Final answer:
Sporting affiliations often transcend state lines, with college football teams like the Oregon Ducks and Notre Dame Fightin' Irish having fans outside their 'home' regions due to cultural and regional identity factors. In contrast, Major League Baseball fan loyalties are more influenced by geographical proximity than state identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The preferences for college football teams, such as the Oregon Ducks in the Pacific Northwest extending to Northern California, suggest that sporting affiliations can transcend state loyalties and even cast light on regional identities. The widespread support for teams like the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame, which extends beyond the geographic boundaries of northern Indiana into Chicago and other areas, illustrates how cultural ties such as religion and heritage can influence fan bases. The University of Texas enjoying support as far as New Mexico, where college football isn't a historical staple, highlights how some institutions can capture the imagination of fans regardless of geographical constraints.
By contrast, professional sports teams, such as those in Major League Baseball, don't necessarily align with strict state boundaries, as evidenced by the contagious diffusion of fan loyalties being more focused on proximity rather than state lines. This indicates that the patterns of fan allegiance in college football and professional baseball operate under different dynamics, where one is influenced by state identity and the other more by convenience and closeness.