Ten College Football Games/Stadiums You Need To Go To
If I’m going to be honest, I got into college football kind of late. I grew up about 3 miles from the University of Washington and yet have never been to a game at the “Greatest Setting in College Football”. Not once. I’m sure I’ll make it there eventually, but kind of odd for someone who is so into college football to not go to a bucket list stadium set right on Lake Washington with the Seattle skyline hovering over the hills on the horizon.
As such a big football fan, I want to make sure I get to most of, if not every, true bucket list college football experience there is. It’s really hard to whittle it down to just ten events, but I’ll do my best to distribute the events evenly around the country (i.e. not only pick SEC/Big Ten games). Let’s get into it.
*These aren’t in order, just ten events I’m choosing*
10. Husky Stadium/University of Washington
Husky Stadium might have the best backdrop in all of college football. Set right on the banks of Lake Washington and home to a capacity of over 70,000 fans, Husky Stadium has to be one of the can’t-miss venues in college football. It is quite fitting for a state that prides itself on natural beauty to put the stadium right on the water, surrounded by hundreds of boats joining the tailgating experience in Union Bay, surrounded by the Cascade Mountains to the east, the Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound to the west, and the Seattle skyline to the south. You might even get to see the Husky mascot Dubs as well. Attending the Apple Cup (Washington-Washington State) is a can’t miss.
9. Red River Showdown(Texas/Oklahoma)
The Red River Showdown is everything that is great about college football. Two bitter rivals, Texas and Oklahoma, each driving about halfway from their respective campuses to meet in Dallas and play at the Texas State Fair. The Cotton Bowl is split down the middle, half Texas fans, half Oklahoma fans, leading to an extremely unique playing environment for the 92,000 fans that attend. This game is a can’t-miss when these two programs are at their peak. While you’re there, you might at well eat something deep-fried as well
8. Memorial Stadium/University of Nebraska
This situation has lost a little bit of its luster the last decade or so with the Cornhuskers slipping out of national relevance, but the environment itself is still a bucket list college football environment to see (nicknamed The Sea of Red). The Cornhusker faithful has sold out a record 375 straight times, dating all the way back to 1962, packing nearly 90,000 into Memorial Stadium. Fun fact: when at full capacity, the stadium has a higher population than the third-largest city in Nebraska (Bellevue).
7. Lane Stadium/Virginia Tech
Hearing “Enter Sandman” for a primetime night game at Lane Stadium is another can’t-miss college football experience. The entire stadium starts jumping around (known as the “Blacksburg Bounce”) as the team makes the walk from the locker rooms through the tunnel on the north side of the field and touches the Hokie Stone before taking the field. Consistently ranked as one of the loudest stadiums in college football, Lane Stadium has to be on your bucket list of places to go in college football.
6. “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” Florida/Georgia
Played at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, the Florida-Georgia rivalry is one of the biggest parties in the sport. The game attracts huge crowds to Jacksonville, and while the game might eventually be moved back onto campus, the overall weekend environment from events and tailgating in and around the stadium makes this game a must-watch. Oh, and usually the football is pretty good too.
5. Notre Dame Stadium
Give me some tradition! While South Bend itself leaves something to be desired, the Notre Dame campus and stadium are gorgeous and something every football fan needs to check off their bucket list. Touchdown Jesus, the Golden Dome, the statues of former great coaches littered around the outside of the stadium, and more. Just a walk around campus before hitting a tailgate or going into the stadium enriches you with the history of the campus and the university. Get to South Bend if you can.
4. Beaver Stadium/Penn State
Nothing beats a whiteout game at Beaver Stadium. 106,000+ wearing all white jammed into the confines gives the Nittany Lions an unprecedented advantage for the once-a-year occurrence. It is consistently ranked as one of the, if not unanimously, best stadiums in college football. Coupled with the tailgating and the excellent football, if you ever find yourself in the middle of Pennsylvania, this is an item you need to check off your list.
3. Tiger Stadium/LSU
There are too many good things to choose from about Tiger Stadium. The tailgating and hospitality are second-to-none. You can go see the LSU mascot Mike the Tiger before walking through the gates, they keep his cage right next to the stadium. The 102,000 Tiger Stadium holds makes for an electric environment, although good luck getting tickets to see them play Alabama. The noise levels are up there with Beaver Stadium. You have to get to “Death Valley”.
2. Ohio Stadium/Ohio State
Known as “The Horseshoe” due to its horseshoe shape, Ohio Stadium is another Big Ten stadium you have to check off your list. The tailgating is elite, the atmosphere is electric with 104,000 packed into the stadium, and if you can snag tickets to Ohio State/Michigan, you are in for a treat. The halftime show is also good, with the Ohio State marching band putting on one of the best performances in the country during halftime.
1. The Big House/Michigan
Arguably the crown jewel of college football, The Big House is another must-see on this list. Seating over 110,000, it is the largest stadium in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, and the third-largest stadium in the world. Ann Arbor is a blast on game days, and like I said for Ohio Stadium, good luck getting tickets to Ohio State/Michigan. Get there if you can.
*Because I somehow forgot to mention it*
Honorable Mention: The Rose Bowl
Writer
-By: TJ Mathewson