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FanSided Rates Wisconsin Badger Fandom

By Noah Seligman

MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 15: Wisconsin Badgers fans yell in the stands during the spring announcements before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 15: Wisconsin Badgers fans yell in the stands during the spring announcements before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) /
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Check out how FanSided rates Wisconsin Badger fans in its list among all college programs in the country.

The end of the year means the arrival of FanSided’s annual “Fandom” rankings.  The comprehensive list covers everything in sports, entertainment, and pop culture.

Of course, no list of great college fans is complete without listing the Wisconsin Badger faithful.  So read on to see how grateful the cardinal and white be for its placement.

Here is how FanSided describes its massive Fandom list:

"The ultimate ranking of fandoms. From sports to entertainment. Celebrities to brands. The Fandom 250"

They put the Wisconsin Badgers at #13 among all NCAA teams.   Yet Wisconsin is just #138 on the overall #Fandrom250 list.  FanSided is quick to credit the distinct football allure from Green Bay to Madison.

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I’m not sure the Wisconsin tourism board would be quick to lead with both those destinations but game recognize game.  Of course the “Jump Around” tradition got a shot out as well as the local spirits and foods.

"The Badgers may not have the lengthy history of fellow Big Ten programs, Michigan and Ohio State, but over the last 30 years, they’ve been as successful as any of them and fans celebrate every home game with a special celebration that makes them among the most passionate in the sport"

Now that above paragraph is important.  Wisconsin fans are all too familiar with taking a back seat to Michigan and The Ohio State.  Of course, losing in the Big Ten Title game to Penn State and The Ohio State in consecutive years doesn’t really help close the gap.

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According to the FanSided list, they have Michigan (#11), Penn State (#10), and most alarmingly, The Ohio State (#1) is the best fandom.  Which you probably notice most whenever the Buckeyes are winning.  The bandwagon gets a lot bigger whenever they start winning.

So I get that history is kind for those three Big Ten East powers.  But keep in mind, Wisconsin has made bowl games 16 straight times and the NCAA Tournament 19 straight times.  None of those schools can claim that success.

Of course this is a list not based on sporting success but the fans.

Now lets acknowledge my personal bias here.  I am not merely a Wisconsin fan who loathes Michigan and The Ohio State for obvious reasons.  And I detest Penn State for an even more obvious reason.

I am also Madison, Wisconsin born and raised and immensely proud of my hometown.  I grew up enmeshed in Badger sports.  Yes (like Columbus) it’s the seat of state government, but Madison is a college town to its core.

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So while I think #13 is a little low you do see some fairly hyped names atop the list.  Evidently a recent national championship in football and basketball.  Or just a purely historic reputation (looking at you Notre Dame and USC) is what gets you elevated.

So unless (and hopefully until) Wisconsin wins a national title in football or men’s basketball, the top ten fringe is where we may stay.  I encourage you to check out all the full #Fandom250 lists and let FanSided know your thoughts using the #Fandom250 hashtag in your tweets.