The Cringiest College Sports Programs – According to Social Media

Have you ever watched a college sports moment so awkward, so over-the-top, or so painfully try-hard that you just had to look away? Well, don’t feel too bad, you’re not alone.

When it comes to high-stakes college athletics, especially during emotionally charged events like March Madness, the line between passion and pure cringe gets crossed far more often than you’d think. For some programs, it’s the overzealous fan chants. For others, it’s the mascot antics, cheesy hype videos, or just an unbearable sense of self-importance exuded by the team’s star players. Whether it’s coming from die-hard fans or relentless rivals, certain college teams just seem to attract a very specific type of social media attention. The kind that leads to that inevitable second-hand embarrassment.

To find out which NCAA Division I programs are making people cringe the most, the team at Action Network analyzed social media posts to reveal which teams are generating the most buzz for all the wrong reasons.

The Top 5 Cringiest Sports Programs

Ready to feel second-hand embarrassment for all the teams on our list? Here are the cringiest college sports programs in the NCAA, ranked by social media’s most savage takes:

#1: Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs boast one of the largest and most passionate athletic programs in the NCAA, competing at the Division I level across multiple sports. But while the university supports over 20 varsity teams, college football (NCAAF) is the undisputed crown jewel of the program.

The Bulldogs have enjoyed major success in recent years, including back-to-back College Football Playoff National Championships in 2021 and 2022, cementing their place as an SEC powerhouse.

But with success often comes scrutiny, and in Georgia’s case, a fair share of cringe. One moment that made the rounds on social media came during the trophy ceremony at the Georgia-Notre Dame Sugar Bowl, where fans and commentators alike called out awkward interviews and forced celebrations that didn’t quite hit the mark.

Despite the dominance on the field, some moments off-pitch leave even loyal fans with burning cheeks. And with a mighty 15,640 cringe-related online posts over the last 12 months, the Georgia Bulldogs have the number one cringiest sports program.

#2: Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of the most prominent athletic programs in the NCAA, with over 30 varsity teams and a fanbase that ranks among the most loyal (and loud) in the country.

Though the school excels across several sports, football (NCAAF) is unquestionably the centerpiece. The Buckeyes have a storied history, including multiple national championships, a consistent presence in the College Football Playoff, and a heated rivalry with Michigan that defines college football Saturdays.

However, Ohio State’s massive presence on social media also means their missteps get amplified. One of the most cringeworthy moments came when the team filed a trademark for the word “THE,” sparking widespread mockery and memes.

While fans proudly defend the move, others saw it as unnecessarily pretentious. Combine that with some over-the-top videos and sideline antics, and the Buckeyes occasionally find themselves crossing the line between swagger and embarrassment.

There have been 14,840 cringe-related online posts about the Ohio State Buckeyes over the last 12 months, placing them at number two in our rankings.

#3: Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama Crimson Tide is a truly iconic athletic program in the NCAA, fielding over 20 varsity teams and dominating the Southeastern Conference across multiple different sports.

But without question, the heart of the program is football (NCAAF). Under legendary coach Nick Saban, Alabama captured six national championships between 2009 and 2020, establishing a dynasty that few programs can rival. Unfortunately, this level of success comes with an intensity that occasionally veers into cringe territory.

Alabama’s fan base is famously passionate, sometimes to a fault. A widely mocked moment came when fans launched petition campaigns and conspiracy theories after playoff snubs, drawing criticism even from neutral observers.

Add in the hyper-dramatic social media edits and pre-game hype rituals, and it’s easy to see why some online circles label the Tide as just a little too serious about winning. Still, you can’t deny that they back it up on the field.

Over the last 12 months, Alabama Crimson Tide were the subject of 13,920 online posts about them being cringe, putting them firmly in the top five cringiest programs.

#4: Kentucky Wildcats

A powerhouse within the NCAA, the Kentucky Wildcats have more than 20 varsity teams competing at the Division I level. And while the university fields strong programs across multiple sports, there’s no question that men’s basketball (NCAAB) is the pride of Big Blue Nation.

With eight national championships and a proud legacy that includes names like Adolph Rupp and John Calipari, Kentucky is one of the most celebrated programs in college basketball history.

But with great tradition comes great expectation, and occasionally some major cringe. One infamous moment was the “40-0” talk during the 2014-15 season, when fans and media alike hyped the Wildcats as unbeatable.

The team went 38-1, falling short in the Final Four and opening the floodgates for mockery. Add in the intense fan reactions to every win, and you’ve got a program that sometimes goes from passionate to painfully overhyped in the eyes of social media.

There were 9,280 online posts in the last 12 months that talked about the Kentucky Wildcats being cringey, giving them the number four spot.

#5: Tennessee Volunteers

Based at the University of Tennessee, the Tennessee Volunteers run a large and competitive NCAA Division I athletics program with 20+ varsity teams. While the school has seen success across sports like baseball and basketball, football (NCAAF) remains the flagship sport in Knoxville.

With a passionate fanbase and a history that includes a national championship in 1998, Tennessee football has been on a long journey to reclaim its place among the sport’s elite.

Still, that passion does sometimes take on the cringe factor. One of the most talked-about incidents came in 2021, when fans littered the field with trash during a heated loss to Ole Miss.

The scene went viral and became a symbol of fan frustration boiling over in all the wrong ways. Combine that with the “It’s football time in Tennessee!” chant being memed to death, and the Vols have earned their share of social media side-eyes.

A total of 9,220 cringe-related online posts over the last 12 months make the Tennessee Volunteers the fifth-most cringeworthy sports program in the US.

Is Your College Sports Program Major Cringe?

From awkward trophy ceremonies and fan meltdowns to simply going overboard with self-confidence, every college sports program has its moment in the social media spotlight, for better or worse.

But let’s be honest: if your college isn’t being talked about, are you even trying? Cringe might make you the butt of a few memes, but it also means people are watching. And in the high-drama, emotion-packed arena of college athletics, that’s kind of the whole point.

So, here’s to the awkward interviews, the viral chants, and the delusional preseason predictions, because without them, college sports simply wouldn’t be as entertaining.

Methodology

To uncover the most cringe-inducing college sports programs in the country, the team at Action Network analyzed social media posts across X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit using Brandwatch.

We tracked mentions of Division I NCAA programs over the past 12 months and measured the volume of posts that included terms like “cringe”, “cringeworthy”, “cringey”, and “second-hand embarrassment” in the same breath as a team name.

This allowed us to identify which programs consistently had fans (or haters) talking for all the wrong reasons.