College football is an ideal event. Each year, new teams emerge, and while the cream of the crop can still reign supreme, the heartbeat of the sport remains constant. The fan bases around the country are the lifeblood of college football, and they know how to celebrate before, during, and after the game. The tailgating scenes at college football games are fierce, rowdy, and one-of-a-kind, which begs the question of which colleges created the 15 best college football tailgates in 2024.
Some that were considered the best college football tailgates were Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, and the Ole Miss Rebels, and it obviously took some unique spots to climb the list of the best college football tailgates in the country.
It’s important to note that location, food, atmosphere, game day scenes, and more were put into thought.
And of course, you can engage in a few tailgating at one of the best locations and enjoy the fun that comes with it while still at college.
What is a tailgate party?
A tailgate party is a social gathering occurring on and around a vehicle’s open tailgate. Tailgating, which is most common in the United States and Canada, frequently involves the use of alcoholic beverages while barbecuing and grilling food.
Tailgate parties take place in stadium and arena parking lots before and after sports, festivals, and concerts. Tailgate parties also include people bringing their own alcoholic beverages, barbecues, food, and so on, which are sampled and shared among tailgate attendees.
Tailgates are designed to be non-commercial events, therefore selling products to fans is discouraged and may even be deemed unlawful solicitation. Tailgating is frequently regarded as an important element of the sporting experience in the United States. Tailgating is common outside stadium and arena extensive parking lots surround entrances since many American sports venues.
Tailgating parties, which were formerly only found in the National Football League (NFL) and college football, are now also found at several American football games in Europe.
This practice has spread to other athletic events other than American football, including basketball, hockey, soccer, and baseball, as well as non-sporting events such as festivals, weddings, and concerts.
What time to start tailgating?
The average tailgate lasts approximately four hours, with some going as long as five or six hours for later-in-the-day games. Tailgaters often start tailgating around 6 a.m. for games that begin around midday, while others will go so far as to set up the night before.
Because tailgating is such a popular activity, especially during highly anticipated football games like the Cheez-It Bowl, Vrbo Citrus Bowl, or Florida Classic, arriving late means you won’t be able to obtain a parking spot and set up.
Keep in mind that certain stadiums have restrictions on how early tailgating can begin. Before heading to the parking lots, attendees should always check with the local stadium rules to see when they can arrive.
What are college tailgates like?
The tailgate party is an excellent way to celebrate with strangers who quickly become friends, even if only for the day.
Tailgating is commonly associated with the use of alcoholic beverages or soft drinks, as well as the grilling of various meat products. Picnic and grilling mainstays like bratwurst, hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, steak, to-go pizza, and cold salads like coleslaw or potato salad are popular tailgate party dishes.
Tailgate parties are intended to be non-commercial gatherings.
Snacks include potato and tortilla chips with guacamole, among other options. Tailgate gatherings inspired the development of some food products. Palmetto Cheese, a brand of pimento cheese, got its start at Atlanta Braves tailgate parties.
15 Best College Football Tailgate
OLE MISS REBELS
Since the turn of the century, Ole Miss has had two double-digit victory seasons, but that hasn’t stopped their fans from becoming a tailgating powerhouse. The Grove, located in the heart of Ole Miss’ campus, is a popular gathering place for tens of thousands of supporters. They line up tent after tent and throw a huge party.
Among the best college football tailgates in 2024 The Ole Miss Rebels still stand out at the top, as they do in most tailgating rankings annually. It’s hard to beat the gameday experience at Ole Miss. Words don’t do the Grove justice. Rebels fans rank among the most passionate, not just in the SEC, but nationwide.
VIsit college tailgate site: https://olemisssports.com/sports/football
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SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
South Carolina hasn’t had a double-digit victory season since 2013, but it hasn’t kept Gamecock supporters away from Williams-Brice Stadium over the years. However, Gamecock fans can be found tailgating before and after the game, with tents with food, pickup trucks packed with coolers and other goodies, and abandoned cabooses on an old train track near the stadium, which they nickname “Cockabooses.”
