Rivalries are the lifeblood of the college football game. Rich traditions are what make the rivalries “the games that matter.” We took an analytical approach to the traditions of the college game to determine what we felt would represent the best of the best. We reviewed the pre-game, during the game, and after the game traditions. We looked at the teams, the stadiums, the tailgating, the bands, the mascots, and the fight songs among other aspects of the total experience of a college football game. Because many of the major programs have several traditions we tried to include them in the list under the one heading of the school name. Following is the list that we hope you will appreciate! If you have any comments or different feelings please leave a comment…

1. The Ohio State University Band: The Ramp Entrance and the incomparable “Script Ohio” performed since 1936 by “The Best Damn Band in the Land” (TBDBITL).

2. Clemson: The BIG Entrance, Rubbin “Howard’s Rock” and then “Running down the Hill.”

3. Cadet March: The drilling of the U.S. Military Academy cadets and the U.S. Naval midshipmen from Annapolis entering a stadium before a game.

4. Texas A & M: 12^th Man (1922) and “Yell” Practice! Kissing your date after a touchdown score is another great tradition at Texas A & M.

5. Penn State: “White-Out” and that Roaring Nittany Lion.

6. Florida State: “Planting the Spear” by Chief Osceola and the “Tomahawk Chomp”; Florida is just behind with its “Gator Chump.”

7. Living Mascots: USC Trojan’s White Stallion “Traveler”; Colorado’s Buffalo “Ralphie”; Texas’s Longhorn “Bevo”; Georgia’s Bulldog UGA; and LSU’s Tiger “Mike” are all four legged mascots, the Best Mascot is the Golden Eagle “Nova” the “War Eagle VII” from Auburn University.

8. Tunnel Walk: Nebraska, Michigan and Ohio State all have a “Tunnel Walk” entrance into their stadium. All are just about equal!

9. Tennessee: Running the “T.” A great stadium entrance and the singing of “Rocky Top” sets the stage for a tough game ahead for the visitors.

10. Ole Miss: Tailgating in the 10 acre Grove. It sets the standard for tailgating and no one else even comes close. White table cloths, coats and ties, fine china, cocktails and women in dresses.

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1. University of Michigan (Wolverines) Maize and Blue

The famous winged helmet of the maize and blue is the most recognized logo in all of college football. Maybe this is why they don’t have a mascot. Note, the University of Delaware also has the same winged helmet!

2. Notre Dame (Fighting Irish) Blue and Gold

The “gold helmet” to match the Gold Dome is very symbolic of the school. The helmets look great when they wear the “Green” jersey with historical significance. The U.S. Naval Academy also has the same gold helmet!

3. Oregon (Ducks) Green and Yellow

Oregon has set the new standard for uniform development and makes for a lot of fun for the fans at each and every game.

4. Ohio State (Buckeyes) Scarlet and Gray

Ohio State is the only school with Scarlet and Gray color uniforms. They are classics and with a “Silver” helmet covered with buckeye leaf decals…it just doesn’t get any better.

5. Texas (Longhorns) Burnt Orange and White

The all white uniforms (with player’s names on the back) of Texas look far better than the all white uniforms (without names) of Penn State. Texas also has a nice Longhorn logo on their helmet.

6. University of Hawaii (Rainbows) Green and Black

WOW! What a great job in the re-design done by Under Armour in 2008. They are unique and will change the face of uniforms for years to come.

7. University of Southern California - USC (Trojans) Cardinal and Gold

Their retro uniforms have set a new standard for “going back” and winning ball games. Watch for their continued success in the coming years.

8. Louisiana State University - LSU (Tigers) Purple and Gold

The Tigers have one of the most distinctive uniforms in all of college football.

9. Alabama (Crimson Tide) Crimson and Cream

The Bear Bryant designed helmet still stands out among the SEC teams and still warrants the respect of the “Bear.”

10. Univ. of California at Los Angeles -UCLA (Bruins) Powder Blue and Gold

They just fit with the Hollywood crowd!

11. Boise State (Broncos) Orange and Blue & Touch of Gray

NEW design for 2009 and will get a lot of conversation, good and bad!

12. (Tie) Oklahoma (Sooners) and Nebraska (Cornhuskers)

Oklahoma’s Crimson and Cream vs. Nebraska’s Scarlet and Cream colors are too close together for comfort. The helmets are also just as boring! Not the simple and stylist uniforms as some experts state!

