{"id":74880,"date":"2025-08-27T09:21:25","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T15:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportstravelmagazine.com\/?p=74880"},"modified":"2025-08-27T19:13:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T01:13:42","slug":"2025s-ultimate-college-football-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportstravelmagazine.com\/2025s-ultimate-college-football-road-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2025 Ultimate College Football Road Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are 136 FBS football teams and this year, there are almost as many incredible games.<\/p>\n

College football is nothing if not pageantry. With tailgating scenes that go on for hours before \u2014 and sometimes after \u2014 games, there may be no scene like it in sports This year, SportsTravel<\/em> has built the ultimate weekend road trip that can last a full season.<\/p>\n

One rule: You can\u2019t go to a site more than once. But you will see a blend of historic stadiums, atmospheres, rivalries and high-stakes matchups if you follow our list.<\/p>\n

Week Zero <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, August 23: Kansas State vs. Iowa State (in Dublin, Ireland)
\n<\/strong>This Big 12 rivalry has one of the best names in sports \u2014 Farmageddon. The game has occurred every year since 1917, making it one of the longest continuous series in college football history. However, this year\u2019s edition will be far from the farms of Iowa or Kansas, as these two ranked teams take their conflict to Dublin and Aviva Stadium that will have the full attention of the college football world. \u2014Justin Shaw<\/em><\/p>\n

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Iowa State running back Abu Sama III runs from Kansas State linebacker Desmond Purnell during the 2024 game in Ames, Iowa. This year’s edition of ‘Farmageddon’ will be at a more exotic location in Dublin. (AP Photo\/Charlie Neibergall)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 1 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, August 30: No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State
\n<\/strong>Texas and Ohio State is not only a rematch of the 2025 Cotton Bowl, which was a College Football Playoff Semifinal, but it features two of the most storied teams in the sport battling in the Horseshoe. This clash of top 3 teams will be Arch Manning\u2019s debut as the full\u2013time starter for the Longhorns, with the excited Texas fanbase traveling to Columbus to mix with Buckeye red\u2013clad Ohio State fans still reveling in the team\u2019s national title. \u2014Justin Shaw<\/em><\/p>\n

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Ohio State players and fans celebrate their win over Michigan in 2016 in a game where geologists measuring vibrations caused by boisterous Ohio State football fans say the Buckeyes’ game-winning touchdown in double overtime had Ohio Stadium rocking more than any other time this season. (AP Photo\/Jay LaPrete, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sunday, August 31: No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami
\n<\/strong>In 1988, No. 1 Miami traveled to No. 4 Notre Dame for what became one of the best college football games of all time. The \u201cCatholics vs. Convicts\u201d narrative and a pre\u2013game fight in the tunnel catapulted this rivalry to new levels, as it remains hostile today. This year, Notre Dame and its large fanbase will invade South Beach as the Fighting Irish scuffle with the Hurricanes in a top 10 clash to open the season. \u2014Justin Shaw<\/em><\/p>\n

Week 2 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, September 6: No. 14 Michigan at No. 18 Oklahoma
\n<\/strong>Still getting used to the notion of Oklahoma (and Texas for that matter) in the SEC? Well, get over it. The fans at OU are certainly trying to, after finishing (gulp) 13th in the conference last year. In this one in Norman, they get the chance to get on the right track against a resurgent Michigan team that has had to battle off-field drama this offseason, resulting in recent penalties for their years-old sign-stealing scandal. Regardless of their recent histories, these are two storied programs facing off with two fan bases that will settle for nothing less than a national title. \u2014Jason Gewirtz<\/em><\/p>\n

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Oklahoma students and fans rush the field after the Soon ers defeated Alabama in 2024, in Norman, Oklahoma. (AP Photo\/Alonzo Adams)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 3 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, September 13: No. 5 Georgia at No. 24 Tennessee
\n<\/strong>SEC stadiums tend to only do things big. And they don\u2019t get as big as Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee. Of course, when the Volunteers are doing well, the stadium looms even larger. With Georgia \u2014 a perennial favorite to win it all \u2014 headed to town, expect heightened urgency and intensity for a battle that may well determine playoff positioning way down the road when the calendar hits December. \u2014Jason Gewirtz<\/em><\/p>\n

