CORRECTING And REPLACING Discover Fan Loyalty Poll: SEC Fans Crowned Most Loyal College Football Fans For Second Year

December 30, 2013

Oklahoma Boasts Most Die-Hard Fans Among Top 20 Teams

RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 30, 2013-- Oklahoma will take on Alabama in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 2014 (sted Oklahoma will take on Clemson in the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl on Jan. 3, 2014).

The corrected release reads:

DISCOVER FAN LOYALTY POLL: SEC FANS CROWNED MOST LOYAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS FOR SECOND YEAR

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 Alabama in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 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.

Source: Discover Financial Services

Media Contacts:
Discover
Matt Towson
224-405-5649
matthewtowson@discover.com
or
Discover
Alyssa Siegele
224-405-4113
alyssasiegele@discover.com