College Sports Social Pulse crowns Alabama, Arch Manning and Coach Prime as kings of online conversation
The Tide is rolling again — this time on social media.
Alabama fans have powered their team to No. 1 in the College Sports Social Pulse™ preseason rankings, proving that when it comes to online chatter, nobody beats Bama Nation.
The College Sports Social Pulse, built by the USC College of Information and Communications Social Media Insights Lab, tracks the teams, players and coaches who own the online spotlight. The Pulse analyzes millions of posts and billions of impressions to determine who’s hot and who’s not online.
Top 10 Teams – Preseason 2025
- Alabama
- LSU
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Michigan
- Miami
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Kansas
Alabama’s rise to No. 1 is all about fan firepower. The Tide generated roughly double the engagement of a typical SEC powerhouse. In other words, fans are liking and sharing their favorite posts at extremely high rates. Colorado, meanwhile, rides a wave of high positivity around Coach Prime. Meanwhile, Ohio State and Michigan maintain their grip on the national conversation through sheer volume of posts.
“Preseason polls look at rosters, depth charts and returning starters,” said Clay Owen, professor of practice at the college. “We’re looking at the fans — the passion, the pride and the smack talk that make college football unique. This isn’t about who posts the most — it’s about the true believers who like and share content because of their love of the game.”
Every week, the College Sports Social Pulse will track the shifting current of online conversation — ranking the top teams, players and coaches to show how wins, losses, highlight-reel plays and even controversial calls shaping fan sentiment.
Top 10 Players – Preseason 2025
- Arch Manning – Texas
- Ryan Williams – Alabama
- Jeremiah Smith – Ohio State
- DJ Lagway – Florida
- John Mateer – Oklahoma
- Bryce Underwood – Michigan
- Gunner Stockton – Georgia
- Dylan Raiola – Nebraska
- Caleb Downs – Ohio State
- Ty Simpson – Alabama
It’s no surprise that the Longhorns’ Arch Manning leads the pack as the most talked-about player in college football. Alabama and Ohio State are the only schools with two players each in the Top 10: Bama wide receiver Ryan Williams at No. 2 and quarterback Ty Simpson No. 10, while OSU wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs make their mark.
Top 10 Coaches – Preseason 2025
- Deion Sanders – Colorado
- Kirby Smart – Georgia
- Josh Heupel – Tennessee
- Bill Belichick – North Carolina
- Matt Rhule – Nebraska
- Fran Brown – Syracuse
- Mike Norvell – Florida State
- Rhett Lashlee – SMU
- Kalani Sitake – BYU
- Shane Beamer – South Carolina
Deion Sanders dominates the online conversation, far outpacing every other coach in both engagement and volume. Kirby Smart and Josh Heupel ride strong fan sentiment to claim the next two spots, while Bill Belichick brings national buzz to North Carolina in a way few expected.
The Pulse Method
The rankings are built on millions of social posts across X, Instagram, Reddit, and more — measured from July 1 through August 15. Using a formula that blends volume, sentiment and engagement, the Pulse shows who’s winning the online conversation.
About the USC Social Media Insights Lab
Founded in 2019, the Social Media Insights Lab at the University of South Carolina’s College of Information and Communications uses advanced analytics to study social media at scale. The lab supports research, enhances student learning, and helps organizations make smarter strategic decisions.