Sports writers and analysts call it “the eye test.” It’s when a team doesn’t just win, they win with style points.
That’s the University of Georgia. On Saturday, the Dawgs dismantled Texas 35-10. By the time the weekend was over, it was clear they also won the internet.
In Week 12 of the College Sports Social Pulse™, produced by the University of South Carolina Social Media Insights Lab, Georgia surged to No. 1 overall, leading all programs in online engagement and fan sentiment. The Pulse measures which teams, players and coaches are making the biggest impact on social media each week.
Georgia generated more than 3 million engagements, doubling the total of second-place Alabama and proving that the Bulldogs’ digital dominance is every bit as commanding as their on-field performance.
The Pulse data shows the SEC continuing to define the national conversation: seven of the Top 10 teams, six of the Top 10 coaches and six of the Top 10 players hail from the conference.
“Georgia is peaking at exactly the right time — on the field and online,” said Clay Owen, professor of practice at the University of South Carolina’s College of Information and Communications. “Kirby Smart has built a program where the coach, the quarterback and the fan base are perfectly aligned. The emotion, the engagement and the results all reinforce one another.”
Top 10 Teams - Week Twelve
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Texas A&M
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Michigan
- LSU
- Indiana
- Ole Miss
Players: Manning Reclaims the Spotlight, Stockton Surges
Texas quarterback Arch Manning continues his reign atop the player rankings this week, despite a mixed fan reaction following the Longhorns’ loss to Georgia.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson jumped 11 spots to No. 2 following the Tide’s loss while Marcel Reed of Texas A&M leapt into the Top 10 following the Aggie’s extraordinary comeback against South Carolina.
Top 10 Players - Week Twelve
- Arch Manning – Texas
- Ty Simpson – Alabama
- Gunner Stockton – Georgia
- Jeremiah Smith – Ohio State
- John Mateer – Oklahoma
- Julian Sayin – Ohio State
- Jeremiyah Love – Notre Dame
- Dante Moore – Oregon
- Marcel Reed – Texas A&M
- Diego Pavia – Vanderbilt
Coaches: Kiffin Leads Again, Venables Rides the Upset
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin remains the most talked about coach online as his future in Oxford remains in question. Despite the uncertainty, Kiffin is garnering overwhelmingly positive comments on social media.
Brent Venables of Oklahoma surged 31 places to No. 4 after upsetting Alabama.
Top 10 Coaches – Week Twelve, 2025
- Lane Kiffin – Ole Miss
- Kirby Smart – Georgia
- Steve Sarkisian – Texas
- Brent Venables – Oklahoma
- Deion Sanders – Colorado
- Bill Belichick – North Carolina
- Mike Elko – Texas A&M
- Ryan Day – Ohio State
- Kalen DeBoer – Alabama
- Kenny Dillingham – Arizona State
Methodology
The College Sports Social Pulse™ analyzes millions of public posts weekly across X, Instagram, Reddit, and other platforms. Using a proprietary formula blending engagement, sentiment and conversation volume, it identifies who’s winning the online conversation each week.
Week Twelve measures social activity from Nov. 11–17, capturing how emotion, intensity and storytelling continue to shape the digital heartbeat of college football.
About the College Sports Social Pulse™
Developed by the University of South Carolina’s Social Media Insights Lab, the Pulse tracks the shifting heartbeat of college football fandom. Using data-driven analysis, it reveals which teams, players,and coaches are commanding the national conversation — regardless of what the scoreboard says.