DFS Discover Financial Services

Oklahoma Boasts Most Die-Hard Fans Among Top 20 Teams

Whether watching their team play week after week, weathering a bad season, or showing their loyalty around friends and family, Southeastern Conference (SEC) fans are the most loyal for the second year in a row.

The 2013 Discover Fan Loyalty Poll gathered sentiment from fans for 13 weeks and found that SEC college football fans are the most loyal compared to any major conference and independent team across three tracked questions:

Somewhat or very important to watch my favorite team’s game each week:

    1.     SEC 2. Big Ten 3. ACC, Big 12 (tie) 5. Pac-12 6. American Athletic, Independent (tie) 8. Some other conference  

Still follow my team’s games even if they are having a bad season:

    1.     Independent 2. SEC 3. Big 12 4. ACC 5. Big Ten 6. American Athletic 7. Pac-12 8. Some other conference  

Friends and family know my favorite team:

    1.     SEC 2. Big 12 3. Big Ten 4. Independent 5. ACC 6. American Athletic 7. Pac-12 8. Some other conference  

Oklahoma Ousts Auburn with the Most Die-Hard Fans

While SEC fans showed the most loyalty of the major conferences, the school with the most loyal fans hails from the Big 12, as the Oklahoma Sooners have the most loyal fans this year. In 2012, Auburn earned the distinction. Oklahoma will take on Clemson in the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl on Jan. 3, 2014. The Top 20 loyalty standings are as follows:

    1.     Oklahoma 2. Nebraska 3. Ohio State University 4. Texas, Florida, Auburn (tie) 7. Georgia, Wisconsin (tie) 9. Florida State 10. Tennessee 11. Notre Dame 12. Alabama 13. LSU 14. Iowa, Michigan (tie) 16. Penn State, Michigan State (tie) 18. Missouri 19. Oregon 20. Minnesota  

Women Shut Out Men for Second Year as Most Loyal

Among all those surveyed throughout the season, women surpassed men by a small margin for the second year in a row as the most loyal college football fans. When their team is having a bad season, 89 percent of women still follow their games every week, compared to 86 percent of men. Additionally, 84 percent of women’s family and friends know which team is their favorite, compared to 81 percent of men’s.

The 2013 Discover Fan Loyalty Poll was conducted twice a month by Rasmussen Reports, a nationally recognized leader in polling, who gathered sentiment by phone from 1,500 college football fans who follow games at least once per week on television, radio, in person or online. The Poll leads up to the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl. Discover’s commitment to college football includes relationships with ESPN and Notre Dame Football on NBC.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers home loans, private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.

Media Contacts:DiscoverMatt Towson224-405-5649matthewtowson@discover.comorDiscoverAlyssa Siegele224-405-4113alyssasiegele@discover.com