2. Michigan Stadium - Michigan - 106,201 - Ann Arbor, MI

Stadium Nickname: The Big House

Team Nickname: Wolverines

Mascot: -

Conference: Big 10

Built: 1927

Team Colors: Maize & Blue

Michigan Stadium

3. Neyland Stadium - Tennessee - 104,079 - Knoxville, TN

Stadium Nickname: One-Cheek Stadium

Team Nickname: Volunteers

Mascot: Smokey

Conference: SEC-East

Built: 1921

Team Colors: Orange & White

Neyland Stadium

4. Ohio Stadium - Ohio State - 102,329 - Columbus, OH

Stadium Nickname: The Shoe

Team Nickname: Buckeyes

Mascot: Brutus

Conference: Big 10

Built: 1922

Team Colors: Scarlet & Gray

Ohio Stadium

5. Texas Memorial Stadium - Texas - 94,133 - Austin, TX

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Longhorns

Mascot: Bevo (Hookem)

Conference: Big 12 - South

Built: 1924

Team Colors: Burnt Orange & White

Texas Memorial Stadium

6. LA Memorial Coliseum - USC - 93,607 - Los Angeles, CA

Stadium Nickname: The Grand Old Lady

Team Nickname: Trojans

Mascot: Traveler

Conference: Pac 10

Built: 1923

Team Colors: Cardinal & Gold

LA Memorial Coliseum

7. Sanford Stadium - Georgia - 92,746 - Athens, GA

Stadium Nickname: Between the Hedges

Team Nickname: Bulldogs

Mascot: UGA

Conference: SEC-East

Built: 1929

Team Colors: Red & Black

Sanford Stadium

8. Rose Bowl - UCLA - 92,542 - Pasedena, CA

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Bruins

Mascot: Bruin

Conference: Pac 10

Built: 1922

Team Colors: Blue & Gold

Rose Bowl

9. Tiger Stadium - LSU - 92,400 - Baton Rouge, LA

Stadium Nickname: Death Valley

Team Nickname: Tigers

Mascot: Mike the Tiger

Conference: SEC-West

Built: 1924

Team Colors: Purple & Gold

Tiger Stadium

10. Bryant-Denny Stadium - Alabama - 92,138 - Tuscaloosa, AL

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Crimson Tide

Mascot: Big Al

Conference: SEC-West

Built: 1929

Team Colors: Crimson & White

Bryant-Denny Stadium

11. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - Florida - 88,548 - Gainesville, FL

Stadium Nickname: The Swamp

Team Nickname: Gators

Mascot: Albert E. Gator

Conference: SEC-East

Built: 1929

Team Colors: Orange & Blue

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

12. Jordan-Hare Stadium - Auburn - 87,451 - Auburn, AL

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Tigers

Mascot: Aubie (War Eagle VI)

Conference: SEC-West

Built: 1939

Team Colors: Orange & Navy

Jordan-Hare Stadium

13. Memorial Stadium - Nebraska - 85,197 - Lincoln, NE

Stadium Nickname: Sea of Red

Team Nickname: Cornhuskers

Mascot: Herbie Husker

Conference: Big 12 - North

Built: 1942

Team Colors: Scarlet & Cream

Memorial Stadium

14. Kyle Field - Texas A & M - 83,002 - College Station, TX

Stadium Nickname: The 12th Man

Team Nickname: Aggies

Mascot: Reveille

Conference: Big 12 - South

Built: 1925

Team Colors: Maroon & White

Kyle Field

15. Doak Campbell Stadium - Florida State - 82,300 - Tallahassee, FL

Stadium Nickname: The Doak

Team Nickname: Seminoles

Mascot: Chief Osceola

Conference: ACC

Built: 1950

Team Colors: Garnet & Gold

Doak Campbell Stadium

16. Gaylord-Oklahoma Stadium - Oklahoma - 82,122 - Norman, OK

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Sooners

Mascot: Sooner Schooner

Conference: Big 12 - South

Built: 1924

Team Colors: Crimson & Cream

Gaylord-Oklahoma Stadium

17. Notre Dame Stadium - Notre Dame - 80,795 - Notre Dame, IN

Stadium Nickname: The House Rockne Built

Team Nickname: Fighting Irish

Mascot: The Leprechaun

Conference: Independent

Built: 1930

Team Colors: Gold & Blue

Notre Dame Stadium

18. Camp Randall Stadium - Wisconsin - 80,321 - Madison, WI

Stadium Nickname: The Camp

Team Nickname: Badgers

Mascot: Bucky Badger

Conference: Big 10

Built: 1917

Team Colors: Cardinal & White

Camp Randall Stadium

19. Memorial Stadium - Clemson - 80,301 - Clemson, SC

Stadium Nickname: Death Valley

Team Nickname: Tigers

Mascot: Tiger

Conference: ACC

Built: 1942

Team Colors: Orange & Purple

Memorial Stadium

20. Williams-Brice Stadium - South Carolina - 80,250 - Columbia, SC

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Gamecocks

Mascot: Cocky

Conference: SEC-East

Built: 1934

Team Colors: Garnet & Black

Williams-Brice Stadium

“We better understand that games in this stadium with non-conference opponents can have a very negative effect if they’re not prepared.”

1. Florida

2. Texas

3. LSU

4. Oklahoma

5. USC

6. Ohio State

7. Alabama

8. Virgina Tech

9. Boise State

10. California

11. Oklahoma State

12. Georgia Tech

13. Penn State

14. Oregon

15. Ole Miss

16. Iowa

17. Utah

18. Georgia

19. Florida State

20. Kansas

21. Texas Tech

22. Oregon State

23. Notre Dame

24. BYU

25. Michigan State