RotoWire.com used follower counts from Instagram and X to create a social media hype power ranking system for college basketball teams' official accounts. We ranked teams based on percentage growth week-over-week on the platforms, following their previous game.
College Basketball Social Media Power Rankings
Rank | Team | Social Media Growth |
1 | Florida State Seminoles | 5.62% |
2 | North Texas Mean Green | 1.72% |
3 | Fordham Rams | 1.59% |
4 | La Salle Explorers | 1.57% |
5 | St. Bonaventure Bonnies | 1.46% |
T6 | Tulsa Golden Hurricanes | 1.26% |
T6 | Fresno State Bulldogs | 1.26% |
8 | Providence Friars | 1.16% |
9 | Virginia Tech Hokies | 1.14% |
10 | Seton Hall Pirates | 1.02% |
11 | Florida Atlantic Owls | 1.01% |
12 | East Carolina Pirates | 1.00% |
13 | UTSA Roadrunners | 0.99% |
T14 | South Florida Bulls | 0.90% |
T14 | Wichita State Shockers | 0.90% |
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Which NCAA Men's Teams Grew The Most?
The nation's eminent mover and shaker on social media this season, men's basketball wise, has been the Florida State Seminoles of the ACC, who are 2-1 in Year One of the Luke Loucks era in Tallahassee, with victories over Alcorn State and Alabama State this season and a loss to Florida.
Outside of the Panhandle of the Seminole State, the teams across Division I that grew the most online were smaller ones like the North Texas Mean Green, who saw their social media portfolio grow by 1.72%, while Fordham (+1.59%), La Salle (+1.57%) and St. Bonaventure (+1.46%) rounded out the top movers in Week 1 of the NCAA men's basketball season.
How Did Top Teams Perform?
While FSU knocked off a pair of HBCU programs last week, the Mean Green managed to beat Division II program New Mexico Highlands (88-54), before knocking off Northwestern State and Loyola Chicago, 80-53 and 64-62, respectively.
In Fordham's case, the Rams have had a mixed bag of success out of the gate, falling to NJIT in the team's opener, 72-61, before walloping New York's Mount Saint Mary, 106-37, then defeating Wagner on Tuesday evening.
For La Salle, the 2025 season has been one to remember so far, with wins over Coppin State (87-59) and Monmouth (73-60) before a Tuesday night loss to Philadelphia rival Temple. Next up is Saturday's neutral site clash with Penn State at the Liacouras Center in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Bonnies look the part of a Mid-Major darling so far, with wins over Bradley and Canisius at home, with a +25 margin on the scoreboard so far, helping the A10 stalwart in the program's quest to break back into the field of 68 next spring.
Who Else is Growing Online?
Outside of the top five nationally in Week 1, you'll find a handful of college basketball afterthoughts, such as the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes and Fresno State Bulldogs, who tied for sixth, social media wise, with growth rates of 1.26% apiece.
Throw in the Providence Friars (+1.16%), Virginia Tech Hokies (+1.14%), Seton Hall Pirates (+1.02%), FAU Owls (+1.01%) and the East Carolina Pirates (+1.00%) and you have the teams that grew by a percentage point or more covered in Week 1 of the hoops season.
When it comes to 2026 March Madness betting odds, the team at bet365 sees perennial powers like Houston and Purdue (+1000 each) as the teams to beat, while Duke (+1200), Kentucky and UConn (+1400 each) and Florida (+1600) as the teams to beat, though those teams couldn't hold a candle (online, at least) to the ones that made our list of social media movers and shakers in the opening week of the 2025-26 NCAA men's basketball season.
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Q&A:
Q: Which college basketball team dominated social media growth this week?
A: Florida State Seminoles Men's basketball created the biggest splash during opening week, growing their platforms 5.62% week-over-week.
