The rivalries. The pageantry. The bands. The fight songs. The Saturdays spent tailgating with friends and family. All great things about college football.
But ask fans what makes the sport truly special, and the answer is usually this: the traditions.
These rituals make a fall Saturday feel different from anything else in sports.
Some are decades old. Some are relatively new.
Some involve 100,000 people. Others are so simple that you might miss them if you’re not paying attention.
But they all have one thing in common: They’re important to the fans of those teams.
So picking the 25 best college football traditions is, of course, an impossible exercise. But let’s try.
Every school has something its fans will swear is the greatest tradition in the sport, and that’s how it should be. That’s why this list isn’t meant to settle every argument.
It’s a celebration of the traditions that make college football unique. It’s the moments that give a Saturday in the fall its own soundtrack, its own personality and, sometimes, its own kind of magic.
No. 25: Wabash Cannonball, Kansas State
What to know: The tradition dates to a 1968 campus fire, when the “Wabash Cannonball” became a K-State staple. Today, fans rock back and forth together, turning 50,000-seat Bill Snyder Family Stadium into a moving sea of purple.
Quote of note: “This Wabash thing started when there was nobody in the stands, so there was nobody to do that dance. And now all you need is those first couple measures of the drums and everybody knows.” — Frank Tracz, K-State’s former director of bands
Why we love it: It’s weird. It’s wonderfully old-school. And when the crowd sways together while the band plays, you’re reminded that the best college traditions don’t need to make sense to anyone else.
No. 24: Rammer Jammer, Alabama
What to know: Alabama has been doing the Rammer Jammer cheer since the 1980s, traditionally bringing it out after a victory. Some say it’s controversial, but it has become one of the Crimson Tide’s most recognizable postgame traditions.
Quote of note: “It was patterned after (Ole Miss’ Hotty Toddy). We wanted to incorporate old cheers, as well as things particular to this state. And it was immediately popular.” — Kathleen Cramer, a former Alabama cheerleading sponsor
Why we love it: Bama fans have plenty of ways to celebrate a win, but nothing beats 100,000 fans joining together for the Rammer Jammer cheer — especially after a crucial victory over a rival.
No. 23: The 12th Man, Texas A&M
What to know: The tradition dates to 1922, when student E. King Gill left the stands to suit up for the Aggies in case he was needed. That story eventually gave rise to the school’s famous 12th Man identity.
Quote of note: “I can tell you there is not a better feeling than running out of the tunnel onto Kyle Field in front of the 12th Man. Our atmosphere is the very best in the country and our fans are smart and loud.” — former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel
Why we love it: The 12th Man isn’t just a slogan in College Station, it’s a mindset. The crowd of over 100,000 swaying during the War Hymn makes it one of the sport’s most distinctive environments.
No. 22: The Masked Rider, Texas Tech
What to know: The Masked Rider has served as the school’s official mascot since Jan. 1, 1954, when Joe Kirk Fulton rode onto the field at the Gator Bowl. Today, the Masked Rider and horse serve as year-round ambassadors for the Red Raiders.
Quote of note: “You hear so many stories and how much these people value the position, and it really does remind you that you are part of a legacy so important to so many people.” — former Masked Rider Ashley Winters
Why we love it: Someone on horseback charging onto the field would usually be enough of a spectacle. Texas Tech adds a masked gunslinger and fireworks. Subtle? Absolutely not. Awesome? Absolutely.
No. 21: Callin’ Baton Rouge, LSU
What to know: LSU adopted Garth Brooks’ “Callin’ Baton Rouge” as a game-day tradition in the mid 2000s and it has since become a familiar part of the Tiger Stadium experience. It’s played once before the game, then again between the third and fourth quarters.
Quote of note: “‘Callin’ Baton Rouge’ by Garth Brooks is one of the best pregame songs in the SEC.” — former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, now a college football analyst
Why we love it: Put over 100,000 fans, Tiger Stadium under the lights and the iconic country singer’s song together … it’s loud, energetic and impossible not to join in once the entire stadium starts singing.
No. 20: Gator Chomp, Florida
What to know: The Gator Chomp became part of UF football in the early 1980s, inspired by the open-and-close motion of an alligator’s jaws. Fans use their arms to mimic the bite, creating one of college football’s most recognizable gestures.
