There are sports fans all over America, from sea to shining sea. But there’s no doubt that some states are just better places to live for sports fans. Living in some states, it’s almost like you have no choice to be a sports fan, and living in others, sports is more of an afterthought. So, I wanted to put together a list of all 50 states in the U.S., ranking them from worst to best, which one’s are the greatest to live in if you’re a sports fan. Now, there are many different types of sports and this list would get ridiculously complicated if I took into consideration sports like surfing, snowboarding, horse racing, etc. While I like those things, I’m keeping things fairly simple by mainly talking about team sports on the college and professional levels. So without any further explanation, let’s get to it:

50. Alaska

You have to start this list with Alaska, sorry dog sled racing fans. But if you think about it, have you ever heard the words “Alaska” and “sports” in the same sentence? It’s an outdoorsman’s state, not a sports state. Although an NHL team would be very cool to have in Alaska.

49. Hawaii

Hawaii is a tropical paradise where people who play sports go to relax and get away from sports. They are in the same boat as Alaska, but at least they have the University of Hawaii who people have heard of, and the Maui Invitational. But even the Pro Bowl, which nobody cares about in the first place, was moved out of the Aloha state. And perhaps the most obvious (for Alaska too) is you’ll have to travel a long ways to attend a major league sporting event.

48. Montana

Montana borders four state, and none of them have professional sports. And of course, neither does the state of Montana. When you think of this state you just think of wide open spaces and ranching. But hey, at least there’s a hall of fame quarterback with the same name.

47. South Dakota

What does South Dakota have sportswise? The closest thing would have to be Mount Rushmore, the inspiration for sports people to debate the “Mount Rushmore” of certain topics, such as the best quarterbacks of all-time.

46. Wyoming

The Cowboy State is just that, a state for cowboys. This ranching state has nothing to do with sports other than rodeos and the University of Wyoming that you hear about once every few years. And being out in the open West, you’ll have a long ways to go to travel to sports games.

45. Maine

If lobster fishing was a national sport, then Maine would be in business. Too bad it’s not. Maine is like Alaska…it’s an outdoorsman’s paradise where sports just aren’t prevalent. But at least Mainers have a slight association with Boston sports, being not too far away, and that is a big deal.

44. North Dakota

Pretty much like South Dakota. There just isn’t much to these two states. The difference is, North Dakota is home to North Dakota State who wins the Division 1 AA football championship pretty much every single year.

43. New Mexico

When you think of New Mexico, you don’t think of sports. You think of Breaking Bad, the desert, hot food, and Breaking Bad again. They do have the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State for athletics, but neither of those schools offer too much optimism for their fans. And lastly, New Mexico is located between two awesome sports states, but that doesn’t mean it would be a short drive to either one’s professional games.

42. Idaho

Boise State was very relevant for a while in the college football world and put this state on the sports map. They are still good, which at least gives the state something to look forward to and get behind every single fall, but not quite like they were. They are lacking in professional sports though.

41. Nebraska

Situated in the middle of the country, Nebraska doesn’t have a whole lot for sports fans. But if you’re into state fairs I can imagine Nebraska being toward the top of that list. Back in the day, they would have been a few spots higher on this list due to the Nebraska Cornhusker football program that everyone in the state adores, but they are an afterthought these days in the college football world. The best thing that Nebraska offers sports-wise is the annual College Baseball World Series in Omaha, which is awesome.

40. Vermont

Another outdoorsy state that gets a lot of snow and you just don’t associate it with the sports world, other than snow-skiing. They have to associate themselves with all Boston sports, but being so close to Boston gives them way more sports opportunities than some other states.

39. New Hampshire

See Vermont. But they are located closer to Boston.

38. Delaware

Delaware doesn’t have any major league sports teams or big time college teams, but what they do have going for them is proximity to those things. Baltimore, DC, and Philly offer everything to fill the sporting needs for the people of Delaware.

37. Rhode Island

Like New Hampshire, but they are even more connected to Boston sports.

