Farmageddon Goes Global but Doesn’t Move the Needle; Ohio State Surges to No. 1 in the College Sports Social Pulse™

Notre Dame, Penn State and Auburn make first entries into the Top 10

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Iowa State and Kansas State went toe-to-toe on the Emerald Isle last weekend, but the international spotlight wasn’t enough to propel them into the Top 10 of the College Sports Social Pulse™.

Iowa State slid from No. 11 in the preseason rankings to No. 40. Meanwhile, Kansas State dropped to No. 28 in the Pulse rankings, down from No. 14 in the preseason numbers. 

The College Sports Social Pulse measures the online swagger of college teams, players and coaches. Each week, the Pulse — created by the University of South Carolina’s College of Information and Communications — tracks the programs, coaches and players dominating the online conversation. Built on advanced analytics and academic rigor, the rankings show who’s hot — and who’s not — in the world of college football.

“Week Zero showed us that exposure doesn’t always equal engagement,” said Clay Owen, professor of practice at the University of South Carolina’s College of Information and Communications. “Turns out ‘Farmageddon’ didn’t move the needle on the online conversation. Instead, the Buckeye Nation got loud online and took over first place from Alabama.”

Top 10 Teams – Week Zero 2025

1. Ohio State

2. Colorado

3. Alabama

4. Georgia

5. Kansas

6. Michigan

7. Penn State

8. Auburn

9. Notre Dame

10. Oklahoma

Three newcomers cracked the Top 10 for the first time this season:

• Penn State (No. 7) — Propelled by playoff hype and a surprising amount of chatter about the backup quarterback position.

• Auburn (No. 8) — Boosted by excitement over Friday’s game against Baylor and quarterback speculation.

• Notre Dame (No. 9) — Supercharged by changes to the iconic leprechaun logo and the opening game against Miami.

Meanwhile, Kansas continued its unlikely surge to No. 5, proving that fan conversation around the Jayhawks is no longer just about basketball.

When it comes to players, Arch Manning once again dominated online conversation. His grip on the No. 1 player ranking underscores the unique draw he brings not just to Texas, but to the national college football narrative. Ohio State’s two stars, Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith, fueled the Buckeyes’ overall rise, while Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels helped drive the Jayhawks’ surprise Top 5 team finish.

Top 10 Players – Week Zero 2025

1. Arch Manning – Texas

2. Bryce Underwood – Michigan

3. John Mateer – Oklahoma

4. Jackson Arnold – Auburn

5. Caleb Downs – Ohio State

6. Jeremiah Smith – Ohio State

7. Jalon Daniels – Kansas

8. Julian Sayin – Ohio State

9. DJ Lagway – Florida

10. Ty Simpson – Alabama

“Arch Madness continues, and it’s remarkable to see how one player can consistently dominate the national conversation,” Owen added. “The real test for on-field and online domination will come this weekend as Texas and Ohio State meet in Columbus.”

Top 10 Coaches – Week Zero 2025

1. Deion Sanders – Colorado

2. Mike Norvell – Florida State

3. Bill Belichick – North Carolina

4. James Franklin – Penn State

5. Kirby Smart – Georgia

6. Josh Heupel – Tennessee

7. Ryan Day – Ohio State

8. Shane Beamer – South Carolina

9. Lance Leipold – Kansas

10. Brian Kelly – LSU

Deion Sanders remains the undisputed king of the coaching conversation, generating more engagement than the next several coaches combined. Penn State’s James Franklin surged into the Top 5 alongside his team’s leap into the Top 10, while Kansas coach Lance Leipold’s inclusion reflects the Jayhawks’ broadening national footprint.

Methodology

The College Sports Social Pulse Week Zero rankings are built from millions of social posts across X, Instagram, Reddit, and more. Using a formula that blends volume, sentiment, and engagement, the Pulse shows who’s winning the online conversation.

Last week’s preseason rankings (July 1–Aug. 15) established a baseline by analyzing six weeks of fan conversation leading into the 2025 season. Starting with Week Zero, every Pulse ranking reflects a single week of activity (Tuesday through Monday). This shift allows the Pulse to capture the volatility of college football in real time — the weekly rises, falls and breakout storylines that define the sport beyond the field.

About the Pulse

The College Sports Social Pulse™, developed by the University of South Carolina’s Social Media Insights Lab, analyzes millions of social media posts each week to track the shifting heartbeat of college football fandom. Using a proprietary blend of volume, sentiment and engagement, the Pulse reveals which teams, players and coaches are dominating the national conversation online — regardless of what the scoreboard says.