The 30 Most Loyal Groups of Fans in College Football

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Average Home Attendance 2006-2015: 80,798 (100.0% of capacity)
Average Season Winning Percentage: .629
Seasons Under 90% Capacity: 0
Seasons Over 100% Capacity: 10

Only one other team in college football has a longer shutout streak than the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who have packed their stadium to capacity in South Bend for nearly 300 consecutive games. The streak began in 1973, right after a Thanksgiving game against Air Force had broken an eight-year run of sellouts, and has continued even through an expansion of over 20,000 seats to the venue. And the fans have kept coming in a way that has allowed the last stalwart of college football independence to remain unaffiliated.

The fans have kept coming back to watch the Fighting Irish despite a slew of peaks and valleys throughout their recent and extended past. After fans started packing the stadium in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus during Ara Parseghian’s tenure as head coach, there have actually been more duds than superstars helming the squad. Fans have kept the streak alive despite an increasing trend toward ignominious seasons under Gerry Faust, Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham, and Charlie Weis.

Notre Dame fans aren’t likely to become complacent with mediocrity, but they are always a sure bet to keep descending on South Bend 80,795 strong. Week after week, year after year, the Irish faithful have been a mainstay of college football fanaticism.

Next: 1. Nebraska