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Tennessee fans sing Rocky Top during the first half against Alabama in 2022 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo\/Wade Payne)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 4 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, September 20: No. 14 Michigan at Nebraska
\n<\/strong>No matter the record (and don\u2019t ask about some of the recent records), the stands in Lincoln Memorial Stadium are filled with red for every Cornhusker home game. Nebraska football is steeped in tradition and devotion and the fans live and die with every snap. On this day, the maize and blue of traveling Michigan fans may make the panorama look a bit different. And being unranked at the moment, this is a perfect chance for Nebraska to make an early statement in the Big Ten.\u00a0\u2014Matt Traub<\/em><\/p>\n

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Nebraska will hope to make this fan smile a little bit bigger than he was at this moment during a 2024 game against Iowa. (AP Photo\/Charlie Neibergall)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 5 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, September 27: No. 8 Alabama at No. 5 Georgia
\n<\/strong>The air will be thick with humidity no matter the time of kickoff and the air will also be full of anticipation as two of FBS\u2019 most dynastic programs of this century face off. The past few years may have featured the greatest combined group of potential NFL talent in any college football game and whoever wins this game typically has its sights even closer on a national championship run. There are games that matter and stadiums that have tradition; few matter more than this one to the two fan bases and few stadiums are as revered as the one where the Dawgs play between the hedges. \u2014Matt Traub<\/em><\/p>\n

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Fans at Sanford Stadium show their support for Georgia in the first half of a game against South Carolina in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo\/John Bazemore)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saturday, September 27: No. 7 Oregon at No. 2 Penn State
\n<\/strong>That this is a conference game speaks to the depth of the top four leagues in college football and also its absurdity given it would take 41 hours to drive from Eugene to State College. There\u2019s also the attraction of whatever outfit the Ducks will wear going against the decades-long tradition of plain blue jersey and white helmet (with some slight changes over the years) for the Nittany Lions. On gamedays in State College it becomes one of the biggest cities in the commonwealth and on this day, certainly the loudest. \u2014Matt Traub<\/em><\/p>\n

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Penn State fan cheer during the fourth quarter against Washington in State College, Pennsylvania, during the teams’ first Big Ten matchup. (AP Photo\/Barry Reeger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 6 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, October 4: No. 4 Clemson at North Carolina
\n<\/strong>The Carolina Blue always feels and seems a bit calming, don\u2019t you think? For basketball, the Tar Heels have fought the label of being the \u201cwine and cheese\u201d crowd and in football, even with some spurts of success, it hasn\u2019t certainly had the reputation of being a feared place to play. But this isn\u2019t Chapel Hill anymore, it\u2019s Chapel Bill as in Belichick and the legendary NFL coach\u2019s arrival on campus should juice up any matchup, particularly one with the highly ranked Tigers coming to town and a fan base that enjoys setting up shop in a rival\u2019s stadium on Saturdays. \u2014Matt Traub<\/em><\/p>\n

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New North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick waves to the crowd at Dean Smith Center to promote the upcoming season. (AP Photo\/Ben McKeown)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 7 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, October 11: No. 18 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Texas (in Dallas)
\n<\/strong>It\u2019s always a party when these two teams come together \u2014 at least at the tailgate, which coincides with the Texas State Fair. After the fans consume plenty of fried food and beverages outside the stadium, the atmosphere inside the Cotton Bowl becomes electric. The venue is split right down the middle, with half painted crimson and the other half burnt orange. The Red River Rivalry is a must attend for any college football fan. \u2014Justin Shaw<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
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Texas fans cheer during the ‘Red River Rivalry’ against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in 2024, in Dallas. Texas won 34-3. (AP Photo\/Jeffrey McWhorter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 8 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, October 18: USC at No. 6 Notre Dame
\n<\/strong>Aside from a three\u2013year period during World War II and during 2020, these two fierce rivals have played every year since 1926. The Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh is scheduled to be played through 2026, but after that, one of the best cross\u2013sectional rivalries in college football may cease to exist as USC has been hesitant to schedule future contests. Notre Dame Stadium celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025, as it welcomes the Trojans to South Bend for perhaps the final time. \u2014Justin Shaw<\/em><\/p>\n

