Most Popular College Sports in the World

As a young child, you may have played several sports during the year to find out which you enjoyed most. However, specializing in one sport gives you the best chance to earn a scholarship to the school of your dreams. Knowing the most popular college sports in the world highlight which sports interest student-athletes and fans alike.

Oldie but a Goodie

Since we did say world, it’s impossible not to include the prominence of cricket. Cricket may not have mass appeal in the States in 2022, but its history dates back nearly 200 years in America. The first-ever competitive tournament was a cricket match between Canada and the United States in 1844. There were over 10,000 onlookers to watch these two neighbors in the western hemisphere square off. Our friendly allies up north didn’t take it easy on the Yanks, winning by 23 runs.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

The beautiful thing about baseball is that there are endless opportunities for students to play the game while in school and possibly earn a scholarship. An astounding number of major universities and small colleges have a baseball team, so you could have several colleges interested in your services if you can hit the long ball.

The Madness of Basketball

The unprecedented champion of the best postseason in college athletics is the NCAA Tournaments every March/April in men’s and women’s basketball. While it may be one of the most difficult sports to earn a scholarship in because the benches are shorter than other teams, it’s still popular amongst fans and students at the universities.

You can expect a raucous crowd in most arenas around the country, going bonkers whenever the opponent is at the foul line. But the most fun comes in March when the nation watches the 68 teams trying to be the last team standing. Without bracket pools, it would be interesting to see where college hoops would be in popularity. Nevertheless, it does have those fun pools and exhilarating upsets that keep everyone on the edge of their seat.

American Football

If this were strictly about the United States, NCAA football would be the undisputed champion. Even though there are only a handful of teams who have the potential to take home the trophy at the end of the year, Americans eat this sport up. Whether it’s the high-scoring offenses of the Big 12 or the defensive juggernauts (or offensive ineptness) of the Big 10, each Saturday will entertain you from noon until midnight.

Fútbol Is Life

Fútbol is life for most of the human race, as it’s the most popular sport in colleges worldwide. Of the sports on this list, soccer has the most universal appeal. Regardless of where you’re from, you’ll find someone who loves or participates in soccer.

The world’s most popular college sports are because of school participation and viewership at home. It’s hard to imagine that any other sports will challenge these five anytime soon unless pickleball continues to gain steam.

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