Alabama’s Reign Ends: Fans Choose Florida State as Best Team,
Auburn to Win it All
RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2013--
It’s better to give than to receive, unless you’re part of the 30
percent of college football fans who say they’d rather receive a BCS
National Championship victory for their favorite team than give gifts to
their loved ones.
On the flip side, 61 percent of fans embrace more holiday cheer and
would rather hand out gifts than become a Scrooge for victory, according
to the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll. Eight percent could not decide between
giving gifts or winning the title.
From Couch to Coach: Majority of Fans Want a Chance on the Sidelines
Perhaps one of the best gifts an avid college football fan could receive
would be the opportunity to coach their favorite team. The overwhelming
majority of fans, 83 percent, said they would want to coach their team
to victory, compared to 9 percent of fans who would rather get on the
opposite side to sabotage their rival team’s chances.
The holiday season may be warming fans’ hearts, as many fans love a good
old underdog to win. When their favorite team isn’t playing, a large
majority, 77 percent of fans, root for the underdog, compared to just 10
percent who cheer on the dominant team. The remaining 13 percent were
unsure.
Fans Drop Alabama, Pick Florida State for Best Team in the Country
In the final Discover Fan Loyalty Poll, 30 percent of fans selected
Florida State as the best team in the country right now. The Seminoles
are set to take on Auburn in the BCS National Championship on Jan. 6,
2014. Alabama, which held the top spot for the past six consecutive
polls, dropped to third. The remaining rankings broke down as follows:
-
Auburn, 24 percent
-
Alabama, 15 percent
-
Michigan State, 7 percent
-
Stanford, 4 percent
Auburn Receives Vote of Confidence
However, when it comes to which team fans think will win the National
Championship, 50 percent of all fans favored Auburn, with 44 percent on
Florida State’s side.
The Discover Fan Loyalty Poll is conducted twice a month by Rasmussen
Reports, a nationally recognized leader in polling, who gathers
sentiment by phone from 1500 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.
Source: Discover Financial Services
Media Contacts:
Discover
Matt Towson, 224-405-5649
matthewtowson@discover.com
or
Alyssa
Siegele, 224-405-4113
alyssasiegele@discover.com