College athletics is great way to drum up school pride, attract applicants and generate national attention for the school and the student-athletes.
Auburn University has topped the Princeton Review's top "Jock Schools" for their series of 2014 rankings of 379 schools, surveying 130,000 students. While NCAA Division I football and basketball are the two dominant collegiate sports, the list is not entirely full of Power Five schools.
Both Union College (15th) in Schenectady, N.Y. and Wabash College (third) in Crawfordsville, Ind. play at the DIII level, though all other 18 schools are DI. The biggest surprise on the list may well be the absence of the University of Alabama, as the Crimson Tide football team has won three National Championships under Nick Saban.
1. Auburn
Location: Auburn, Ala.
School type: Public
Mascot: Tigers
Sport currently most known for: Football
2. Clemson University
Location: Clemson, S.C.
School type: Public
Mascot: Tigers
Sport currently most known for: Football
3. Wabash
Location: Crawfordsville, Ind.
School type: Private, men only
Mascot: Little Giants
4. University of Missouri
Location: Columbia, Mo.
School type: Public
Mascot: Tigers
Sport currently most known for: Football
5. Kansas State University
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
School type: Public
Mascot: Wildcats
Sport currently most known for: Football
6. Florida State University
Location: Tallahassee, Fla.
School type: Public
Mascot: Seminoles
Sport currently most known for: Football, reigning BCS National Champs
7. Virginia Tech
Location: Blacksburg, Va.
School type: Public
Mascot: Hokies
Sport currently most known for: Football
8. University of Kansas
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
School type: Public
Mascot: Jayhawks
Sport currently most known for: Basketball
9. Pennsylvania State University
Location: State College, Penn.
School type: Public
Mascot: Nittany Lions
Sport currently most known for: Football, though their women's volleyball team is nearly unbeatable.
10. University of Connecticut
Location: Storrs, Conn.
School type: Public
Mascot: Huskies
Sport currently most known for: Basketball, both the men and women are reigning National Champions.
