Every sports fan thinks their team is the team. But some fanbases take it a little too far—clinging to past glory, expecting titles every season, or believing their third-string quarterback is the next GOAT.
Delusion can be charming in small doses, but some groups have taken it to legendary heights. From football to baseball to basketball and beyond, here are the 15 fan bases most detached from reality—and proud of it.
15. New York Knicks
Knicks fans still think every star wants to play at Madison Square Garden, even though free agents haven’t lined up since the ’90s. They treat a second-round playoff appearance like it’s a parade-worthy accomplishment. Maybe this year will be different? We’ll see.
14. Notre Dame Football
Notre Dame fans are convinced it’s still 1988, and every college player dreams of Touchdown Jesus. Year after year, they expect national championships—and then act shocked when they get blown out in big games.
13. Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys fans genuinely believe every season is “the year,” despite nearly three decades of postseason letdowns. They still introduce themselves as “America’s Team” like it’s a job title.
12. Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs fans have an undying belief that this is the year they break the curse, even though the curse is old enough to rent a car. Every first-round win is treated like a Stanley Cup victory.
11. Miami Hurricanes Football
They still ride swagger from two decades ago and think The U runs college football. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.
10. Los Angeles Lakers
Lakers fans expect a championship every season and meltdown if they don’t have three All-Stars on the roster. Patience isn’t in their vocabulary—entitlement, however, is fluent.
9. Boston Red Sox
Red Sox fans act like underdogs even though they’ve won four titles since 2004. The self-pity and chip on the shoulder don’t quite match the trophy case anymore.
8. Philadelphia 76ers
Sixers fans trust the process blindly. No matter how many playoff exits or roster overhauls, they’re convinced it’s all part of a master plan.
7. Texas A&M Football
Aggies fans talk like they’re Alabama, but the results scream middle-of-the-pack. The passion is real, but so is the delusion.
6. Green Bay Packers
Packers fans think they’re morally superior to every other fan base just because their team is “owned by the fans.” Meanwhile, they’ve had two Hall of Fame QBs in 30 years and only two rings to show.
5. Chicago Bears
Every season, Bears fans convince themselves they’ve finally found “the guy” at quarterback. Unfortunately, they’ve been wrong more often than a weather forecast in January.
4. USC Football
Trojan fans believe their program is always on the brink of a dynasty, no matter how many coaches or collapses they go through. Hollywood dreams, Midwest results.
3. New York Yankees
Yankees fans expect World Series titles like it’s a birthright. Nothing short of a championship is considered a failure, even when their team hasn’t made the Fall Classic in over a decade.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Even while living in it, Steelers fans are convinced their franchise is above mediocrity. They act like six Super Bowl rings automatically come with a free playoff win every season.
Read More: From Passionate to Problematic: Ranking the 20 Most Toxic College Football Fans
1. Alabama Football
Alabama fans think every down year is a conspiracy and every loss is a fluke. Even with Nick Saban gone, they’re already planning their next dynasty—whether it’s realistic or not.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Overconfident NFL Fanbases Every Season
