In light of Ramzy's Wednesday article (rightfully) denouncing Conference Pride, I started thinking about how, in nearly every other sport, I have multiple teams that I like and actively root for. Even if I only have one "favorite" team for a sport, there are usually others that I still like. 

While my favorites are almost exclusively the "home team", I also routinely pull for others as long as they aren't playing my #1. For example, even though I am cursed to suffer an eternity of Brownsdom, I also love seeing the Broncos, Packers, and Raiders (I grew up in the Bo Jackson era) win. In Basketball, while I'm Cavs through and through, I love when the Spurs and Bulls are also good. 

But it seems that with College football this happens far less often. I fact, it seems people tend to fall into two categories, and two categories only. Either 1) I love my favorite team and everyone else in the enemy - I hope they all lose! Or 2) SEC! SEC! SEC! aka conference pride.

As Buckeye fans, it seems most of us fall in the former category. We guard our Buckeye fandom fiercely, and all other teams are simply pawns in our game of chess. After watching Ohio State play, we watch other games more-so rooting for one team to fail, rather than the other team to succeed. But are there any other teams out there that you actively root for? Or maybe there are no other teams you root for, but are there any teams you find likable enough that you wouldn't mind seeing them find success? Or maybe there's a team with a coach you like/respect that you would be happy seeing win their non-Big10 conference? 

If you had to pick a top 4 most likeable Big 10 teams (non-Ohio State) who would they be (and yes, "None. Fuck them all" is an appropriate response)?

What about in other conferences? Who do you hope wins the Big12, ACC, and SEC each year?

For me, likeable Big 10 teams include Wisconsin, Sparty, Nebraska, and Washington. I've always found Wisconsin to be a blue-collar, hardworking team that has good traditions, an electric game atmosphere, and (outside of the Bert years) likeable coaches. Meanwhile, I was always a huge fan of Dantonio and how he ran his program, so they were always my little-brother team in the Big 10. Not in the give-you-a-noogie way that Michigan treats them, but more in a take-you-under-my-wing-and-teach-you-how-to-beat-up-that-douche-bag-bully sort of way. Nebraska is another due to their passionate fans and great history. And Washington was always the team I was pulling for in the PAC. I wouldn't hate it at all if those four teams continually finished 2nd-5th in the conference. 

Elsewhere, I like Utah and TCU in the Big 12, mostly because of my respect for Willingham and Patterson/Dykes. In the ACC, I like when VaTech and Syracuse are good. And In the SEC, gun to my head, outside of rooting for an asteroid, go Commodores! Because that would be the funniest outcome.

So what do you all think? Is it acceptable to have other teams in college football that you root for, or at least find likable enough that you enjoy seeing them win games against non-Ohio State competition? Who are those teams for you, and if you had to pick a team to win each conference annually, who would it be?