College Football’s Top 50 Fanbases

2. Alabama

The good

Alabama is the gold standard of the SEC, a conference which dominated college football for a decade prior to the creation of the College Football Playoff. Even since, the Crimson Tide have carried that standard, following their team across the country every postseason with complete confidence the results will be worthwhile. They usually are.

The bad

It’s hard not to be a fan when national titles have become the norm. There will be a time in Tuscaloosa without Bear Bryant or Nick Saban at the helm. How the Tide fans respond then will be the true test of their resolve.

The bottom line

Losing is uncomfortable for any fanbase, but particularly so for the Alabama faithful. The Tide just don’t do it very often. When failure does befall them, the team and the community are quick to dust themselves off and prepare for a rebound the following season. Saban has conditioned them to have that kind of unwavering resolve.

Of course, only at Alabama is coming in at No. 2 viewed as a failed effort. The Tide have impeccable credentials, but one other fanbase has taken one step further towards true fanaticism.