College Football Analyst Ranked Top Sports Influencer on X

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The 2025 college football season saw constant social media activity, from Indiana's surprise run to the CFP final to debates about eligibility and NIL issues. This fed creators like Dave Portnoy's Barstool Sports brand a constant stream of viral content, helping Portnoy be ranked the top college sports influencer on X with 4.51 billion impressions. Portnoy's rise from blog founder to frequent TV presence shows how massive social reach can translate into mainstream media opportunities and commercial power.

Why it matters

The ranking of Portnoy as the top college sports influencer on X reinforces how influence has become its own currency in college sports. Programs and leagues can monetize that attention through deals, but also risk letting strong personalities shape narratives around key issues like NIL and eligibility.

The details

Portnoy launched Barstool Sports in 2003 as a Boston-area pop-culture newsletter and turned it into a digital media empire built on sports, gambling, humor, and viral stunts. He has leveraged his audience into major distribution deals and on-air crossovers, evolving from blog founder to frequent TV presence, despite controversies over his style and business dealings. Portnoy's estimated net worth is around $150 million, a figure that fluctuates due to private company valuations, real estate, and his 2023 dealings with Penn Entertainment.

• The 2025 college football season saw constant social media activity.
• On3 ranked the top college-sports influencers, brands, and creators on X for 2025 on Wednesday.