36. Arkansas

We’ve made it to SEC country. But when you think of the SEC you instantly think of football, which the Razorbacks are not very good at. Baseball…definitely, basketball…every 5-7 years they are decent. But they need to be good in football to be more sports relevant.

35. West Virginia

Ok, so they have the West Virginia Mountaineer football team and that is EVERYTHING to the people of the wild and wonderful state. When a team means that much to people, that automatically bumps them up a few spots on a list like this. They just don’t have much else tucked into those mountains, besides a minor league baseball team in Charleston. They are fairly close to Pittsburgh, though.

34. Mississippi

Back in SEC country, Mississippi is more relevant than Arkansas, but not as relevant as the other states. Ole Miss and Mississippi State have good baseball teams, mediocre basketball teams, but are just lacking too much in the football department right now, and that’s where it matters. They do have a nice rivalry though, between those two schools which is great.

33. Connecticut

Connecticut is tucked right between perhaps the two biggest sporting cities in America, New York and Boston. So, residents of this state are right in the thick of things between those two cities and I imagine have many Red Sox and Yankees fans within their borders. They don’t host the action, but they are in the action. They also have UConn who used to be a source of pride for basketball and I’m sure will be again sooner rather than later.

32. Kansas

Just like Nebraska, basically, with one big exception. And that exception is the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team. If it weren’t for them than Kansas would be knocked down this list, but when you have a national title contender every year then that’s pretty nice. And Kansas State is good enough to create a nice rivalry with the two schools. Oh, and folks who live in Kansas City can ALMOST call the Chiefs and Royals their own.

31. Iowa

Iowa doesn’t have any professional sports teams, but they are surrounded by them. Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis are all within close enough distance to justify a “hometown team.” That’s a great selection for residents of this state to choose from, and don’t forget football season is big time in Iowa with the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones, even though neither is going to threaten for the national championship.

30. Kentucky

One sport puts Kentucky up this far on the list: college basketball. People of this state are absolutely nuts about college basketball with the Kentucky Wildcats and the Louisville Cardinals. And they should be because most years those two schools have enough talent to win the national championship. There’s horse racing too that defines the state, but with this list I’m talking about team sports.

29. South Carolina

The University of South Carolina and Clemson. And with Clemson’s recent football success, it bumps South Carolina up a few spots on this list. Football season is pretty much everything for fans of these two schools, even though both are very good at baseball as well. And as far as major league sports goes, this state has a pretty good split between rooting for Charlotte teams and Atlanta teams, which is a decent little rivalry in the South.

28. Virginia

Virginia almost has pro sports with Washington D.C., but it doesn’t count. Either way, a lot of people in Virginia still count them as their team and that’s fair. They also have some impactful college teams with the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. Certainly not a bad sports state.

27. Alabama

In my opinion, the best sports state that isn’t home to a professional team. And that is because of one sport: college football. When you think of college football, you think of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Oh, and don’t forget Auburn who is also on the national stage every year too. One of the best rivalries in sports is the football game between these two schools. Football season in Alabama is a way of life, and that’s a pretty cool thing to have for sports fans.

26. Nevada

We’ve now entered the “states with a professional sports team” section. And Nevada is brand new at this. The Las Vegas Golden Knights are about three years old (and still doesn’t sound like a real NHL team) and the Raiders are preparing for their first full season in Las Vegas. Maybe residents of Nevada adopt them quickly and passionately, or maybe not. But because these teams are so brand new, we still have to wait and see how good/bad of a sports state Nevada is.

25. Utah

Utah has the Jazz and that’s pretty cool, but that’s it. They are not too prevalent in the college scene, though Utah and Utah State have good years from time to time. But like I said, the Jazz are a cool team to have represent your state, with pretty good tradition and great former players. Sports fans in Utah can focus all their professional fandom on the Jazz to make them especially beloved.

24. Oregon

This one-professional sport state offers only an NBA team like Utah. But also like Utah, residents love their team and the Trailblazers are a really cool team to pull for. They have a uniqueness about them and it’s awesome when a state’s team means a lot to their people. They get the nod over Utah on this list though because they have more exciting college teams. The Oregon Ducks especially have a strong national backing in football and Oregon State is good enough to create a nice in-state rivalry.

