College Football Rankings 2011: Counting Down the 15 Most Bandwagon Fanbases

There are true fanbases, and then, there are bandwagon fanbases.

What's the difference?

Bandwagon fanbases show up out of nowhere when their team is headed to a bowl game, true fanbases show up when it's raining, the kid needs to go to sleep and their team is 1-7 with no end in sight to the horror.

A good way to pick out a bandwagon fanbase is when the stadium virtually fills up overnight when it's announced they are "a team to watch for" on ESPN.

Oh ya...watch for celebrities that emerge out of nowhere, lots and lots of celebrities.

15. TCU

It's funny what two seasons of nearly undefeated football can do for your school.

Texas Christian University wasn't close in terms of filling up their stadium before they started going on a run.

There are plenty of teams to pick from in Texas, and I'm guessing TCU bandwagoners were bigger fans of Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M before their team started actually winning football games.

In 2009, the first year of Horned Frogs' run, average attendance rose the fourth-most in the nation, with nearly 10,000 more fans coming to the stadium.

14. Kansas

Until recently, Kansas rarely sold out their stadium, and it took a game with rival Kansas State to do so this season.

I know the team doesn't win very often, but there just isn't a great turnout at Jayhawks games (football games, that is).

13. Kentucky

Kentucky's fans are so notorious for largely showing up only when the team is exciting that a Facebook page was actually dedicated to them, called Shut up Kentucky "fans," where were you guys when they sucked?

This Facebook page was regarding Kentucky's basketball fans, but the same sentiment echoes through the tunnels of their football stadium.

Kentucky fans just don't regularly fill up the stadium until something big begins to brew.

12. Florida State

Florida State continues to have attendance woes, which is normal for schools such as FSU and Florida.

With so many schools to choose from in Florida, it's become a common theme for Florida's college football fans to move from one thing to another, whatever strikes their fancy.

Not a big surprise Jenn Sterger was an FSU fan.

11. Auburn

Fans certainly came out of the woodwork when the Tigers went on their magical title run this season.

It even inspired this guy to create a Facebook page called Auburn is a Bandwagon Team.

The crazy thing is, he wasn't even dissing Auburn students per se, just the "fans" that filter into the school when the college football team is in the spotlight.

10. Virginia

The stadium rarely reaches capacity, and fans can be seen exiting by halftime if things don't go right.

Probably has something to do with the fact that male students wear ties.

9. Georgia Tech

The stadium is noticeably small, and you would think a reputable football school would invest more in a good-sized stadium.

Plus, if you ever see a Braves game on TV, that will certainly give you an idea of the fanbase—hard to find even when they are winning.

8. Tennessee

Tennessee has trouble filling its stadium.

That's in part because they have a big stadium and in part because they aren't there enough on a regular basis.

Even with a big stadium, Tennessee also has one of the bigger markets in the SEC.

7. Rutgers

It wasn't until Rutgers started winning that the stands started filling up for the Scarlet Knights.

Unfortunately, the Scarlet Knights are losing again, and it could mark a remission back to the days when ESPN cameras showed empty seats galore.

6. Memphis

When coach Tommy West was fired from the Tigers back in 2009, he certainly didn't go quietly.

He said that if the Memphis fans wanted to success, they should show up more often, not blame it on the coach or team.

As contentious an exiting statement as it was, West had a point.

Memphis seems to support its basketball team OK, but when it comes to college football, there really isn't a dynamic following at all.

5. North Carolina

Let's face it: North Carolina, like Memphis, is a basketball school.

The school regularly supports its basketball team, but when their football teams starts winning, it's like they've been going to the games all along.

When the football team isn't winning, however, then visiting fans wonder where they all are.

4. Florida

Like I said, Florida fans in general appear to ebb and flow from being Miami Hurricanes fans, Florida State Seminoles fans or Florida Gators fans when things are going just right.

It's going to be interesting to see what happens now that legendary coach Urban Meyer is out.

3. Notre Dame

Notre Dame is supposed to be one of the biggest fanbases in the country.

Of course, if they start losing a few games, that's a different story.

The glory years are long gone, and the numerous sellouts that used to occur at Notre Dame Stadium could start to become a thing of the past too if the Fighting Irish don't get it together.

2. Miami (FL)

You should have seen this coming by now, Hurricanes fans.

I've mentioned you in the previous slides, and you're from Florida, so you were bound to be listed.

The "U" used to have an impressive following, simply because the team used to be flat-out dominant.

But make your team mediocre and throw in the overhyped Jacory Harris at QB, and you have yourself a stadium that is regularly about half full.

1. USC

C'mon, you saw this coming.

USC players instantly are like celebrities when they step out onto the football field, which is fitting given there are a lot of celebrities in LA.

But, it's funny, you hardly ever see these celebrities until USC gets to a bowl game or is thriving on the football field.

Also, like many run-down celebrities, when you're on top, you're the talk of the town, but when you've lost the attention of Hollywood, you are yesterday's news.

When it rains, it pours in LA...and USC fans don't like the rain.