Gamecock Park, a landscaped tailgating area adjacent to Williams-Brice Stadium that replaced the former Farmer’s Market, opened in 2012 and is one of the most unusual sites in college football.
Fans do celebrate their tailgates by climbing aboard a neighboring railway. While it may not be the standard tailgate experience, it is undoubtedly distinctive and distinguishes the Gamecocks as one of the greatest.
Visit college tailgate site: https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/football/
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TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Tailgating at Tennessee games is a great experience, but if you’re seen wearing any color orange other than Pantone Matching System PMS 151, you’ll probably get some flack. After all, Tennessee football hasn’t been all that terrific over the last decade, so minor details like the color of orange one wears are a significant snub.
If you’ve never seen the Vol Navy or the Big Orange Army along the Tennessee River, you’re missing out. Even when Tennessee hasn’t been a consistent Top 25 program for the past two decades, the party outside Neyland Stadium is raucous.
Despite the team’s recent struggles, Volunteers fans refuse to lose up on their squad. Tennessee orange floods the tailgates nearby, creating a unique vibe inside the stadium afterwards.
Visit college tailgate site::https://utsports.com/sports/football
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LSU TIGERS
Like most SEC venues, there’s a lot of traffic around the stadium several hours before kickoff, which makes for nightmare traffic before and after games. However, Baton Rouge has some of the best food offerings in the South, and it’s one of the few places you can really enjoy gameday even if you don’t have a ticket.
Tiger Stadium, also known as “Death Valley,” is one of the most intimidating places for opponents to play. There is never a shortage of Tigers fans, making LSU fans have one of the best college football tailgates in the country.
VIsit college tailgate site: https://lsusports.net/
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WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Tailgating for Husky games is one of the most unique sporting experiences making it pick a spot at top college football tailgates ranking. Everyone has food, beverages, and music, but who does it properly on the water? That’s right, for Husky games, Washington fans “sailgating” on the water. Whether you have your own boat or want to buy a seat on one of the ones present, it’s a uniquely Seattle experience. They do what other tailgaters do, but in a different way. And even better.”
Rain or sunny, Huskies fans are always out in force. According to 247Sports analyst Sam Hellman, “Huskies supporters get into a lot more than cheeseburgers when it comes to a seafood-heavy dining scene.”
Visit college tailgate site: https://gohuskies.com/sports/football
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OKLAHOMA SOONERS
“Aside from eating amazing barbeque and consuming adult beverages, Tailgates in Norman provide a variety of activities.” There’s the walk down Heisman Park where you can see the Sooners’ five Heisman winners’ trophies, the Legends Lobby that displays other Oklahoma lore and Sooner Fan Fest, a great place for families.”
Unofficially, meat is the preferred pre-game food for Sooners fans. Oklahoma fans eat well on game days, whether it’s pork or ribeye. There may not be a more fervent group in the Big 12, and there’s a reason why Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is one of the nation’s most difficult venues to play in.
Visit college tailgate site: https://soonersports.com/sports/football
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OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Having one of the best college football tailgates even in 2024,this (O-H-I-O chant) can be heard as early as 5 p.m. on the Thursday before games because that is when tailgaters are allowed to begin setting up for Saturday games – two days prior! I don’t know what is better than tailgating at its finest. Weather has no effect on Buckeye fans; even when it’s below freezing, they turn out in force.
On gamedays, there’s usually enough room to roam around Ohio Stadium, which isn’t always easy to find at teams ranked in the top ten.
A sea of Buckeyes red surrounds countless Ohio State tents and flags just outside of Ohio Stadium. Fans of Ohio State don’t hold back either, painting their faces, donning classic Buckeyes clothing, and, of course, cheering on their team. This is one of the sport’s largest crowds, and it shows on gameday.
Visit college tailgate site: https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-footbl/
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CLEMSON TIGERS
“Tailgating does not stop when the games begin, since Clemson continues to allow pass-outs, which allow spectators to leave and re-enter Memorial Stadium. They must go through security screenings, but that is the price you must pay.”