23. Oklahoma

Even though the Thunder have been here since 2008, it still seems a little weird that Oklahoma is home to an NBA franchise. And although they never won the championship, they’ve already had some great years, great players, and draw good crowds. They’ve done well representing Oklahoma as its only professional sports team. Don’t forget college teams, either. The Sooners are one of college football’s best teams year in and year out, and those fans are absolutely diehard. They have a nice rivalry with Oklahoma State as well, who can hold their own. And then the famous Red River Rivalry…

22. Washington

The Seattle Seahawks are their pride, as they should be. They are a competitive threat every year and have the “12th man” tradition. The Mariners on the other hand haven’t given sports fans in this state much to cheer for in a while. And Seattle losing the Supersonics hurt big time. They were such a cool franchise. With only two professional teams and not the strongest college resume, Washington couldn’t quite crack the top 20. But there is a uniqueness about this state that translates to its sports teams in a good way, making them “cool.”

21. New Jersey

New Jersey has just one professional sports team to call their own (NHL’s New Jersey Devils), but technically they have three within their state borders. Both the New York Giants and New York Jets play in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, but everyone knows they are New York teams so they don’t really count. The Devils are greatly beloved though. Rutgers represents the state in college athletics, but doesn’t do a great job at that. The thing that pushes New Jersey up this list though, is their proximity to big market teams. You have southern Jersey across the bridge from Philadelphia and northern Jersey across the bridge from New York City. So, there are A LOT of sports fans in New Jersey and they are all very, very opinionated.

20. Maryland

Maryland is not what it once was on the sports landscape, but it’s still not a bad state to be a sports fan. The Ravens are the state’s pride and joy and have done an excellent job representing them for a long time now. But the Orioles have fallen off from their long lost glory days and have been more of an embarrassment to Maryland recently than anything else. Cool logo and ballpark, though. And the University of Maryland hasn’t been the same since leaving the ACC and forgoing all those great basketball rivalries.

19. Colorado

And we’ve cracked the top 20. Even though Colorado has all four major professional sports teams, you just don’t associate the state with sports that much. The people that live there are more concerned with outdoor recreational activities like biking, hiking, skiing, etc. and you definitely can’t blame them. There’s so much to do there that it makes sports feel secondary. Not to mention besides the Broncos, their sports teams just feel secondary in their respective leagues. The Rockies, Avalanche, and Nuggets are cool teams, but just don’t make much noise too often. And the lack of any collegiate relevancy doesn’t help either.

18. Tennessee

Only lacking a professional baseball team, the Volunteer State comes in at #18. And speaking of Volunteers, if the University of Tennessee was what they once were, Tennessee would be higher on this list. But they have been pretty terrible for a while. The Titans are in a good place now after years of mediocrity and the Grizzlies, umm…have Ja Morant. That’s about it. This state has potential, though and could very easily climb a few more spots on this list, especially with the success of the Volunteers, which the people of this state love more than anything. And the Predators have really made their mark in recent years, bringing out a ton of fans.

17. Arizona

Arizona has all the sports teams and two big time colleges, but they all pretty much suck. This state has a TON of potential, but right now is not the best time to be a sports fan in this state. The Diamondbacks won’t win the West, the Suns are forgettable, the Cardinals are far from winning anything, and I’m surprised the Coyotes are still a thing. Moving on to college, Arizona and Arizona State are not hitting on much these days, just like the PAC-12 as a whole. This state could shoot up the list in a hurry, but right now they’re stuck at #17. The number of teams alone gets them that high.

16. Indiana

When you think Indiana sports, basketball is probably the first thing that comes to mind. These people love their basketball, especially on the collegiate level. Perhaps even the most popular basketball movie Hoosiers is set in this state. The passion for basketball here makes it a great state for sports fans. If the Indiana Hoosier basketball team was better, then this state would be a notch or two higher. Don’t forget Butler basketball as well. But sports in this state don’t stop here. One of the most storied college football teams in Notre Dame is here, as well as the professional franchises of the Colts and Pacers, both who’ve had some great teams. Oh, and Indiana State with the one and only Larry Bird…great, great basketball state.