Quote of note: “The band developed it and the Gator fans perfected it. It’s now one of the most iconic cheers in sports.” — former Florida band member Adren Q. Hance Jr.
Why we love it: It is one of those traditions that needs little explanation. When UF fans chop their arms together, you know exactly where you are — you’re in The Swamp — and who they’re rooting for.
No. 19: Calling the Dawgs, Georgia
What to know: The tradition dates to the early 1980s, when UGA fans began using the “Go Dawgs, Sic ’em” cheer with its distinctive five-bark finish. It has since become a staple of Sanford Stadium.
Quote of note: “I got so sick of the chant, ‘Go Dawgs, sic ’em.’ The barking and all that. As an opposing player it drives you kinda crazy, which of course is what you want if you’re for Georgia.” — former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow
Why we love it: It doesn’t require props or a live animal. It’s simply an entire stadium unleashing one of the most recognizable cheers — Go Dawgs, Sic ’em, Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof! — in college football.
No. 18: Country Roads, West Virginia
What to know: John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” became a Mountaineers football game-day tradition in the early 1970s. It has since become an unofficial anthem for the school and state.
Quote of note: “(There is) nothing better than a winning locker room and nothing better than (being on) a winning field playing ‘Country Roads.’” — former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez
Why we love it: Thousands of fans belting out the country singer’s 1971 hit after a victory? Few traditions create a stronger emotional connection between a school, its fans and its surroundings.
No. 17: Traveler and Tribute to Troy, USC
What to know: Traveler first appeared at USC games in 1961, beginning a tradition that has continued for more than six decades. The current Traveler is part of a long line of horses representing the Trojans.
Quote of note: “There’s a power, a mystique — it exemplifies the tradition of the football program at USC. (Traveler) is part of the game, part of our homefield advantage. He can get the crowd riled up to get us going when we’re struggling. He’s our secret weapon.” — former USC head coach Ted Tollner
Why we love it: A white horse, the Coliseum and one of the most recognizable fight songs in sports. USC’s entrance feels less like a football game and more like Hollywood decided to make a movie.
No. 16: War Eagle, Auburn
What to know: The tradition dates to 1892, when a captive eagle first appeared at a game. The modern pregame flight ritual began in 1960 and has featured a succession of trained eagles over the years.
Quote of note: “We’ve even received letters from people who have no Auburn affiliation and no SEC affiliation, but they’ve come to an Auburn game because it was on their bucket list to see the eagle fly.” — Andrew Hopkins, who guides the pregame stadium flights
Why we love it: A live eagle soaring around Jordan-Hare Stadium before kickoff helps make college football wonderfully different from every other sport. You simply don’t see this ritual anywhere else.
No. 15: The Sooner Schooner, Oklahoma
What to know: The Sooner Schooner made its debut in 1964, bringing Oklahoma’s pioneer heritage onto the football field. The Conestoga wagon has been a fixture of Sooners games ever since, becoming an unmistakable symbol of the program.
Quote of note: “Seeing the ponies before the game and after touchdowns always fires me up. It’s a unique tradition that really stands out from what other teams do around the nation. It represents Oklahoma’s heritage, and honestly, it just looks cool.” — longtime OU fan Josh Deisering
Why we love it: When that wagon pulled by horses races onto the field after a Sooners touchdown, it’s impossible not to smile. It’s part history, part spectacle and 100 percent college football.
No. 14: Army-Navy joint postgame alma maters
What to know: After the final whistle, the winning team joins the losing side and faces its students for the alma mater. Then the losing team joins the victors on their side of the field and sings its alma mater to its students. This act is a show of mutual respect and solidarity..
Quote of note: “Army and Navy, West Point and Annapolis, we’re not that different. We like to have this friendly banter, and we say we’re going to beat Army by a million because that’s what we’re going to do — that’s a fact you can quote that — but really it’s one fight and one team. We’re all in the Department of War. We all work for each other. If we’re in some far-flung place, having to do a job the nation has called us to do, I don’t care where you graduated because we’re all out there for each other.” — Michael Middleton, a 2026 U.S. Naval Academy graduate
Why we love it: Regardless of the outcome, both teams stand together for their alma maters. In a sport built around rivalries, it’s a patriotic reminder that some things matter more than the final score.
