From Tailgates to Touchdowns: The Top Traditions in College Football

No college football game is complete without a home team’s traditions. Players, students and fans alike forge their game day rituals over seasons of hard-won victories, annual bowl games and the relentless race to the College Football Playoffs. Find a collection of the best college football traditions, and how to get College Football Playoff tickets and bowl game tickets to see them in-person, below.

University of Florida Gators – The Pride of the Sunshine

Hear The Sound of the Gator Nation when the University of Florida Fightin’ Gator Marching Band, otherwise known as The Pride of the Sunshine, start a stadium-wide singalong at the end of the third quarter to the school’s fight song “We Are the Boys from Old Florida.” Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” has followed directly since the Gainesville native’s death in 2017.

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Penn State Nittany Lions – Mascot Push-Ups

After every touchdown, check the scoreboard and count along as the Penn State Nittany Lion mascot does one-armed push-ups to match the team’s total score. Under the shade of its titular Mt. Nittany at Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lion has pushed through high-scoring home games like 1991’s 81–0 blowout over Cincinnati, which called for 543 push-ups, or Penn State’s 79–7 win over Idaho in 2019.

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Texas A&M Aggies – The 12th Man

Mark one extra roster spot for The 12th Man, a symbolic position for fans of the Texas A&M Aggies. The tradition honors fans’ invaluable contribution to the team’s success as well as a real-life scenario where a fan was called from the stands to suit up for a depleted 1921 squad. For home games at Kyle Field, Aggies fans wear the team’s maroon and stand the entire time to show a readiness to take the field.

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University of Missouri Tigers – Marching Mizzou

As the largest student organization at the University of Missouri, the 350-person Marching Mizzou makes it feel like the whole campus has taken the field on game day. Dating back to a 12-member cadet band in 1885, The Big “M” of the Midwest is now composed of the band, drumline, color guard, baton twirlers and The Golden Girls majorettes. Otherwise known as M2, Marching Mizzou hypes up fans at pregame and halftime shows with fight songs like “Every True Son” and “Fight Tigers!” — the latter which soundtracks their famous “Flip Tigers” formation.

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Iowa State Cyclones – Cyclone Weather Alert

Conditions are always being monitored at Jack Trice Stadium, where the Iowa State University Cyclones start every home game with a “cyclone weather alert.” More caution than courtesy to visiting teams, the alarm rings before the Cyclones’ pregame entrance with the voiceover suggesting opposing fans seek immediate cover. With not a cloud in sight, Iowa State fans know the only storm coming is straight from the field.

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Syracuse University Orange – The Loud House

Many of the best college football traditions require no explanation; see “The Loud House” at Syracuse University. The JMA Wireless Dome, home to both the Syracuse football and basketball teams, opened in 1980 as the still-largest domed stadium in all college athletics and quickly earned its nickname as The Loud House due to the ceiling’s echo effect. During third downs, fans add some amplification by jingling keys to distract the opposing line.

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University of Oregon Ducks – Motorcycle Entrance

The University of Oregon has found a unique way to get their Ducks in a row. Starting in 1997, the football team is led out of the tunnel by The Oregon Duck mascot on a green Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The Oregon Duck is escorted by a rider under an Oregon racing helmet; the position has only been held by four motorcyclists over the years, with one rider earning a five-yard penalty for pregame revving.

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Oklahoma State Cowboys – Spirit Rider and Bullet the Horse

The Cowboys take charge whenever Bullet gallops on-field at Boone Pickens Stadium. The entrance of OSU’s Spirit Rider and Bullet the Horse began in 1984. The black American Quarter Horse now caps the pregame performance by the Cowboy Marching Band and also runs a loop from the endzone to the 30-yard line after each home team touchdown.

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University of Central Florida Knights – Push Ups

Although several school traditions task a mascot with post-touchdown push-ups, there’s no costume to hide behind when the UCF Knights score. After every touchdown, a member of UCF Cheerleading takes on the team’s total points in push-ups. Occasionally, fans will join in, though don’t expect as much crowd participation when the Knights run up the score, as was the case in their 63-point home game performance in 2017.

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Michigan State Spartans – Spartan Statue Pennies

The pregame Spartan Walk from Kellogg Center to Spartan Stadium includes a stop on campus to Michigan State’s Spartan Statue for players, fans and family to drop pennies. In 2007, the historic tradition was brought back after the original terra cotta statue was replaced by its current bronze figure in 2005. Ahead of the annual rivalry game against Michigan, MSU students activate “Sparty Watch” to guard the statue for the entire preceding week.

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University of South Carolina Gamecocks – Cockabooses

All aboard! Tailgates at the University of South Carolina start on the right track with the Cockaboose Railroad. Stationed in 1990 outside of Williams-Brice Stadium, 22 discontinued caboose train cars were refurbished, repainted in the Gamecocks’ garnet and black and opened to fans to purchase for pregame parties.

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University of Louisville Cardinals – Cardinal Bird

Don’t start your visit to the University of Louisville off on the wrong foot. Watch where you’re going around campus, as stepping on the Louisville Cardinal logo is considered to bring bad luck to the team. Following a victory, UofL players walk a lap around the stadium and give high-fives to fans.