15. Florida

I may get a lot of slack for ranking Florida this low, but the only reason they are this high is the sheer number of teams here to pull for. You definitely have your selection, whether you’re talking college or pro sports. But my issue with ranking them any higher is the apathy for their professional sports teams. The Dolphins aren’t what they used to be and fans certainly know it. Do the Jaguars even have fans? The Buccaneers have a few more fans now that Tom Brady is in town. The Marlins and Rays never draw anything remotely close to a “crowd.” Heat fans show up late from laying on the beach all day and leave early to hit the nightclubs. So, you see where I’m going here. College is a little different, especially with the University of Florida and Florida State. But overall, the lack of enthusiasm for their teams causes Florida to fall below the top ten. And I almost forgot to mention…a lot of their residents are transplants from northern states, so their fandom lies with teams elsewhere.

14. Minnesota

This state has all the teams, but each one is kind of considered second-tier in their respective sports. The Twins, Timberwolves, Vikings, and Wild all play second fiddle to other teams in their sport, even though they are very good teams sometimes. And you can say the same about their college team, the University of Minnesota who can sometimes be forgotten about in the Big Ten. Nonetheless, this is still a very good sports state and if you live here, you learn to love your hockey. That’s the first thing you think of when you think of Minnesota sports, and that’s pretty awesome.

13. Georgia

I’m a huge Braves fan, but every Braves fan will tell you that when it comes to the postseason, it’s time to start looking forward to next season. And the bad thing is for this state, that’s the stigma for all of its professional teams. The Falcons can’t get it done in the playoffs and will forever be remembered for blowing that 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl, and the Hawks are a perennial 7-8 seed in the playoffs. Don’t forget this state lost its hockey team, the Thrashers, because it couldn’t support them. Georgia is just not a hockey place. But still, the teams here are loved throughout the Southeast, which is cool, and college football is close to a religion. Dawgs fans will tell you there’s no time of year like the fall.

12. North Carolina

Aside from NASCAR, in North Carolina it’s all about basketball. As a resident I couldn’t even begin to describe to outsiders how important college basketball is to nearly everyone. With four ACC schools all within an hour and 45 minutes of each other, everyone has a team and it creates rivalries like no other, especially with the consistent success of North Carolina and Duke. This state is every bit as crazy about college basketball as SEC Country is about college football. But NC also has three professional teams as well with the Hurricanes, Panthers, and Hornets. The thing that hurts North Carolina’s chances at being higher on this list is the lack of consistent success of the professional teams. Even though the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup one year, they, along with the Panthers and Hornets, are pretty much an afterthought once you leave the state lines.

11. Louisiana

You get the feeling that everyone in this state loves sports. And they all rally around their football teams like nothing else. You have to start with LSU. Tiger football is a way of life to these people. Tailgating with their delicious cajun food before games and partying like crazy after winning is all these people know throughout the fall. You can’t forget the Saints either. This state rallies around this team as well every Sunday with just as much passion as any NFL fan base. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that the Saints, along with LSU, are pretty much always good. If you’re a resident of this state, you’re born and bred into Tigers and Saints fandom. The Pelicans are a little different because basketball isn’t as big here as football, but it’s still a unique team that residents of this unique state get behind. Even though Louisiana is missing a professional baseball and hockey team, they more than make up for it with LSU and the New Orleans Saints alone.

10. Missouri

This state is underrated when it comes to sports because people forget that Kansas City is actually in Missouri. So along with the St. Louis Cardinals and Blues, the state is home to the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. You certainly have your pick of professional teams here. Baseball fans all over have adored the Cardinals for a long, long time, as they are among the most historic and most successful in baseball. There is just something different about Cardinal baseball and their tradition. The Blues are a trendy team right now. Across the state, the Chiefs and Royals are both well established organizations and the Chiefs are the best team in football right now. When it comes to college, Missouri has an underrated rivalry with Kansas that fans are really passionate about too. But the professional level is where this state really makes its mark.