No. 13: Entering through the smoke, Miami
What to know: UM’s smoke entrance began in the 1950s and became a signature of Hurricanes football in the 1980s, as the program embraced an increasingly theatrical game-day presentation. The tradition has endured as one of college football’s most recognizable entrances.
Quote of note: “Sometimes, I even get emotional running through the smoke because it’s a dream come true. … Actually being able to run through the smoke is very humbling. It’s one of the best feelings in the world.” — former UM receiver Xavier Restrepo, who grew up in South Florida rooting for the Canes
Why we love it: The Hurricanes emerging onto the field through a wall of smoke perfectly captures the swagger, attitude and larger-than-life personality that have defined the program for decades.
No. 12: 2001: A Space Odyssey, South Carolina
What to know: The Gamecocks began using Richard Strauss’ 1896 composition “Also sprach Zarathustra,” the iconic opening from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” for their entrance at Williams-Brice Stadium in the 1980s. It has since become a defining part of the game-day tradition in Columbia.
Quote of note: “I’ve always thought that music was a mood-setter. I felt like (South) Carolina needed a little something extra at the time that had a little more pop to it. Heck, if it’s good enough for Elvis Presley, it ought to be good enough for us!” — former Gamecocks quarterback and long-time radio analyst Tommy Suggs, who is credited with creating the iconic entrance
Why we love it: The lights go down, the music builds and the crowd waits for the Gamecocks to emerge. It’s dramatic and cinematic — few entrances create quite the same sense of anticipation before kickoff.
No. 11: Running Through the T, Tennessee
What to know: The tradition dates to 1965, when the Pride of the Southland Band first formed the iconic T for the Volunteers to run through. The pregame ritual has been a fixture of Vols football ever since.
Quote of note: “It’s special. Running through the T as an instate-born Tennessee kid is very unique. It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will never get old.” — former Vols receiver Josh Malone
Why we love it: When the band forms that giant T, the crowd of over 100,000 erupts and the Volunteers come charging through. It’s old-school college football pageantry at its finest.
No. 10: Touching the Banner, Michigan
What to know: Michigan players have been touching the Go Blue banner before taking the field since the 1960s. What began as a simple pregame ritual has endured for generations and remains one of the Wolverines’ most recognizable traditions.
Quote of note: “(It) always gives you chills (because) it’s what all the legends did before us and it’s great. You’re no longer wearing your jersey and winged helmet just for yourself. You remember the people who put in the hard work before you. So, you have to take into account the history and the great players who have been here. They paved the way for you to be here.” — former Wolverines defensive end Rashan Gary
Why we love it: Sure, it’s just a sign. No elaborate production. Players touch the Go Blue banner while running onto the field. The simplicity is the appeal and an important part of the Big House experience.
No. 9: Play Like a Champion Today, Notre Dame
What to know: The sign, located at the bottom of the steps inside the Fighting Irish’s locker room leading into Notre Dame Stadium, was installed by then-head coach Lou Holtz in 1986. Since then, generations of Fighting Irish players have touched it on their way to the field.
Quote of note: “I read a lot of books about the history of Notre Dame and its football program. I forget which book I was looking at — it had an old picture in it that showed the slogan ‘Play Like a Champion Today.’ I said, ‘That is really appropriate; it used to be at Notre Dame and we needed to use it again.’ So, I had that sign made up.” — Holtz, who coached the Irish from 1986-96, compiling a 100-30-2 record.
Why we love it: Like Michigan, it’s just a sign. A simple tradition. But generations of Fighting Irish players have slapped it on their way to the field and it represents a physical connection to the program’s history.
No. 8: Dotting the “i,” Ohio State
What to know: Ohio State’s marching band first performed Script Ohio in 1936. A year later, the sousaphone player began stepping forward to dot the “i,” creating the signature moment fans still look forward to before every Buckeyes game inside Ohio Stadium.
Quote of note: “As a sousaphone player, dotting the ‘i’ is the highest honor one can achieve. It’s a dream many of us have for years, one that we work hard for each day as a member of this band. It takes unrelenting dedication to finally be able to live that dream.” — former Ohio State band member Nick Pisanelli
Why we love it: Script Ohio is impressive. But everyone inside the Horseshoe eagerly awaits that sousaphone player stepping forward to dot the “i.” It’s a small moment that somehow feels enormous.