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UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans – Victory Bell

When the Victory Bell chimes across Los Angeles, all that matters is which team rang it. Crosstown competitors the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans have faced off in one of college football’s most intense rivalries since 1929 when both occupied the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, though the Victory Bell tradition wasn’t established until 1942 after a series of student pranks and stunts. The brass bell is now transferred to the winner of the annual Victory Bell game and repainted to the winning school’s team colors of cardinal or blue.

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Vanderbilt University Commodores – Anchor Down

The Commodores have grounded their football traditions with the symbolic Anchor Down since 2004. At home games, the gold nautical piece is carried by two players on the team’s Star Walk from McGugin Center to Vanderbilt Stadium. Once inside, the anchor is dropped at midfield by honorary special guests. In 2011, the anchor was given its own year-round display case in the Commodores’ locker room.

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Boise State Broncos – Smurf Turf

Who knew something called “Smurf Turf” could make such a big difference? In 1986, Boise State University installed blue AstroTurf as a means to stand out; though the stunt was successful in attracting media attention and boosting enrollment, it also came with a significant performance advantage to the Broncos, who have since recorded several undefeated home game streaks. The surface at Albertsons Stadium was changed to blue FieldTurf in 2008, and since 2010, BSU has held the U.S. trademark for any non-green field.

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University of Georgia Bulldogs – Uga the Bulldog

Between the hedges of Sanford Stadium, fans will find one “Damn Good Dawg” in Uga the Bulldog, the University of Georgia’s official live mascot. The English bulldog was first introduced in 1956, with the mantle of Uga passing to decades’ of direct descendants. As an official member of the Bulldogs football team, Uga sports his own custom varsity jersey, hangs on the sidelines during games and travels to away games. Outside of their home stadium, fans can pay their respects to past Ugas, who are buried in a mausoleum marked by a bronze bulldog statue.

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University of Kentucky Wildcats – Wildcat Blue

They don’t call Kentucky fans “The Big Blue Nation” for nothing. Nowadays, the University of Kentucky Wildcats and their primary team color go paw-in-paw, and yet, there was strong debate among the student body before its selection in 1892. Football has been in the fabric of every Wildcat uniform ever since, as a member of the UK football team at the time suggested the shade of his Royal Blue necktie, which would eventually be named Wildcat Blue.

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San Diego State Aztecs – Night Games

Whether good luck or a good night, the San Diego State University football team has built a tradition of playing post-sunset. After SDSU’s first night game in 1930 ended in a 39–0 shutout, nearly 75 percent of the team’s games have been played after the sun goes down. The intimidation factor only increased in 1963 when the team unveiled an all-black uniform to match the night sky.

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West Virginia University Mountaineers – “Take Me Home, Country Roads”

It’s almost Heaven in West Virginia on Mountaineer game days. In one of college football’s greatest singalong traditions, WVU fans open home games with John Denver’s 1971 ode to The Mountain State, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Although the song welcomes alumni and students back to “the place where I belong,” its encore after a victory reminds them that Mountaineer fans will always have a home at Milan Puskar Stadium.

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Ohio State Buckeyes – Dotting the “I”

Who else could put the “i” in Ohio like The Best Damn Band in the Land? First introduced in 1936, the Ohio State University Marching Band’s most famous formation, the Script Ohio, features the state’s name spelled out in cursive with a single member dotting the “i.” The position developed into a special achievement, normally awarded to a senior sousaphone player, though the spot has been filled by honorary “i”-dotters such as comedian Bob Hope, golfer Jack Nicklaus and former Buckeyes coaches Woody Hayes and Earle Bruce.

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University of Washington Huskies – Sailgating

Located on the shores of Union Bay in Seattle, Husky Stadium at the University of Washington offers fans the chance to tailgate for home games on the water. The century-long tradition of “sailgating” now attracts more than 12,000 guests each game, with fans anchoring their own boats or docking directly at the stadium. Several charter services are available for vessel-less fans to join in on the pregame party, and shuttles run ahead of the game to transport guests to the stadium.

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Stanford University Cardinal – The World’s Largest Rock and Roll Band

The most electrifying live show isn’t hosted where you’d normally expect. At Stanford Cardinal games, the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band (LSJUMB) put on a show worthy of the title “The World’s Largest Rock and Roll Band,” which they’ve held since adopting an unconventional and rebellious style in the ’60s. Trading typical marching lines and uniforms for loose and fun formations, themed costumes and a repertoire that spans over 1,000 songs, including their fight song, Free’s 1970 rock staple “All Right Now.”

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University of Michigan Wolverines – M Club Banner

The sea of Maize and Blue at Michigan Stadium breaks when the team enters the field under the M Club Banner. Since 1962, the football team taps a 30” x 4” banner displaying “GO BLUE – M CLUB SUPPORTS YOU” above their tunnel entrance to the sound of the Michigan Marching Band performing “The Victors.” The tradition has reached even greater hype with notable rivalry games against Michigan State and their 2023-24 championship run through the College Football Playoffs.

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University of Tennessee Volunteers – Smokey the Dog

There’s a very good “Houn’ Dog” on-field at Neyland Stadium. Smokey the Dog, a Bluetick Coonhound, has barked and wagged his way into the hearts of Tennessee Volunteers fans since 1953. Named after the first pup to hold the position, Blue Smokey, there have been nine holders of the title and a costumed human counterpart of the same name was introduced in the ’80s. During home games, both Smokeys roam the endzone after touchdowns.

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