9. Ohio

Ohio actually has three cities contributing to the professional sports teams, with Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus all contributing. Cleveland and Cincinnati are obviously the big ones though, and give the people plenty of teams to root for. The one problem with the professional sports teams in this state however, is they are known as being subpar teams. The Browns and the Bengals are consistently bad. The Indians have had their ups and downs, but haven’t won a World Series since 1948. The Reds are a cool team to pull for with a big fan base, but have struggled for a while. The Cavaliers weren’t a bright spot for Cleveland until LeBron, and now he left his hometown team once again. With all this said though, the teams in this state have well-devoted and passionate fan bases. In a way, some of them even embrace the consistent terrible performances, ahem…Cleveland Browns. And it’s always cool to have passionate, loyal fan bases. Then all the fan bases are pulled together with Ohio State. This is pretty much the only big time university in the state, and they are always near the top of the college football standings. Their rivalry with Michigan is one of the biggest in sports. It makes it easier watching the Browns and Bengals lose on Sunday when Ohio State always wins on Saturday.

8. Michigan

Very similar to Ohio, Michigan has historic professional sports teams with devoted fan bases. The Tigers, Red Wings, Lions, and Pistons have all seen plenty of great players and great times. These teams are just bred into the people of this state when they are born and are a point of pride for them, even if they aren’t any good. But unlike Ohio, Michigan has two major universities that are well-known in the sports world, the University of Michigan and Michigan State. Both of these schools usually have very good football and basketball teams. The Big House is an awesome venue for football games, and like I’ve already mentioned, the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is one of the biggest in American sports. Then you have the in-state rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State. There’s a lot going on sports-wise in Michigan all year round. Maybe one of these years the Lions will win a Super Bowl.

7. Wisconsin

It’s so cold here that often there is nothing else to do but watch sports. It’s a good thing they have good sports teams. Starting with one of the most historic and successful franchises in football, the Packers. You find Packers fans in every corner of the country and they are always a relevant team. Fans in Wisconsin go absolutely nuts about their Packers. And it’s cool they play in such a small city. It really feels like a team for the people. Then you have the Bucks and Brewers who both happen to be really good right now. Even when they’re not though, fans here love them. The University of Wisconsin is usually one of the better teams in football and basketball every single year, and Marquette is a great basketball school. The people of Wisconsin love two things: drinking beer and watching their sports teams.

6. Illinois

We are getting to the best of the best when it comes to sports states now. Illinois has Chicago, but that is all it needs. Boasting two major league baseball teams (Cubs and White Sox), Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, Chicago is home to some of the most popular teams in their respected leagues. Everyone, and I mean everyone in the city gets behind their hometown teams, which is awesome, but fandom of these teams spread around the world. As big as these teams are though, they will always be second-tier compared to New York City, just as the nickname suggests, “The Second City.” As far as college sports go, Illinois really only offers the University of Illinois and Northwestern, neither of whom are seen on the biggest stage very much.

5. New York

It’s tough not putting New York higher on the list because New York City is like the center of the world when it comes to sports and entertainment. The city’s teams are among the most well-known and marketed teams around the world. And the city gives the people so many teams to pull for. Two for baseball, two for basketball, two for hockey, and two for football. Then when you expand outside of the city, you have another NFL and NHL team in Buffalo. The options are plenty for New Yorkers. I LOVE how crazy Buffalo fans are, and honestly the Bills fanbase is way better than the Giants or Jets, it’s just nowhere as big or their team successful. But the big thing that knocks New York down to #5 is the fact that the city is so enormous, and there is SO MUCH going on there, sports are not the main focus like it is in other cities such as Boston. Don’t get me wrong because sports are huge there, but not the main focus…just one of the many, many aspects that make up the city. The Yankees have obviously contributed the most to the city, but many of its other teams haven’t been anywhere near as successful. Let’s finally get to college sports. On the big level they have Syracuse basketball, who have fallen on some rough times in recent years with no signs of drastically improving. The end.

