The Pac-12 took advantage of a late Oregon spring game to slip past the ACC and Big 12 in the 2015 spring game attendance figures, but there was no catching te Big Ten and SEC this year.
The Big Ten locked up the top conference-wide spring game attendance in 2015 on the strength of Ohio State’s new national record for spring game attendance and perennial strong spring game crowds at Nebraska and Penn State and a surprisingly strong showing at Michigan. Big stadiums leave plenty of room for big spring crowds, and that worked in the Big Ten’s favor.
The SEC finished in second place this year in spring game attendance, although it should be noted the SEC should easily pass the Big Ten next year if Texas A&M holds a spring game in the renovated Kyle Field.
The Pac-12 moved past the ACC and Big 12 once Oregon packed in 35,808 fans for the spring game in Eugene. Oregon was easily the biggest spring draw in the Pac-12, flying past the 22,788 fans that attended the USC spring game.
Here is how the conferences stacked up in spring game attendance for 2015 (Source):
1. Big Ten: 410,943
2. SEC: 408,566
3. Pac-12: 118,691
4. Big 12: 113,339
5. ACC: 101,832
6. American: 39,848
7. Conference USA: 39,724
8. Mountain West: 29,447
9. MAC: 15,617
10. Sun Belt: 14,534