By Garrett Strunk
SouthernPigskin.com

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Polling fans from ESPN, Rivals and VLE guess who is the most hated team in college football?

I put the question out there for college football fans on the ESPN, Rivals and VLE sports message boards: “Who was their favorite team” and keeping it football related only, “which 5 teams did they despise the most?” The results were interesting, some (serious) answers surprising and the thread on ESPN got so heated that a mod had it deleted. It’s no secret, we college football fans hate each, some more than others. So without further delay, I present to you the results of the football fans top 5 most despised:

Scoring goes: 1 = 5pts, 2 = 4pts, 3 = 3pts, 4 = 2pts, 5 = 1pts. (parentheses) = 1st place votes.

5) Texas– 71 (9), 22 votes : If there is one thing football fans don’t like, its big programs throwing their weight around and getting what ever they want. In this case we hate Texas for nearly destroying the Big12 like they have been blamed for breaking up the SWC. Reasons for the hater-aid include getting a bigger chunk of Big12 revenue and negotiating your own TV network instead of doing it as a conference. You big bullies you.

4) Southern Cal– 79 (2), 28 votes: Buying a Heisman trophy winner is not enough to make this elite list, just ask Auburn. That’s why after last season they picked up the hated Lane Kiffin (true story). Even with scholarship reductions and bowl bans they still reel in top recruits. Reasons for hate include Lane Kiffin, paying a player(s) and arrogance.

3) Ohio State– 112, (8), 35 votes: Pardon me your highness, I meant “the” Ohio State University. The email scandal being fresh in everybody’s mind probably had something to do with receiving so many votes or maybe we are all jealous of your success, I get so confused sometimes. Besides Jim Tressel’s attemped cover up, reasons range from fan base arrogance, media darlings and possibly the best reason of all…..because you’re from Ohio.

2) Notre Dame– 140 (4), 44 votes: Congratulations!! Everybody hates you, receiving the most top 5 votes. Reasons range from media hype, not joining a conference and even having special rules to allow you in a BCS bowl. But Notre Dame like the last 23 years is not the #1 team.

1) Florida– 161 (19), 43 votes: Surprise!! Well maybe not, their rivals FSU, Miami, UGA and UTenn fans rocked the vote, many of them voted the Gators #1. Not only did they win (or lose depending how you see it), they ran up the score in typical Gator fashion. Reasons range from fan base arrogance, heated rivalry and dropping Miami from their schedule.

Points break down:

Alabama = 47 (5)
Arizona = 2
Auburn = 70 (2)
Boise State = 19
Boston College = 5
Brigham Young = 6 (1)
California = 7
Central Florida = 4
Clemson = 43 (5)
Colorado = 24 (2)
Colorado State = 5 (1)
Duke = 1
East Dakota = 4
Florida = 161 (19)
Florida State = 48 (4)
Georgia = 54 (3)
Georgia Tech = 25 (2)
Illinois = 3
Iowa = 29 (1)
Kansas = 5 (1)
Kansas State = 5 (1)
Kentucky = 8
Louisville = 8
Louisiana State = 20
Maryland = 1
Miami FL = 68 (1)
Michigan = 62 (6)
Michigan State = 16
Minnesota = 7
Miss State = 2
Missouri = 20 (1)
Nebraska = 19
New Mex State = 1
North Carolina = 25 (1)
NC State = 2
Northwestern = 6
Notre Dame = 140 (4)
Ohio State = 112 (8)
Oklahoma = 30 (3)
Oklahoma State = 6
Oregon = 23 (1)
Oregon State = 6
Penn State = 24
Pittsburgh = 9 (1)
Purdue = 2
San Diego State = 2
South Carolina = 23 (2)
South Florida = 4
Southern Cal = 79 (2)
Stanford = 4
Tennessee = 65 (3)
Texas = 71 (9)
Texas A&M = 18 (1)
Texas Tech = 7
Tulsa = 4
UCLA 10 (2)
Utah = 7
Vanderbilt = 1
Virginia = 13 (1)
Virginia Tech = 19 (1)
Washington = 20 (4)
West Virginia = 17 (2)
Wisconsin = 6
Yale = 1

Fan base break down:

Alabama = 3
Arkansas = 1
Auburn = 2
Central Florida = 1
Clemson = 2
Colorado = 1
Florida = 6
Florida State = 10
Georgia = 6
Iowa = 3
Iowa State = 1
Kentucky = 2
Maryland = 1
Miami FL = 6
Michigan = 5
Mich State = 1
Missouri = 1
Nebraska = 6
Notre Dame = 1
Ohio State = 9
Oklahoma = 7
Ok State = 1
Oregon = 3
South Carolina = 5
South Florida = 1
Southern Cal = 2
Tennessee = 2
Texas = 2
Texas Tech = 1
Utah = 1
Virginia Tech = 3
Wash State = 1
West Virginia = 3
Wisconsin = 3

Total = 103