Power 5 | G5 & Independents | FCS & D1 | Football | Motion

Which college teams are leading the nation in #smsports visual communication? We invited 317 college athletics design and digital staff to share their opinion. After nearly 8,000 votes from across the country, here are the Top 10 from the FCS and D1. Teams are listed in no particular order.

Voters select @stjohnsredstorm for FCS/D1 Top 10. Best college teams in #smsports visual communication: https://t.co/9evb4HJj27 Congrats @MekaleJackson, @JennaLauren, @reldernitsuj pic.twitter.com/RKpz3rOqgM

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) June 13, 2018

Welcome @SpiderAthletics to the FCS/D1 Top 10. Congrats @halleekennon and crew in Richmond. Top college teams in #smsports visual communication: https://t.co/9evb4HJj27 pic.twitter.com/1g4Z1kS6D0

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) June 13, 2018

Voters put @bamastatesports in FCS/D1 Top 10. Congrats @awheeler4. Best college teams in #smsports visual communication: https://t.co/9evb4HJj27 pic.twitter.com/dZl2O7ky2Z

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) June 13, 2018

Welcome @muathletics. Top FCS/D1 teams in #smsports visual communication: https://t.co/9evb4HJj27 pic.twitter.com/4rqf1T905w

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) June 13, 2018

Voters add @ACUsports to Top 10 for work this past year. Congrats @mullinstodd, @tr3ys0ngz15. Best college teams in #smsports visual communication: https://t.co/9evb4HJj27 pic.twitter.com/oC5O5Fpnfb

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) June 13, 2018

Voters add @UDBlueHens to FCS/D1 Top 10. Congrats @jordanburgess79, @Stephen0choa, @SDday35, @ninaraspa. Best college teams in #smsports visual communication: https://t.co/9evb4HJj27 pic.twitter.com/zTQwkMZDsD

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) June 14, 2018

Welcome @VCUAthletics to the FCS/D1 Top 10. Congrats @thisiseddiej. Best college teams in #smsports visual communication: https://t.co/9evb4HJj27 pic.twitter.com/D5gHVA3RBh

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) June 14, 2018

Voters select @mercerbears for FCS/D1 Top 10. Congrats @KParker12_, @davis_dunn, @USAGibbons, @Will_Tharp, @gerritw6. Best college teams in #smsports visual communication: https://t.co/9evb4HJj27 pic.twitter.com/2YRqB795md

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) June 14, 2018

Welcome @samford_sports to FCS/D1 Top 10 for #smsports visual communication: https://t.co/9evb4HJj27 Congrats @bjmillican, @kevmyoung, @Samford_PR_guy, @Joey_SamfordSID, @Foos036 pic.twitter.com/8og7DkbGic

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) June 14, 2018

Voters select @GoShockers for FCS/D1 Top 10. Best college teams in #smsports visual communication: https://t.co/9evb4HJj27 Congrats @klblanding, @wpletcher_11 and crew. pic.twitter.com/zkhSj0eO38

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) June 15, 2018

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SkullSparks encourages Athletics Departments to prioritize design and digital staff. Creative teams are vitally important in connecting and engaging fans and recruits in 2018.

Design is highly subjective. Every team has unique strategies and resources. Teams are focused on designing specifically for their stakeholders. We cannot know the internal priorities of every department. We only see external content, just as fans and recruits do. Voters recognized visual design based on:

★  Static visuals (no motion content, that’s another list)
★  Coordination across all sports and designers (not just football)
★  Communication of unique DNA of program
★  Branding consistency
★  How well designs compete with other content in social feeds
★  How designs maximize impact on specific social platforms

In an effort to recognize all levels of college sports, we’re sharing several lists for 2018:

Power 5 | G5 & Independents | FCS & D1 | Football | Motion

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Thank you to the athletics staff working behind the scenes to connect fans with the teams they love.