The Texas Longhorns may have had a disappointing weekend on the gridiron and at college football betting sites last week, but that did not extend to social media.
After losing 14-7 at Ohio State, the Longhorns fell from their preseason No. 1 ranking down to seventh in this week's Associated Press Top 25. However, Texas saw its social media followers increase by more than 9% from the previous week to take the top spot in RotoWire's Social Media Power Rankings.
Top-rated mobile sports betting apps have begun ramping things up when it comes to unique NCAAF-themed bonuses, boosts and sportsbook promos.
Social Media Power Rankings
RotoWire.com used follower counts from Instagram and X to create a social media hype power ranking system for college football teams' official accounts. We ranked teams based on percentage growth week-over-week on the platforms, following their previous game.
Rank | Team | Social Media Growth |
1 |
| 9.09% |
2 |
| 6.60% |
3 |
| 3.05% |
4 |
| 2.65% |
5 |
| 2.59% |
6 |
| 2.45% |
7 |
| 2.38% |
8 |
| 2.28% |
9 |
| 2.26% |
10 |
| 2.11% |
11 |
| 1.97% |
12 |
| 1.79% |
13 |
| 1.79% |
14 |
| 1.75% |
15 |
| 1.72% |
Texas Longhorns
Florida State Seminoles
Arizona State Sun Devils
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Cincinnati Bearcats
South Carolina Gamecocks
Indiana Hoosiers
Miami Hurricanes
Florida Gators
BYU Cougars
NC State Wolfpack
Auburn Tigers
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
California Golden Bears
Iowa State CyclonesDespite the loss in Columbus to the Buckeyes, all is not lost for the Longhorns this season. They still are among the favorites to take the SEC title and compete for a national title. Oddsmakers at Caesars list the Horns at +750 on their College Football Playoff champions futures board.
Another reason for the interest in Texas is their quarterback Arch Manning. The grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of both Peyton and Eli Manning was the preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. While his rough game knocked him from that spot, Arch Manning remains among the top choices. DraftKings gives third-generation signal caller odds of +1600 to take home the prestigious award in December.
Seminoles Surge in Social Media Rankings
No school fell harder than Florida State last season. After going 13-1 in 2023 and getting snubbed for one of the four College Football Playoff berths that season, the Seminoles suffered through a 2-10 campaign in Tallahassee. It was their worst season in 50 years.
Through only one game this season, coach Mike Norvell's team has already equaled half of last season's win total, and that victory came in stunning fashion. FSU beat Alabama 31-17 with new quarterback Tommy Castellanos backing up the words he said about the Crimson Tide over the summer to lead the 13.5-point underdogs to the outright victory.
After beating Bama, Florida State saw its football social media account followers grow by 6.6%, good enough to take second place this week.
Not everything has changed just yet for FSU. In April, BetMGM gave the Seminoles odds of +10000 to win the national title. After upsetting the Tide, FSU's odds are… still +10000.
Florida State hosts East Texas A&M this Saturday. Can the Noles stay on top again this week or will a new team – perhaps the winner of Michigan-Oklahoma – lay claim to the No. 1 spot. RotoWire will be keeping score and keeping you informed this college football season.
Q&A:
Q1: Which college football team dominated social media growth this week?
The Texas Longhorns took the top spot with an impressive 9.09% follower growth across Instagram and X following their loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Their less than stellar on-field performance clearly translated into off-field buzz.
Q2: Were there any surprising teams in the Top 5?
Yes—while Florida State Seminoles (6.60%) isn't surprising due to the shocking win against Alabama, the Arizona State Sun Devils (3.05%), Minnesota Golden Gophers (2.65%) and Cincinnati Bearcats (2.59%) broke into the Top 5. Their surge shows how even non-traditional football powers can capture attention with the right mix of performance and digital presence.
Q3: What does this ranking reveal about the connection between the field and social media?
The numbers highlight how closely game-day results fuel online hype. Teams that score big wins or deliver poor performances often see a direct spike in engagement online. Social media is becoming a real-time scoreboard of fan enthusiasm—one where both traditional powerhouses and rising programs can grab the spotlight.