4. Pennsylvania

Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer

When starting this list, I didn’t expect to put Pennsylvania quite so high, but they are a great, great sports state. Let’s start with the fact they have two major cities on opposite ends of the state that hate each other. There’s nothing like a good in-state rivalry and Pennsylvania has that in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. And both cities have fanbases that live and die for their teams. Philly sports fans are well-known to be insanely passionate sports fans that will stop at nothing to prove their passion. Their teams are historic and have brought the city many great years. Pittsburgh has the Steelers, one of the most well-known NFL teams around the world with fans everywhere. And they are also one of the most winningest teams in the history of the sport. The Burgh is also home to the best player in hockey. I could talk all day about both fanbases and their pride for their sports teams, but I think you get the point. There’s also some good college teams in this state too with Penn State football and Villanova basketball. I think Pennsylvania is underrated when it comes to their incredible sports scene.

3. California

Let’s count the number of professional sports teams in the state of California…do you have a few minutes? By comparison, Illinois is home to five professional sports teams, and California has five professional baseball teams alone. Then add in 3 NFL teams, 4 NBA teams, 3 NHL teams, and you get a total of 15 major professional sports franchises. 15! This number alone is enough to just about give them the top spot on the list. This state is home to some of the most well known franchises in the world, such as the Dodgers, Giants, 49ers, Lakers, and Warriors (these days). And they all provide their fans with winning seasons most of the time, with some bringing home championships. College sports is the same way with the enormous number of teams. There are just so many big-time colleges here to pull for, such as UCLA, USC, Stanford, and Cal to name a few. The only real knocks on this state sports-wise are that their colleges have struggled in recent years in football and basketball, and the fact that there is so much going on in California (in similar fashion to New York) that sports can be rivaled in this state by other things such as the entertainment and tourism industries.

2. Massachusetts

Ok, first thing’s first: Massachusetts is THE BEST sports state when it comes strictly to professional sports and Boston is THE BEST sports city in the country. That is without a doubt. But since we’re taking college sports in consideration too, Massachusetts is lacking in that category. Basically, they only have Boston College who competes on the big stage and they don’t make much noise in anything. Their professional sports teams are so good, that even though their college sports scene is lacking, they are still number two on this list. There are no fanbases that take as much pride in their teams as Boston fans. A few others like Philly may come very close, but Boston is in a league of their own. Fans live and die for the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins. And unlike some of the other big cities or states in the country, nothing overshadows sports in Massachusetts or the city of Boston. It is a sports town through and through and that is so awesome. And unlike Buffalo, who has passionate sports fans, fans of Boston teams are found all over the world. The biggest thing that separates Boston teams from the rest of the pack is their level of success. All four of their major sports teams are good and win championships. It seems like every single year at least one of their four teams win it all.

1. Texas

And number one is Texas because they simply have it all. They have big time professional sports franchises, big time college teams, and a large number of sports teams reside in the state. After you factor in all that, you have to add in a high level of success for their teams and very, very passionate fanbases. The Dallas Cowboys are probably the most popular NFL team and have a great rivalry with the Redskins. The Texans have established themselves as a generally successful franchise. The Astros are a year removed from winning the World Series, and aren’t slowing down. Rangers blood runs deep throughout the state. The Spurs dominated basketball for what seemed like two decades. The Rockets and Mavericks are two good teams with a lot of history. The Stars are good. You have so many historic franchises all over the state that gave us so many great players, teams, and memories. College sports is dominated by fans’ love for football. The University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and TCU dominate Saturdays in the Lone Star State. Football is a religion in Texas, starting with high school on Fridays, college on Saturdays, and NFL on Sundays. No other state is so crazy about one sport as Texas is with football, and you can’t deny how awesome that is. So, there you have it. There is nothing that Texas sports is lacking. From number of teams to success to passionate fan bases, this state has it all and is the best overall sports state in the nation.

Garett

Ranking the Best States To Be a Sports Fan (All 50 States)