Three of college football’s most recognizable traditions belong to the Sunshine State.
The Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes earned spots on our ranking of the sport’s top 25 traditions, showcasing the distinct ways Florida’s biggest programs make fall Saturdays their own.
Each brings something distinct to college football’s game-day landscape.
The Gators, Noles and Canes have built rituals that are instantly recognizable, tied to the identity of each program and passed down through generations of fans.
One tradition leans on fan participation. Another is built around a dramatic entrance. A third is a pregame spectacle. All three represent different flavors of what makes college football unique.
Ranking college football traditions is, of course, subjective — and that’s part of the fun. We expect fans to debate what belongs higher, lower or maybe not on the list at all.
Here’s a closer look at how Florida, Florida State and Miami fared in our rankings, followed by the rest of the top 25.
No. 5: Osceola and Renegade, Florida State
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.
“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,” said Lincoln Golike, who served as Osceola for four years.
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. 13: Entering through the smoke, Miami
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.
Former UM receiver Xavier Restrepo, who grew up in South Florida rooting for the Canes, put it this way: “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.”
The Hurricanes emerging onto the field through a wall of smoke captures the swagger, attitude and larger-than-life personality that have defined the program for decades.
No. 20: Gator Chomp, Florida
The 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.
“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. said.
It’s a tradition 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.
The top 25
- 1. The Hawkeye Wave, Iowa
- 2. Jump Around, Wisconsin
- 3. Enter Sandman, Virginia Tech
- 4. Running Down the Hill, Clemson
- 5. Osceola and Renegade, Florida State
- 6. Ralphie’s Run, Colorado
- 7. White Out Game, Penn State
- 8. Dotting the “i,” Ohio State
- 9. Play Like a Champion Today, Notre Dame
- 10. Touching the Banner, Michigan
- 11. Running Through the T, Tennessee
- 12. 2001: A Space Odyssey, South Carolina
- 13. Entering through the smoke, Miami
- 14. Army-Navy joint postgame alma maters
- 15. The Sooner Schooner, Oklahoma
- 16. War Eagle, Auburn
- 17. Traveler and Tribute to Troy, USC
- 18. Country Roads, West Virginia
- 19. Calling the Dawgs, Georgia
- 20. Gator Chomp, Florida
- 21. Callin’ Baton Rouge, LSU
- 22. The Masked Rider, Texas Tech
- 23. The 12th Man, Texas A&M
- 24. Rammer Jammer, Alabama
- 25. Wabash Cannonball, Kansas State
READ MORE: The most memorable college football mascots and the stories behind them
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.