College Football Rankings: 10 Most Polarizing Teams

Some college football programs are just not meant to be liked. Their players are rowdy, cocky, and overrated. Their coaches are overpaid and conceited. 

But believe it or not, even these teams have their own groups of loyal fans. They have a student section who paints their bodies and prances around in sub-zero temperatures to cheer for their team. 

Opposing fans would point to an advanced case of hypothermia to account for this crazy behavior, especially for a team that is so obviously undeserving of such adoration.

Certain schools are so divided that their fans worship their players' very existence while opponents are simultaneously yearning for disaster to befall the program.

Various factors come into play when choosing which college football teams are the most polarizing. There are things such as tradition, fanbase, and rules violations that are fairly accurate predictions, yet not all teams fall into specific categories.

After careful consideration, fact checking, and countless reflections on personal bias, here is a comprehensive list of the top 10 most polarizing teams in college football.

Honorable Mention: Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners certainly can inspire resentment in some groups of people because of their success over the years. 

However, Oklahoma does not have cadres of people who hate them. This is because “Big Game Bob” has not necessarily lived up to his nickname over the past few seasons.

Coach Bob Stoops won a number of games early in his career. Recently though, Stoops and Oklahoma have a 3-4 record in bowl games and no national titles. The Sooners simply aren’t enough of a threat to have too many enemies.

Honorable Mention: SEC

Last weekend, the SEC had four teams ranked in the BCS top 10. That is quite a lot.

But is the SEC really good enough to warrant these lofty rankings? That’s where the argument comes in.

Of course teams in the SEC believe that their league is far and away the best in the nation and that the hype is warranted. Others (such as Stanford and Boise State fans) believe that voters give the SEC too much preference.

Honorable Mention: Auburn Tigers/Wisconsin Badgers

Any time a team is suddenly gifted one player who drastically alters the course of their season, there will be some dissension.

Last year, Cam Newton transferred to the Auburn Tigers from junior college and led the team to a national championship.

This year, Russell Wilson used his last year of eligibility to play for the Wisconsin Badgers after spending his previous football career with the NC State Wolfpack. Fans in North Carolina were none too pleased to see Wisconsin competing for a BCS berth. 

These teams inspired a tremendous outpouring of support from fans excited to finally see their squad relevant in the national title discussion again. However, fans not associated with either program saw the influx of talent as an easy, and most likely illegal, way out.

USC Trojans

It all started with Pete Carroll.

In his seven-year tenure with the University of Southern California Trojans, Carroll compiled a record of 97-19. USC was ranked in the top four of the Associated Press Poll seven years in a row and won two national championships. 

That type of dominant winning alone would be enough to inspire both love and hate in various fan bases. However, the Trojans took it one step further.

The NCAA investigation that stripped USC of its BCS National Championship and cost Reggie Bush his Heisman Trophy resulted in the team's fair share of hatred from their opposition.

The icing on the cake was that Carroll somehow had the know how to leave the program for the NFL just before the penalties were imposed. Such a move did not endear him to the California faithful and made the rest of the public that much more suspicious. 

USC’s fans are loyal. They believe the penalties imposed by the NCAA were too harsh and that their team would never cheat. The rest of the country is just annoyed. Many thought that it was obvious from the beginning of the Trojans’ successful run that something was amiss. 

Florida Gators

This one is pretty simple. Is there another player in America who can inspire so much adoration and loathing at the exact same time? One who can have hundreds of people thinking his work ethic and heart alone will make him the next John Elway while the rest of the country thinks he is destined for disappointment?

There is only one Tim Tebow. 

Tebow’s do-gooder personality is very hit or miss. Some fans are proud to have him as their quarterback and want nothing more than for him to succeed. Others are turned off by his charity work and would really prefer if he spend his days relegated to the practice squad for a powderpuff football team.

Quarterback is one of the most visible positions on a football team and, especially for someone like Tebow, their personality can take over an entire team. Florida has become a team that is revered by their fans, yet mocked by the rest of the college football world.

Steve Spurrier-Coached Teams

There’s just something about Steve Spurrier. Is it his constant pained expression? His athletic-brand sweater vests? Either way, he just doesn’t seem like a very nice guy. And really, all indications are that he isn’t.

