Millions of Americans are dusting off their jerseys and coming up with clever fantasy team names in preparation for the start of football season. Over the past few years, football has arguably overtaken baseball as "America's sport," due in large part to the popularity of the National Football League.

So why do we love the NFL so much? Several factors come into play, but great marketing has to be near the top. With a brand worth well over $9 billion, they must be doing something right. Here are 5 branding "wins" for the NFL:

1. The Super Bowl
It wouldn't be right to kick-off this list without mentioning the Super Bowl-every advertiser's dream. Whether it's to watch the commercials or the halftime show, people who don't even like football tune in. And it doesn't matter what team ends up holding the Lombardi Trophy, the real winners of the big game are the NFL and the TV station that is carrying it. Advertisers pay upwards of $4 million for a 30 second commercial and a captive audience of over 100 million people. Social media has added another element to the media frenzy, with over 24.9 million game-related tweets sent during Super Bowl XLVIII. The lesson for the rest of us? Put a quality product out "on the field" and let your fans do the talking.

2. Fantasy football
Fantasy drafts and pick 'em leagues aren't just for stat geeks anymore. Fantasy football has become a social event and an estimated 27 million people are playing it. Fantasy football leagues have been around since the 60s, but sites like Yahoo and ESPN have taken them to the next level by offering free online platforms to manage leagues. Because of fantasy football's popularity, people no longer tune in only when their favorite team is playing. They are watching all the games to see how their fantasy players are performing. The NFL hasn't shied away from cashing in on the fantasy phenomenon. They have launched their own fantasy site, social community, and mobile app, and recently entered the pay-to-play marketplace by launching NFL Fantasy Ultimate Experience Leagues.

3. Branding to women
Despite what you may see in movies and sitcoms, football is no longer just for the boys. Almost as many women as men tune-in to and attend NFL games. The NFL has responded by featuring more women in their advertising and offering more fashionable team apparel for ladies. They even partnered with Vogue last season for a football-meets-fashion show at Grand Central Station. With approximately 85% of brand purchases being made by women, the NFL has learned how important their loyalty is.

4. Tight brand control
The NFL is known for their strict guidelines when it comes to the use of their brand, and are very selective when it comes to who they qualify to be a licensed vendor. While it may seem extreme to some, this policing of their brand name is important to keeping its integrity. Counterfeit NFL merchandise-particularly jerseys-are on the rise. Federal agents seized $21.6 million worth of fake apparel and accessories before last season's Super Bowl.

5. Perks for season ticket holders
Thanks to HDTV and instant replay, the at-home experience for fans improves every year. So the NFL must continually find new ways to keep the stadiums full. Season ticket holders make up 85% of game attendees, so keeping them happy is crucial.

The NFL recently partnered with app developer Experience, to create an app that will improve the in-stadium experience by allowing fans to upgrade seats, get special access to the teams, get on the field before games, or even get in-seat visits from cheerleaders. Brian Lafemina, Senior Vice President of Club Business Development for the NFL said, "We're fortunate that most brands have customers they're trying to convert to fans; we have fans we're trying to convert into customers."

The regular season kicks off on September 4th, with the Green Bay Packers visiting the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. I know I will be watching-will you? Let the season of football tweets begin! Follow me @nicoleklemp.