Fall is officially here, and it's about a lot more than crispy leaves, pumpkin spice obsessed girls and newly acceptable oversized sweaters.
No, much more than that, fall is about festivals, food, and, of course, football!
We know how valuable college campus visits can be to student groups, and when you mix that with high-spirited autumnal football games in every major campus across the U.S, you have a seriously fun and educational group trip on your hands!
The best thing about it? We can help you plan it!
- Athens, Georgia
Welcome to Athens Georgia, the home of the Bulldogs of the University of Georgia. This thriving college football town turns its downtown area into a sea of red and black each Saturday as the thousands upon thousands of fans head to Sanford Stadium to cheer on Kirby Smart and his, at times, unstoppable football team. This SEC member never disappoints in spirit, and the town of Athens itself offers tons of great live music and pub options (REM and the B52s got started in a football-oriented bar here!). - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Roll Tide! Tuscaloosa is a great college football town for you and your group to explore, the entire city considered to be one of the very best for football in the nation. Football is like a religion here, the historic city and prideful passionate fans piling into Bryant-Denny Stadium in crowds of over 100k each Saturday in season. The tailgating and party scene are absolutely electric here, so be sure to dress in red and prepare for the Crimson Tide! - Oxford, Mississippi
Where can you find great southern-style food, southern charm, and really great football? Oxford, Mississippi, that’s where! Here you and your group can tour the University before heading to one of the most famous tailgating venues in the entire nation, The Grove. This huge 10-acre tailgate spot can hold thousands of eager Ole Miss fans, not to mention the pure history, beauty, and culture of the city as a whole! - Clemson, South Carolina
South Carolina doesn’t disappoint when it comes to holding great college football towns, either, with Clemson coming in as one of the top teams in college sports. Clemson, part of the ACC, holds an extremely large passion for football considering it is the smallest town on the list, this ‘Death Valley’ team near the Blue Ridge Mountains absolutely full of culture and local pride. Rub Howard's Rock and Run Down the Hill before heading to Memorial Stadium, tradition is big here! - Lincoln, Nebraska
Of course, we couldn’t leave out the Corn Huskers when making the ‘best of the best’ college football town list, this Lincoln Nebraska team holding the NCAA record sellout streak at a current standing of 347 games. Head Coach Mike Riley upholds quite an impressive community passion and pride in his team, the members making Memorial Stadium their Husker home each football weekend for one of the biggest fan bases in college football! - Madison, Wisconsin
Up to Madison, Wisconsin, for another big wig in the sport, the Badgers! This city is currently ranked as #1 in the U.S by the NCAA, the town itself full of scenic lakes, vibrant bars, and really delicious food! Camp Randall Stadium holds a notoriously loud party atmosphere, especially when the 4th quarter Jump Around song shakes the stadium or the marching band comes back out for the ‘5th Quarter’ celebration. This is an experience you won’t want to miss, football fans! - Austin, Texas - College Station, Texas
This next spot on our list was too tough to decide between, so we chose them both!
Texas is hands-down known as the ‘Football Craziest State’ in the U.S, making most major cities with a university inside a great choice for your visit this fall. However, both Austin and College Station stand out the most to us, Austin holding the Longhorns and College Station the Aggies. College Station, home to Texas A&M, provides excellent educational opportunities, the iconic 12th Man home-field advantage, and the 65k plus fan base that practice their ‘midnight yell’ regularly. On the other hand, Austin’s Hook em Horned fan base can participate in some of the absolute best live music, tailgating, and bbq in the state on 6th Street. This one is a tough call! - Columbia, Missouri
Head to Faurot Field in Columbia Missouri and you will find a surprisingly large fan base cheering on their Tigers each Saturday in this still-growing college town. Friendly tailgating, massive cookoffs, and regionally proud SEC east members galore await you at a Mizzou Tiger football game, so don your black and gold and get ready to cheer on the Tigers! Remember: M I Z . . . Z O U. - Knoxville, Tennessee
The Tennessee State Volunteers of Knoxville Tennessee know exactly what it means to be a true football fan, as can be clearly seen throughout the decked out orange city during the fall (both in crispy leaves and vibrant college decor). Head to Neyland Stadium for some of the best visual scenery in college football today, or perhaps go tailgate on the river, a unique opportunity for this region to see it all from the water (Vol Navy). Enjoy the Rock Top song, Great Smoky Mountain Views, and unbelievable music and art scene! - Ann Arbor, Michigan
Fans of the University of Michigan will love this chance to visit a true ‘quintessential college town’, the city holding what is now known as the largest stadium in the country, in both size and capacity, and the second largest in the world. Michigan Stadium takes their Wolverines to the next level with tailgating and culture opportunities, and head coach Jim Harbaugh takes his 100k fans to the next level with truly amazing football each fall! Be sure to stop by the famous Zingerman’s Deli during the game!