Spurrier has arguments with the press, opposing coaches, and his own players. Why would anyone like him?

Well, because he wins. Spurrier has not had a losing season as a college head coach except for his very first year at the helm in which he led the Duke Blue Devils to a 5-6 record. Two years after that, of course, Spurrier had Duke tied for first in the ACC.

If Spurrier is your coach, it is easy to overlook his stern demeanor and sometimes cruel behavior because your team is successful. If he is not, Spurrier becomes public enemy number one.

Michigan Wolverines

Michigan Wolverines football has traditionally been very successful. Unfortunately for Michigan, longstanding success is a quick way to win your program some enemies.

When one team is continually beating up on all of its conference opponents, they become easy not to like. 

Split opinions on the Wolverines were no more evident than when Michigan began losing. After kicking Rich Rodriguez to the curb after he compiled a 15-22 record in three seasons, many football fans were reveling in Michigan’s demise.

Boise State Broncos

Are they or aren’t they ready for the BCS spotlight?

That is the chief disagreement between the Boise State Broncos’ friends and enemies. Fans believe that the Broncos have been slighted the past few years after compiling winning records, yet failing to earn respect from the BCS polls.

Boise State critics do not think that a team from a non-major conference deserves to compete with traditional powers in the Big 10 or SEC.

The Broncos are doing nothing to inspire these divided feelings except play good football. If they could just do that in the Big 12 instead of the WAC, Boise State would be golden.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, like the Michigan Wolverines, have a tradition of winning. That tradition has gotten them staunch supporters as well as its fair share of rivals.

The culture of the school also does not help their image. Somehow, Notre Dame has cultivated a breed of player that has a boy scout type of personality, yet simultaneously has a reputation for folding in the clutch.

Furthermore, Notre Dame has been very intent on staying independent. If the Fighting Irish had joined the Big East in football, as it has in basketball, would the conference be less threatened by this disastrous new realignment? It is not a sure thing by any means, but Notre Dame’s reluctance to do so has inspired quite a lot of criticism. 

Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes have the familiar distinction of fielding historically good football teams. Combine that with NCAA infractions and suspended players and you have a winning recipe for a polarizing team.

Beginning with Maurice Clarrett’s suspension in 2003 after many incidents involving school officials and burglaries and ending with Terrell Pryor’s suspension this season, Ohio State has had its fair share of scandals.

Don’t forget about coach Jim Tressel, either. Any time a head coach is fired during an NCAA investigation, the program will have both detractors and steadfast supporters.

Lastly, does the university really need that “the” in front of its name. The Ohio State University? Of course it doesn’t. It is a source of pride for graduates and fans. The rest of the country finds it pretentious and completely unnecessary.

Texas Longhorns

There must have been bets going about which college football team would be the first to get its own network.

After individual conferences began having television stations dedicated solely to their teams, it was only a matter of time.

The Texas Longhorns have the dubious distinction of winning that bet.

The Longhorn Network delighted Texas fans who felt their program deserved such an honor. Fellow Big 12 conference members such as Texas A&M were not as thrilled.

The results?

Hello conference realignment! (No, Notre Dame, this does not mean you are off the hook)

The Stanford Cardinal

One could easily cite Andrew Luck, the Pac-12’s demise, or the notoriety of being one of the top academic schools in the country for Stanford's opposition. However, what sets Stanford apart and makes it a polarizing school is one thing: its band.

The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band has been involved in its fair share of controversies. The band has been banned from various university campuses for such offenses as conducting a concert with a wooden cross, criticizing the logging of owl’s habitats, and spelling inappropriate words.

While some find the band’s actions amusing and harmless, others, most notably Stanford’s opponents, can get quite offended.

Miami Hurricanes

Another classic combination of a winning tradition and scandals.

This year was supposed to be the Miami Hurricanes’ chance to regain their national prominence.

True, that did happen, but for reasons other than the performance of their football team.

Nevin Shapiro’s Ponzi scheme did not win The U any fans. Countless athletes were targeted for accepting impermissible benefits including some who were in the NFL or playing for other college football teams.

Miami fans undoubtedly feel as though their team was targeted instead of many other worthy candidates. Everyone else is most likely crossing their fingers that the NCAA will be too busy fixing Miami’s mess to investigate their team.