Source: Alamy Stock Photo
New data shows which NCAA teams have attracted the most ‘T-shirt fans’.
Check out Betway for the latest March Madness betting markets.
We are down to the NCAA Final Four as March Madness flows into April and bandwagon fans flock to the competition’s most successful teams!
A new study from Betway has therefore set out to reveal the NCAA team with the most T-shirt fans looking to bask in the college’s potential glory.
Duke are always strong operators, and their final four appearance comes as no surprise. Perhaps equally unsurprising is how – just like last year – neutrals are hopping on their bandwagon in their droves.
Over 250,000 Instagram users followed the ‘Duke Blue Devils’ account since last April, with many of them coming in the build up to their semi-final clash with the Houston Cougars this weekend.
|
Team |
Instagram Followers |
Average Likes |
Average Comments |
Engagement Rate |
No. of additional followers since Final 4 2025 |
|
Duke Blue Devils |
1,700,000 |
25,000 |
252 |
1.94% |
254,115 |
|
Auburn Tigers |
317,000 |
12,000 |
120 |
3.43% |
26,557 |
|
Florida Gators |
500,000 |
15,000 |
150 |
3.03% |
17,371 |
|
Houston Cougars |
68,000 |
9,000 |
90 |
4.55% |
8,600 |
While the Duke Blue Devils gained ten times more followers than second placed Auburn Tigers, the college still saw a relatively large increase with 26,557 people joining their charge towards the NCAA final.
The Tigers’ account has more than 300,000 followers on Instagram as of April 2025 with a high engagement rate of 3.43%
The Florida Gators account, meanwhile, has seen 17,371 new “T-shirt fans” join their cause since last season.
And the Houston Cougars come in at fourth place, with 8,600 bandwagoners following their Instagram page since this time last year.
In the Women’s NCAA Championship, a similar pattern can be observed.
A huge number of new fans have hopped on the famous UConn Huskies bandwagon since last season, with thousands following their Instagram account in advance of their Final Four clash with the UCLA Bruins.
|
Team |
Instagram Followers |
Average Likes |
Average Comments |
Engagement Rate |
No. of additional followers since Final 4 2025 |
|
UConn Huskies |
518,000 |
18,000 |
180 |
4.55% |
214,608 |
|
South Carolina Gamecocks |
275,000 |
10,000 |
100 |
4.04% |
81,602 |
|
UCLA Bruins |
90,000 |
12,000 |
121 |
5.26% |
10,963 |
|
Texas Longhorns |
76,000 |
11,000 |
110 |
3.70% |
960 |
The South Carolina Gamecocks have also seen a sizable increase to their following, however, with more than 80,000 fans smashing the ‘follow’ button since April 2024.
The Gamecocks run to the Final Four has no doubt enticed fans to support their efforts and they will be hoping to celebrate some more with a victory against the Texas Longhorns later this week.
The Longhorns have seen their following change to a minimal degree since April 2024 with a net of 960 accounts following their Instagram profile in that time.
The UCLA Bruins have enjoyed a boost more than ten times that, with 10,963 people nailing their colours to the Bruins mast over the past twelve months.
