COLUMBIA, S.C. — LSU took the No. 1 spot in this week’s College Sports Social PulseTM rankings as an off-field controversy overshadowed the Tigers’ 63-14 victory over McNeese State.
Conversation about the program surged after reports that defensive end Damien Shanklin is under investigation in connection with a rape allegation. Shanklin’s attorneys released a statement to USA Today saying that what has been portrayed on social media and in the news “is not a full account of all of the facts and circumstances surrounding this situation.”
The social media conversation quickly expanded beyond the allegation itself to questions about LSU’s handling of the case and its institutional processes.
The College Sports Social Pulse measures the college football teams, players and coaches making the most impact on social media. The rankings are produced weekly by the University of South Carolina’s Social Media Insights Lab and published in partnership with Sports Business Journal.
| Rank | Team | Pulse Score | Last Week's Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LSU | 89.4 | 12 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 81.5 | 4 |
| 3 | Oregon | 76 | 3 |
| 4 | Iowa | 75.9 | 14 |
| 5 | Michigan | 65.1 | 2 |
| 6 | Alabama | 63.3 | 7 |
| 7 | UGA | 62.5 | 9 |
| 8 | Notre Dame | 61.3 | 16 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 60.7 | 1 |
| 10 | Northwestern | 60.6 | 23 |
Ohio State and Head Coach Ryan Day found themselves at the center of non-gridiron chatter on social media. According to multiple news reports, Barstool Sports will no longer be part of FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show. Barstool Sports founder — and Michigan fan — Dave Portnoy said on social media that Day pressured FOX to remove them from the show.
The dispute helped drive Ohio State to No. 2 among teams and Day to No. 1 among coaches in this week’s Pulse rankings.
| Rank | Coach | Team | Pulse Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Day | Ohio State | 100 |
| 2 | Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | 73.2 |
| 3 | Will Stein | Kentucky | 66.7 |
| 4 | Pat Narduzzi | Pitt | 64.2 |
| 5 | Jon Sumrall | Florida | 62.8 |
| 6 | P.J. Fleck | Minnesota | 61.8 |
| 7 | Jimmy Rogers | Iowa State | 59.4 |
| 8 | Shane Beamer | South Carolina | 58.6 |
| 9 | Curt Cignetti | Indiana | 58.1 |
| 10 | Josh Heupel | Tennessee | 57.9 |
“Social media doesn’t separate what happens on the field from what happens off it,” said Clay Owen, professor of practice at the University of South Carolina. “For athletic departments, understanding the conversation surrounding their programs is increasingly important. This week is a powerful example of how quickly an off-field issue can become the defining narrative around a program.”
For the player rankings, the focus remained firmly on the field, with Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State coming No. 1. Smith caught 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa, adding another chapter to his Heisman campaign.
| Rank | Player | Team | Pulse Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State | 100 |
| 2 | Keelon Russell | Alabama | 79.1 |
| 3 | Kamario Taylor | Mississippi State | 75.9 |
| 4 | Bryce Underwood | Michigan | 70.1 |
| 5 | CJ Carr | Notre Dame | 60 |
| 6 | Arch Manning | Texas | 59.8 |
| 7 | Charlie Becker | Indiana | 59 |
| 8 | Nick Marsh | Indiana | 58.5 |
| 9 | Jadan Baugh | Florida | 57.3 |
| 10 | Gunner Stockton | UGA | 56.8 |
The Week Five rankings are based on social media activity from Sept. 29 – Oct. 5.
About the College Sports Social Pulse™
Developed by the University of South Carolina’s Social Media Insights Lab, the College Sports Social Pulse™ transforms social media conversation into insight about the teams, athletes and coaches shaping the culture and business of college sports.
The Pulse tracks the national conversation across major social platforms and uses advanced analytics to identify who is generating attention, engagement and emotional response — regardless of what happens on the scoreboard.