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Notre Dame players walk through fans on their way to the stadium before its game against Louisville in South Bend, Indiana. (AP Photo\/Michael Caterina)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 9 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, October 25: No. 19 Texas A&M at No. 9 LSU
\n<\/strong>There\u2019s been more than a few earthquakes caused in Baton Rouge by the explosion of fans screaming and jumping late into the night as the hometown Tigers try to maintain their status as a national powerhouse. The tailgating scene is famous and can be something to enjoy for a day … or two .. or maybe three or four? There\u2019s also the chance that you could see a live Tiger prowling the sidelines, which is also something that only happens in college football and is also the potential stuff of nightmares. \u2014Matt Traub<\/em><\/p>\n

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LSU’s Bo Bordelon celebrates with fans after they rushed the field after the team’s overtime win over Ole Miss in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (AP Photo\/Matthew Hinton)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 10 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, November 1: Army at Air Force
\n<\/strong>There is something special about football games involving the military academies. And with Air Force having one of the most stunning settings for football in the country at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, games in Colorado Springs feature not only the rivalry on the field but the beauty of the mountain setting to make it all feel just right. This year, the new Hotel Polaris is open at the entrance to the Air Force Academy for those lucky enough to get a room in the closest hotel to campus. And a new Air Force visitor center will also be open this fall, adding yet another reason to make the road trip to see if the Falcons can fly high. \u2014Jason Gewirtz<\/em><\/p>\n

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Opponents are given a gentle reminder of the elevation when they visit Air Force at Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 11 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, November 8: Eastern Washington at Montana
\n<\/strong>Don\u2019t think that this is some \u201cnormal\u201d FBS program where you can show up and expect to find a ticket on gameday; the Grizzlies drew an average crowd of 26,978 in 2023 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, where the home team has a .890 winning percentage. Instead, get your tickets in advance and enjoy one of the traditional powerhouses in college football, one that won more games in the 2000s than any other program and can hang with the big boys of FCS, having beating nationally ranked Washington in 2021. \u2014Matt Traub<\/em><\/p>\n

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Montana mascot Monte entertains the crowd from the roof of a vehicle driven around Washington-Grizzly Stadium before a game in Missoula. (AP Photo\/Lido Vizzutti)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 12 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, November 15: Ithaca at Cortland
\n<\/strong>The annual game between Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland in Upstate New York was famously nicknamed “the Biggest Little Game in the Nation” by Sports Illustrated<\/em>. As the colors turn on the leaves throughout the mountains in the region, there is no way you can step on the Ithaca campus without first checking to make sure you\u2019re not wearing red \u2014 and the same with blue on the Cortland campus. In 2019, the game was moved to MetLife Stadium and drew 45,161, the type of crowd a Jets or Giants late-season game would wish it could get nowadays. The next year at Yankee Stadium, more than 40,000 attended. \u2014Matt Traub<\/em><\/p>\n

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Division III rivals SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College raced off in the 2022 Cortaca Juge at Yankee Stadium in front of more than 40,000 fans. Courtesy Darl Zehr Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 13 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, November 22: No. 24 Tennessee at No. 15 Florida
\n<\/strong>Volunteers and Gators in The Swamp. This one may yet play a factor in the hard-fought SEC with two heavyweights preparing to face off. Tennessee may bring its fair share of orange-clad fans to Florida, but will it be the orange and blue that win the day? With a planned renovation to The Swamp nearing final approval \u2014 a move that might reduce seating \u2014 this is the time to get into one of the rowdiest experiences in college football while you can. \u2014Jason Gewirtz<\/em><\/p>\n