No. 7: White Out Game, Penn State
What to know: The tradition began in 2004, when students were encouraged to wear white for a game against ninth-ranked Purdue. What started as a student-section ritual has grown into one of the most anticipated games on the Nittany Lions’ schedule.
Quote of note: “It’s really nothing I’ve ever experienced before. You don’t get that anywhere else. You can’t emulate that environment, that type of noise and that type of energy. It’s the loudest thing I’ve ever heard.” — former Penn State linebacker Dan Connor, who spent six seasons in the NFL
Why we love it: When Beaver Stadium is filled with over 100,000 fans dressed in white, the crowd becomes the spectacle. When the lights are on and the crowd is roaring, it’s an incredible sight.
No. 6: Ralphie’s Run, Colorado
What to know: The ritual began in 1934, when Colorado introduced a live buffalo as a pregame mascot. The tradition evolved over the years, eventually becoming the full-speed run around Folsom Field that fans know and love today.
Quote of note: “You can make a buffalo go only where a buffalo wants to go. This is the most fun thing I’ve ever done. Hands down.” — former Ralphie handler Keane Lyle
Why we love it: A giant female American bison charging around the stadium before kickoff is awesome. College football doesn’t need to make sense all the time. Sometimes it just needs to let Ralphie run.
No. 5: Osceola and Renegade, Florida State
What to know: The tradition began in 1978, when Florida State introduced the Seminole warrior and his Appaloosa horse as part of its pregame ceremony. The highly anticipated ritual has been a fixture of FSU games at Doak Campbell Stadium ever since.
Quote of note: “I may be biased, but this is probably one of, if not the greatest, tradition in college football. And not just because it represents FSU, but because it represents the Seminole Tribe as well. It goes deeper than college football tradition. The roots run deep.” — Lincoln Golike, who served as Osceola for four years
Why we love it: A rider on horseback carrying a flaming spear into a stadium and planting it at midfield sounds like something from a movie. It’s dramatic, distinctive and unmistakably Florida State.
No. 4: Running Down the Hill, Clemson
What to know: Clemson players have been running down the hill along Memorial Stadium’s east end zone since the 1940s. The tradition took its modern form in the 1960s, when Howard’s Rock was introduced as part of the pregame ritual.
Quote of note: “If you are lucky enough to ever witness this, you will not forget it. It is perhaps the greatest entrance in sports.” — ESPN’s Chris Fowler
Why we love it: The players touch Howard’s Rock, hear the cannon and run down the hill into a sea of orange at Death Valley. It’s pure college football pageantry and gives you chills every time you see it.
No. 3: Enter Sandman, Virginia Tech
What to know: The Metallica song, released in 1991, was first played as Virginia Tech’s entrance song in 2000, replacing “Sirius” by the Alan Parsons Project. It quickly caught on with fans and became one of college football’s defining pregame traditions.
Quote of note: “It’s just a different type of feeling. I get chills every time I think about it — the stadium actually shakes.” — former Hokies wide receiver Ali Jennings
Why we love it: Metallica’s song is great. The smoke is great. The jumping is great. Put it all together with 60,000 screaming fans at Lane Stadium and it’s one of the most intimidating entrances anywhere.
No. 2: Jump Around, Wisconsin
What to know: The tradition dates to 1998, when the Badgers began playing House of Pain’s hit song between the third and fourth quarters. It quickly became a signature part of the 80,000-seat Camp Randall Stadium experience.
Quote of note: “Thank you for keeping the song alive.” — House of Pain lead singer Everlast
Why we love it: There are loud stadiums, and then there’s Camp Randall when this song blares. Few traditions combine crowd participation, atmosphere and sheer spectacle like this one.
No. 1: The Hawkeye Wave, Iowa
What to know: It began in 2017 with a Facebook post encouraging fans to wave to patients and families at Stead Family Children’s Hospital, which overlooks Kinnick Stadium. What started online quickly became one of college football’s most-beloved traditions.
Quote of note: “That wave tradition that they started is the best thing in college football right now, it’s awesome. It is little stuff like that that can change someone’s life or have an impact on someone’s day.” — former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley
Why we love it: It’s simple, emotional and unlike anything else in the sport. For one minute, more than 70,000 fans put the game aside and wave to the kids and families watching from the children’s hospital.
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.