By June Evins

What do college football rankings and your college application list have in common? More than you might think.

The 2022 college football season wrapped up with the release of the AP top 25 polls and the AFCA polls. Now is the time to reflect and make predictions about the 2023 football season and its influence on the college admissions season, which is in some ways a sport of its own. 

This past season was an unpredictable roller coaster of emotions for many college football fans. It was a constantly evolving season, with numerous David vs. Goliath triumphs, Hail Marys, and nail-biter endings. The surprises of the season not only rejuvenated the fanbase for multiple teams but also brought many storied teams back into the spotlight. 

Stanford Stadium, home to the Georgia Bulldogs.
Photo credit: Gregor Smith via flickr.

There is no argument that football is the best form of advertisement in America. Just look at the prices for a 30-second Super Bowl commercial. College football success can also be one of the most effective advertisements for colleges. For instance, on New Year’s Eve, as the clock struck midnight, over 2.2 million people tuned in to watch as Georgia beat Ohio State in the Peach Bowl. This number then snowballs as the news is spread. As a program becomes more successful, the school’s application numbers also tend to increase.  

Unranked in the preseason AP polls, Tennessee found success early in the 2022 season and continued to move up in the polls by beating Pittsburgh, Florida, and LSU in the first four weeks of the season. By week five, Tennessee was ranked #3 and was up against Nick Saban’s dynasty program, the Crimson Tide, ranked #1. The game ended with a 40-yard field goal, resulting in a 52-49 triumph for the Volunteers. The team continued to remain undefeated until week eight, when they were ranked #1 and lost to the Georgia Bulldogs, the defending national champions, ranked #3. 

Tennessee’s early action application round for the 2023-2024 academic year was due on November 1, in the heat of their success, prior to their loss to Georgia on November 5. The University of Tennessee reported that they received 38,483 applications by that deadline, which was a 43.2% increase in applications and a 55.3% increase in out-of-state applications from 2021. 

This is not the first time that a school has seen applications increase as a result of athletic success. This is known as the “Flutie Effect.” In 1984, Boston College’s quarterback Doug Flutie threw a Hail Mary pass that was caught in the game-winning touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes. The game was televised nationally and resulted in Boston College applications increasing by 30% for the next two years. 

Huddy Lees, a high school senior from Mississippi, believes the reason why people want to attend strong football schools is that “Everyone wants to be a part of the winning team, because who likes to lose?” My brother Sam Evins (’22) shared that when he was making his final decision to attend the University of South Carolina, their football program, especially because they were a part of the SEC, was one of his deciding factors. Evins also shared that he thinks that on top of football success, social media can also be a factor to an influx in applications at these schools. Evins said that social media sheds new light on the whole experience of a college game day for prospective students and shows some of the social aspects of the school. 

Statue of Doug Flutie’s “Hail Mary” pass at Boston College. Photo credit: Lorianne DiSabato via flickr.

The addition of social media has only grown the influence of the “Flutie Effect,” but this is not the only change that has occurred in the almost four decades since the birth of this phenomenon. College football looks very different now; the number of bowl games keeps expanding, with, according to the 2022 Bowl Game Schedule, “43 contests spanning three weeks (post-season).”

Before 2014, the NCAA decided the national champions by vote rather than a four-team playoff. Since then, they have moved to use bowl games to host the College Football Playoffs. The “New Year’s Six” is the rotation of the semi-finalist hosts, with the other four bowls inviting the next best teams from that season. However, the playoffs are expanding. Starting in the 2024-2025 season, the college football playoffs will grow from four teams to twelve teams. Post-season games are extremely popular and can be some of the most effective games in relation to the “Flutie Effect.” 

The football season ended with at least three teams who have often been in the headlines. The two-time national champion Georgia Bulldogs, the runner-up TCU who began the season unranked, and Tulane University. After their miraculous comeback against Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams and the USC Trojans, Tulane earned a #9 final ranking after also starting the season unranked.

These Cinderella stories for the latter two teams are putting them on the map and will likely lead to an increase in applications in the upcoming season. As Georgia has already begun to experience the “Flutie Effect” with the aftermath of their first national championship, receiving “roughly 21% more EA applications than last year,” it can only be expected that this number increases. 

The next time you are looking at acceptance rate percentages, remember that those are only past metrics, and nothing is ever 100% guaranteed. One game can change an entire admissions process. 

Featured Image credit: Keys Weekly.