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Florida fans cheer during the first half of against Miami last year in Gainesville, Florida. (AP Photo\/John Raoux)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 14<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Friday, November 28: No. 19 Texas A&M at No. 1 Texas
\n<\/strong>Last year was Year 1 for these longtime rivals to find themselves in the SEC together and Texas marched into Kyle Field for the victory. Can the Aggies play spoiler this time around at Texas? Make no mistake about the rivalry in this one. The Aggies faithful take pride in some of their most beloved cheers that are aimed at the Longhorns \u2013 something they shout at every game regardless of opponent, regardless of the fact they went years without playing. With Texas entering the season as an early favorite to win it all, this one will be full of drama as A&M tries to spoil the fun. \u2014Jason Gewirtz<\/em><\/p>\n

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Texas Mascot “BEVO” leads young fans onto the field before a game last year in Austin. The Longhorns this year welcome rival Texas A&M. (AP Photo\/Michael Thomas)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saturday, November 29: No. 3 Ohio St. at No. 14 Michigan
\n<\/strong>A rivalry that burned hot especially in the 1970s has continued to burn at mercury\u2019s temperature. With both teams claiming national titles the past two years and knowing the path to another goes right through each other, the fandom is rabid. Winning this game could even mean as much as a national title (especially if you beat your rival on the way to their title run). Watch out for planted flags, too, especially at the end of the game. They\u2019ve been known to incite some additional action. \u2014Matt Traub<\/em><\/p>\n

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Sudents in Michigan Stadium cheer during the second quarter against Western Michigan in Ann Arbor during a 2021 win. (AP Photo\/Tony Ding, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Week 15 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday, December 13: Army vs. Navy (in Baltimore)
\n<\/strong>M&T Bank Stadium will be the site for a matchup that provides more prestige and pageantry than any other college football contest. The President of the United States has been known to attend the Army\u2013Navy game, which includes flyovers and tens of thousands of cadets and midshipmen in the crowd. The Commander-in-Chief Trophy is sometimes on the line in this spectacle, which features those who will be fighting for their country after their football careers have ended. \u2014Justin Shaw<\/em><\/p>\n

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Navy quarterback Blake Horvath dives over the goal line to score a touchdown against Army during last year’s rivalry matchup. (AP Photo\/Daniel Kucin Jr.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are 136 FBS football teams and this year, there are almost as many incredible games. College football is nothing if not pageantry. With tailgating scenes that go on for hours before \u2014 and sometimes after \u2014 games, there may be no scene like it in sports This year, SportsTravel has built the ultimate weekend […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":74885,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10948,4458],"tags":[18063,18070,18071,18067,18065,555,18060,869,12806,18069,18061,18062,263,18068,15130,18066,18064],"class_list":["post-74880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-football","category-main-feature","tag-athens","tag-austin","tag-baltimore","tag-baton-rouge","tag-chapel-hill","tag-colorado-springs","tag-columbus","tag-dallas","tag-dublin","tag-gainesville","tag-knoxville","tag-lincoln","tag-miami","tag-montana","tag-oklahoma","tag-south-bend","tag-state-college"],"acf":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/sportstravelmagazine.com\/2025s-ultimate-college-football-road-trip\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"The 2025 Ultimate College Football Road Trip","url":"http:\/\/www.sportstravelmagazine.com\/2025s-ultimate-college-football-road-trip\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.sportstravelmagazine.com\/2025s-ultimate-college-football-road-trip\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/media.sportstravelmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20165211\/Miami-Football-150x150.jpg","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/media.sportstravelmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20165211\/Miami-Football-scaled.jpg"},"articleSection":"College Football","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Matt Traub"}],"creator":["Matt Traub"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"SportsTravel","logo":"https:\/\/www.sportstravelmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/sportstravel-logo-simple-1.jpg"},"keywords":["athens","austin","baltimore","baton rouge","chapel hill","colorado springs","columbus","dallas","dublin","gainesville","knoxville","lincoln","miami","montana","oklahoma","south bend","state college"],"dateCreated":"2025-08-27T15:21:25Z","datePublished":"2025-08-27T15:21:25Z","dateModified":"2025-08-28T01:13:42Z"},"rendered":"