As soon as you arrive within a mile or two of Memorial Stadium, you’ll be surrounded by orange and Tiger paws, easily producing the best tailgate and pre-game experience in the ACC. In the fall, Clemson fans are devoted from sunrise to sunset. The ‘Tiger Walk’ is something you should definitely see.
Clemson fans, who are one of several colleges that line the incoming door for their team, do not hold back from standing in enormous masses for that welcome.
Clemson has the traditions that make its gameday atmosphere one of the best anywhere, thanks to enormous crowds of Tigers supporters who support a program that is dominant year after year.
Visit college tailgate site: https://clemsontigers.com/sports/football/
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IOWA HAWKEYES
Although it is a new tradition, after each first quarter, fans turn away from the field and wave.
Insider put the Hawkeyes first in the best college football tailgates in 2018, though they’ve slid slightly two years later, but the fact remains: Iowa fans are among the most devoted in college football, and they bring it every weekend there’s a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The Pedestrian Mall is located in the center of downtown Iowa City and is well worth a visit if you are in the area.
Visit college tailgate site: https://hawkeyesports.com/sports/football/
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NEBRASKA HUSKERS
Nebraska has demonstrated that it makes no difference what conference your team plays in. You can tailgate if you know how. The Cornhuskers, who were previously a member of the Big 12, currently compete in the Big Ten. But their before and after scenario hasn’t changed: it’s still a party, gaining them a spot at the top college football tailgates in the country.
On gamedays in Lincoln, chants of “Husker! Power!” can last for hours, and there are numerous alternatives for terrific tailgating outside Memorial Stadium, including the party at Pinnacle Bank Arena, Husker Nation Pavilion, and the NZone, a subterranean bar within walking distance. Good luck securing a spot on the rooftop patio at Barry’s Bar & Grill before the game.
Despite the fact that Nebraska hasn’t been winning much of late, fans are still out in force. All across the stadium, Huskers fans try to outdo the folks next to them by throwing an even wilder party. Chants of “Husker” and “Power” flood the air, creating a boisterous celebration.
Visit college tailgate site: https://huskers.com/sports/football
TEXAS LONGHORNS
If you’re unfamiliar with the area, you might wonder where Texas fans might tailgate. However, as you approach the stadium, you will see an increasing amount of burnt orange, and you will soon find yourself engulfed in a sea of Longhorns fans who have come to welcome their team into the stadium. The state of Texas takes football more seriously than most states, and it shows in Austin.
Every fall, the social experience connected with gameday contributes to college football’s national allure. There is no bigger or more entertaining celebration than what happens before a football game, in the opinion of fans, students, or alumni.
In the South, college football is a religion, and if the game represents service, tailgating is the multi-hour gathering outside the church where you’re reintroduced to folks you care about every weekend.
Visit college tailgate site: https://texassports.com/sports/football
WISCONSIN BADGERS
The atmosphere inside the stadium during a Saturday game in Madison is electric, with spectators jumping about and chanting along to the song “Jump Around.” No matter the temperature or the weather, you can count on a large number of Badgers supporters to be in attendance at each of their games. After a full day of tailgating, the jumping is as loud as it has ever been, and it is believed that this will continue as long as the Badgers are expected to contend in the Big Ten again.
Visit college tailgate site: https://uwbadgers.com/
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ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
The “Woo Pig Sooie” chant used by the Arkansas Razorbacks is without a doubt one of the most iconic chants in all of collegiate athletics, if not the most iconic. Therefore, you should prepare yourself to hear roars from the thousands of Arkansas Razorbacks fans that have congregated in the parking lot outside the stadium. The fans in Fayetteville add to the fact that it is a challenging environment for opposing teams to play in when they come to town.
VIsit college tailgate site: https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/sport/m-footbl/
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AUBURN TIGERS
A sea of Auburn oranges can be seen just outside the stadium, which gives off the feeling that an incredible atmosphere is about to ensue inside. Even in 2024, it will be impossible to find an SEC school that does not have its own distinct culture surrounding tailgating, and Auburn will undoubtedly continue to be recognized as having one of the top college football tailgates.
