College football continues attendance slide for seventh straight season

The 2021 season saw the long-awaited return of college football fans after the COVID-19 pandemic forced empty stadiums in 2020. The numbers are now in — and overall attendance ended up dropping for the seventh straight year.

As a whole, college football saw 39,848 fans come through the gates this season, according to CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd. That’s a 3.93% decrease from 2019 when 41,477 people watched their favorite teams in-person. Some leagues — the Big Ten, Sun Belt and MAC — saw their numbers go up this season. But most other leagues saw attendance figures drop, including Conference USA, which saw an 11.5% decrease from 2019.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey weighed in on the impact of dipping attendance, as well. His league saw a -0.007% decrease and its lowest average since 1999. In fact, nine of the 14 SEC teams saw attendance decline this year, including Georgia, which ended up winning its first national championship since 1980.

“There’s plenty of, if you will, negativity around the collegiate sports world,” Sankey said, via Dodd. “People have said, ‘Well, these decisions won’t affect fan interest.’ Well, something certainly is. It’s not just TV. It’s not just COVID. We have to rethink our approach on key issues. That’s almost a Captain Obvious moment.”

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby also gave his thoughts, pointing out the impact television has on people’s decision to watch games in-person. His league had its lowest attendance figures since 2000 and a 4.3% decrease since 2019. League champion Baylor was among multiple conference champions to see an attendance drop in 2021.

“We really are competing against the 70-inch TV and the beer that is cold in your refrigerator and no lines at the restroom,” Bowlsby said, via Dodd. “We have to continue to make sure we enhance the game day experience.”

Here’s the comprehensive list of how many people came out to college football games this season.

College football attendance figures for 2021 season

SEC

Average attendance in 2021: 72,195 (lowest since 1999)

% change from 2019: -0.007%

Big Ten

Average attendance in 2021: 65,252 (highest since 2018)

% change from 2019: +0.003%

Big 12

Average attendance in 2021: 55,017 (lowest since 2000)

% change from 2019: -4.3%

Pac-12

Average attendance in 2021: 43,865 (lowest ever)

% change from 2019: -4.8%

ACC

Average attendance in 2021: 42,599 (lowest since 1990)

% change from 2019: -11.7%

Independents

Average attendance in 2021: 32,146 (lowest since 2001)

% change from 2019: -13.2%

American Athletic Conference

Average attendance in 2021: 28,592 (lowest ever)

% change from 2019: -3%

Mountain West

Average attendance in 2021: 21,401 (lowest ever)

% change from 2019: -7.9%

Sun Belt

Average attendance in 2021: 18,410 (highest since 2013)

% change from 2019: +0.04%

Conference USA

Average attendance in 2021: 18,048 (lowest ever)

% change from 2019: -11.5%

MAC

Average attendance in 2021: 17,456 (highest since 2006)

% change from 2019: +12.4%