is more than a tradition in the South. It borders on religion. Fans remain fiercely loyal to their schools and would, quite literally, sacrifice success in other sports for even a taste of football glory.

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Lauren Beasley recently wrote an article for USA Today about the impact of women’s college basketball at the University of South Carolina. On X, she introduced her work by asking: “Would most South Carolina fans trade three women’s basketball national championships for one football national title?” The responses overwhelmingly favored football.

There’s no doubt

The reaction served as another reminder that college football remains king in the South. Many of the replies reinforced why that reality continues to hold true.

One user responded: “I think most Gamecocks fans would trade the 3 women’s basketball championships plus the 2 baseball championships for a football title. That’s just the way it is in the south- football is king.”

Other users treated the question almost like a joke, writing, “We have a women’s basketball team?”

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Still, one fan acknowledged the impact of Dawn Staley and her program while making the same point: “I would never take anything away from the girls & [Dawn Staley.] Now if you asked me 10 years ago before we won 3 and asked which I would rather have and I’m choosing football no doubt.”

South Carolina’s women’s basketball program has built a modern dynasty, including three national championships and the 2024 title. Yet for many fans across southern college sports, that success still would not outweigh the value of a football national championship.

As the responses continued, it became increasingly clear that many SEC football fans would make that trade — even if it meant giving up accomplishments that brought sustained excellence and national recognition to their university.

Would you trade your other college sports teams’ accomplishments if it meant your football program won one more national title?