The Cinderella story continues in Bloomington. Indiana University has climbed to the top of the College Sports Social Pulse™, marking the first time this season the Hoosiers have landed at No. 1 in the national rankings of which teams, players and coaches are making the biggest impact online.
The College Sports Social Pulse, produced by the Social Media Insights Lab, measures online conversation each week across X, Instagram, Reddit and other platforms to show which programs are winning the digital game.
Indiana’s surge reflects more than on-field success. The Hoosiers have ignited a wave of fan enthusiasm and national curiosity, generating more than 1.6 million engagements and a strong positive sentiment in Week 11. Their story has become one of the most emotionally resonant in college football.
Ohio State follows closely at No. 2, keeping the Big Ten in the top two spots for the second straight week. The Buckeyes continue to drive major fan energy behind quarterback Julian Sayin and receivers Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs. All three players are among this week’s Top 10 in the Pulse’s player rankings.
But even as the Big Ten dominates the top of the leaderboard, the SEC remains the emotional center of the sport, with five teams in the Top 10: Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, Auburn and LSU.
“Indiana’s last-minute victory on Saturday shows how emotion powers attention,” said Clay Owen, professor of practice at the USC College of Information and Communications. “Coach Curt Cignetti has made football more than an afterthought in Bloomington. But the SEC continues to define the digital landscape. The passion across that conference is unmatched.”
Top 10 Teams – Week Eleven
- Indiana
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Penn State
- Alabama
- Texas A&M
- Auburn
- LSU
- Oregon
- Texas Tech
Among players, Texas quarterback Arch Manning remains the sport’s most discussed figure, topping the Pulse for the fifth time this season. He’s followed by Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, whose consistency has helped power the Buckeyes’ strong digital showing, and Georgia’s Gunner Stockton, whose continued playmaking keeps the Bulldogs in the national spotlight.
Top 10 Players – Week Eleven
- Arch Manning – Texas
- Julian Sayin – Ohio State
- Gunner Stockton – Georgia
- Fernando Mendoza – Indiana
- Jeremiah Smith – Ohio State
- Diego Pavia – Vanderbilt
- DJ Lagway – Florida
- Trinidad Chambliss – Ole Miss
- John Mateer – Oklahoma
- Caleb Downs – Ohio State
In the coaching conversation, the SEC takes the top three spots. Texas A&M’s Mike Elko takes over No. 1 as the Aggies continue their undefeated run, while Lane Kiffin and Eliah Drinkwitz round out the top three.
Negativity continues to drive coaches into the Top 10. Florida State’s Mike Norvell and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney faced off on the gridiron with Clemson taking the win. Both coaches, however, were propelled into the rankings by high fan engagement and extremely low sentiment. It’s proof that controversy fuels clicks as effectively as victory.
Top 10 Coaches – Week Eleven
- Mike Elko – Texas A&M
- Lane Kiffin – Ole Miss
- Eliah Drinkwitz – Missouri
- Deion Sanders – Colorado
- Jeff Brohm – Louisville
- Mike Norvell – Florida State
- Kalen DeBoer – Alabama
- Matt Campbell – Iowa State
- Dabo Swinney – Clemson
- Marcus Freeman – Notre Dame
Methodology
The College Sports Social Pulse™ analyzes millions of public posts weekly across X, Instagram, Reddit, and other platforms. Using a proprietary formula blending engagement, sentiment and conversation volume, it identifies who’s winning the online conversation each week.
Week Eleven measures social activity from Nov. 4–10, capturing how emotion, intensity and storytelling continue to shape the digital heartbeat of college football.
About the College Sports Social Pulse™
Developed by the University of South Carolina’s Social Media Insights Lab, the College Sports Social Pulse™ tracks the shifting heartbeat of college football fandom. Using data-driven analysis, it reveals which teams, players, and coaches are commanding the national conversation — regardless of what the scoreboard says.