Fans of the Tigers congregate in large numbers in the area surrounding the stadium and do not let up.
Visit college tailgate site: https://auburntigers.com/sports/football
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TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Not many teams can boast of being able to set up a tailgating location near to the stadium, this distinguishes the Aggies giving them a place in the top college football tailgates ranking. Kyle Field, on the other hand, isn’t far from the tailgating scene that Aggies supporters make so memorable.
This, paired with the Aggie yell leaders who add to the craziness, makes College Station a unique place to be on Saturdays. Expect the Aggies to have significant support once again as usual.
Visit college tailgate site: https://12thman.com/sports/football
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Is a football ball ticket required to engage in a college football tailgate?
One thing has become the norm. Tailgating and technology have enabled college football fans to enjoy the tailgating experience without purchasing game tickets.
All you have to do is park your SUV, sedan, or van (pickups are still popular) and connect your flatscreen TV. You can eat and drink until kickoff, then watch the game on one of the numerous networks that broadcast college football on Saturday.
What are Pre-game tailgating safety tips?
Pre-game tailgating at your favorite team’s stadium screams fall fun. It’s as old as football and has increased in popularity. Safety recommendations help keep your party exciting and trouble-free even at the top college football tailgates.
The following are a few tips for safe tailgating.
- Drive carefully around tailgate parties that often spill into driving lanes when you arrive at the stadium. Slow down and watch for children and adults chasing footballs or enjoying tailgate activities. Also, have a designated driver for after the game and watch out for glass when leaving the tailgate area.
- Food safety is key to a fun tailgate. Even if food is delivered in coolers or portable refrigerators, it can spoil if left out on snack tables during the pre-game celebration. Cover or refrigerate food whenever feasible.
- Grilled meats are popular at tailgates. Raw meat should be stored in individual containers in an icy cooler until ready to cook. After touching raw meat, wash knives, tongs, etc. Wash your hands before and after touching raw meat and cutting boards. To prevent foodborne bacteria from spreading, use paper towels and plates.
- Safe grilling is another pre-game party. Use an instant-read thermometer to check grilled meat’s temperature. Chicken, turkey, and ground beef should be cooked to 165°F, and steaks, chops, and fish to 145°F, according to Foodsafety.gov.
- A fire extinguisher should always be nearby when grilling, especially at a tailgate. When you’re done cooking, turn off gas grills and wet coals. If the chef gets burns or cuts, a first aid package will help.
- Stay safe from the elements when tailgating. Even if it’s cloudy, use sunscreen when spending hours outside. Drink water all day. Pre- and during-game dehydration is common
Conclusion
Indeed, the significance of the fanbase is absolutely visible, even as many claim it’s the bloodline of college football. Let alone the joy that comes with tailgating, it’s something a fan can’t miss out on.
Every year, millions of fans flock to collegiate stadiums to watch their favorite team compete for supremacy.
A substantial portion of those supporters are there for other reasons, such as to socialize with other fans and enjoy the tailgate experience.
Each college has its own distinct approach, some more so than others.
In this article, we’ve seen a list of the top 15 best college football tailgates of 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which college football stadium is the best?
The Tiger Stadium. Louisiana State University (LSU). The capacity is 92,542.
Which university has the largest tailgate?
The Ole Miss Rebels
The Grove, located in the heart of Ole Miss’ campus, is a popular gathering place for tens of thousands of supporters.
How long do tailgate parties last?
The average tailgate lasts approximately four hours, with some going as long as five or six hours for later-in-the-day games.
How can I make my tailgating more enjoyable?
Bring games, such as cornhole boards or a table for beer pong/flip cup. A good tailgate, like a good backyard Barbecue, always offers something for guests to do to pass the time—drinking games or cornhole are perfect possibilities.
At LSU, where can I tailgate?
The Parade Fields
The heart of the LSU tailgating experience is located on campus. It’s an open green place where most LSU tailgaters warm up before the game.
What does SEC stand for?
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is an American collegiate athletic conference that arose from the Southern Conference.
References
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