In a surprising turn of events, Mississippi State fans have been named the most foul-mouthed supporters in college football. This designation, while perhaps not the accolade the Bulldogs were hoping for, comes from a recent study that analyzed fan behavior on social media platforms.
The research, conducted by Covers, evaluated thousands of Reddit posts linked to various Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs. The study focused on several key factors, including the frequency of profanity, the average number of swear words per comment, the use of angry or vulgar emojis, and the overall negative sentiment expressed in the posts. After combining these metrics and normalizing them on a scale of one to ten, Mississippi State emerged at the top with a perfect score of 10.00, just edging out SEC rival Arkansas, which scored 9.97.
This unusual title for Mississippi State fans likely won’t be celebrated in the same way as a championship banner at Davis Wade Stadium, but it does highlight a unique aspect of fan culture in college football. Following closely behind Mississippi State and Arkansas, Louisville fans ranked third with a score of 9.79, making them the most vulgar supporters in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The results also revealed a surprising fourth-place finish for Wyoming at 9.71, with Jacksonville State rounding out the top five at 9.53.
The full top ten list showcases a mix of programs that typically do not appear together in conventional college football rankings. Notably, traditional powerhouses such as Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan did not make the cut, with Purdue being the highest-ranked Big Ten fanbase at seventh overall. Texas Tech led the Big 12 with a score of 8.84, while teams like Louisville and Wyoming topped their respective conferences.
Interestingly, a stark contrast exists within the state of Mississippi itself. While Mississippi State fans topped the vulgarity rankings, their rivals, Ole Miss supporters, scored significantly lower at 3.96, making them the least vulgar fanbase in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). This disparity adds another layer of rivalry to the already competitive Egg Bowl.
In terms of conference rankings, the Big 12 emerged as the most vulgar overall, averaging a Vulgarity Score of 6.80, slightly ahead of the SEC's 6.75. Notable performances from Texas Tech, Arizona State, Baylor, and West Virginia, all exceeding 8.00, contributed to the Big 12's top position. The Big Ten and Mountain West followed with scores of 6.34 and 6.18, respectively, while independent programs averaged 6.15. The ACC, despite Louisville's strong showing, finished with the lowest average at 5.50, largely due to several programs ranking among the cleanest fanbases.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Sacramento State fans were recognized as the least vulgar, scoring just 1.00. Louisiana, Clemson, Syracuse, and Georgia State also featured prominently in the cleanest top five. The study, while entertaining, specifically measured online behavior, particularly on Reddit, rather than the overall language used by fans in stadiums.
As Mississippi State fans navigate their newfound title, they may want to reconsider their online interactions during game days. The study serves as a light-hearted reminder of how fan engagement can vary widely across different programs and conferences in the realm of college football.
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