BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL DESTINATIONS

From RAVE REVIEWS

For many, summertime means lazy days by the riverside and backyard barbecues.

But not us. Okay, we love those things too. That is, when the warm weather isn’t reminding us college football is fast approaching.

We crave the roar of the crowd, dressed in their fresh jerseys, as the band plays the alma mater fight song. But, really, we love it all: the tailgating, the face paint, the obsessive checking and rechecking of where our teams are ranked in the polls.

However, what we love more than anything is the town–some we still live in, some we only return to for the games, and some we wonder why we ever left in the first place.

In this ranking, RAVE Reviews wanted to pay tribute to not only the best college football destinations, but also the towns that best balanced a great lifestyle with great college football–the best places to both raise a family and root for your team together.

This ranking made us football fans even more excited about the autumn leaves turning to warmer colors as the cool air returns. Did your town make the list? Keep reading to find out.

How did college football start?

Before we get to America’s 10 best college football destinations, let’s first take a look at how college and football became so interconnected.

November 6, 1869–this date should be like a holiday for serious fans of college football. It was on this day that Rutgers and Princeton played what is widely considered the first ever college football game. For those who may need a reminder, Rutgers beat Princeton by a score of 6 to 4.

Rutgers University is considered the birthplace of college football, but It wasn’t until the 1880s, that a rugby player from Yale named Walter Camp pioneered rule changes that would slowly transforming rugby into the game known today as American Football.

How did President Teddy Roosevelt save college football?

Without Teddy Roosevelt, the game of football might not exist today. In the early 20th century, football was an even more dangerous sport. 

In 1904, The Chicago Tribune reported over 150 serious football-related injuries and 18 deaths. 

One of the problems was that the forward pass was an illegal play at the time. So, the only way to advance the ball was to lock arms and turn heads, necks, and bodies into brutal battering rams. 

Common football injuries included broken spines and fractured ribs that punctured hearts–that’s not the kind of Sportscenter highlight any of us look forward to seeing.

A football fan himself, and the father of Theodore Jr. who was playing football at Harvard at the time, Teddy Roosevelt didn’t want his son to be injured or even killed, so Rosevelt summoned head coaches and representatives from the big football powers of the era: Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. 

The schools pledged to do what they could to help clean up the game. 

It took some time, but by 1906 radical rule changes were adopted by the intercollegiate conference, now known as the NCAA. 

Rule changes included:

• Legalization of the forward pass
• The abolishment of dangerous mass formations
• The creation of the neutral zone
• Doubling first down distance to 10 yards in 3 downs

These and further rule changes improved the safety of football and, in the process, helped create the modern game we know today. 

How well do you know your football?

Think you’re the ultimate college football fan? Here’s some facts about college football you may have missed in your career as a fan. 

• The University of Michigan is the winningest college football program in history, with the Wolverines leading all teams in college football with 953 wins.
• USC has had more players drafted in the first round of the NFL draft than any other team, followed closely by Ohio State, Notre Dame, Miami (FL), and Alabama.
• Nebraska has won more conference championships than any other team and they’ve won championships in 4 different conferences.
• Notre Dame is the undisputed leader in this storied rivalry with 47 wins over The Trojans.
• Alabama has been to more bowl games than any other team, leading the field with 62 bowl appearances. Behind Alabama there’s Nebraska, Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Who is the best college football team of all time?

Perhaps the most important bit of trivia of all–who is the best college team of all time? Opinions will differ of course, and isn’t that the great thing about sports, anyway?

But here are 5 teams widely considered to be among the greatest teams in all of college football history. Also included is the year in which they fielded their greatest group of players (as ranked by ESPN.com).

1) Nebraska Cornhuskers (1971)

The 1971 Cornhuskers ended their 13-0 season beating Alabama 38-6 in the Orange Bowl.

2) USC Trojans (1972)

In 1972, the USC Trojans, coached by John McKay, capped their 12-0 season by obliterating Ohio State 42-17 in the Rose Bowl.

3) Nebraska Cornhuskers (1995)

There’s good reason why the Nebraska Cornhuskers are one of college football’s most storied programs. In 1995, the Huskers won their second straight national championship, with a 62-24 trouncing of Florida in the Fiesta Bowl.

4) Army (1945)

After beating the Nazis, the Army went on to win the national title, beating Navy 32-13 in the annual Philadelphia classic.

5) Miami (2001)

In 2001, the Miami Hurricanes went 12-0, beating their opponents by an average margin of 34 points.

Methodology

The only thing left to do now is take a look at the list you’ve been waiting for–America’s 10 best college football destinations. 

When compiling this ranking, RAVE Reviews looked at the 20 most winning teams in the history of college football. We then triangulated rankings of America’s best college towns from all across the internet.

Each team started with a base score of 81-100. The most winning team earned a 100, and so on. The team then scored a first down (so to speak) every time the town in which the university is located showed up on lists of America’s best college towns.

If the town, or university, ranked in all-time most winning college football teams, but didn’t show up on any best college town rankings, it was excluded from our ranking.

We evaluated each destination on the following:

• Winning record of the team
• Frequency in which the town where the team is located showed up in similar rankings across the internet
• Recent team performance
• Cultural offerings of the destination besides football

We feel this methodology produced a comprehensive top 10. Do you agree? Let’s play ball.

The Best College Football Destinations

1. Ann Arbor, MITeam: Michigan WolverinesWhere to stay: Graduate Ann ArborWhere to eat: Taste KitchenFirst in our ranking of the 10 best college football destinations, The Michigan Wolverines, lead all teams in college football with a winning record of 953 and 342.What we liked about Ann Arbor (besides what happens on the gridiron) is everything else the town has to offer, with plenty to do both indoors and outdoors.When not watching football in Ann Arbor, enjoy plentiful restaurants, nightlife establishments, museums, and parks.It’s cold there in the winter, but nevertheless there’s plenty to do outdoors in Ann Arbor, from biking the paths to hiking the trails. Most of all, the best college towns are both lively and livable. Luckily, Ann Arbor is both. This, coupled with the great football action provided by the Michigan Wolverines, makes Ann Arbor without a doubt America’s best college football destination.RAVE Meter: 100
2. Columbus, OHTeam: Ohio State BuckeyesWhere to stay: The Blackwell Inn and Pfahl Conference CenterWhere to eat: Refectory RestaurantOur second pick for best college football destinations is Columbus, Ohio. Some people feel cities the size of Columbus can’t really be considered true “college towns” (Austin, we’re looking at you).But when the Buckeyes play, with an all-time record of 911 and 324–the second best all time–the whole city seems to come out to support their team.On top of all that, there’s plenty to do in Columbus besides take in some football. OSU’s university district is like a city unto itself.While in Columbus, be sure to check out Mirror Lake, or maybe the view of the Oval from atop the Thompson library. Or instead, visit the Wexner Center for the Arts. RAVE Meter: 99.8
3. Tuscaloosa, ALTeam: University of Alabama Crimson TideWhere to stay: Hotel IndigoWhere to eat: The Avenue PubDespite having the fourth best winning record all-time at 905 and 329, these days the Alabama Crimson Tide are practically synonymous with college football. But there’s a lot more to do in Tuscaloosa than just watch football–though really, isn’t that enough? First off, Tuscaloosa is home to Houndstooth, the nation’s best sports bar according to Playboy Magazine–and they’d know. Or, get yourself steeped in football history at the Paul W. Bryant Museum. Stroll through the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk, or take in the last of the season’s fresh vegetables at the Tuscaloosa Farmer’s Market.All this makes Tuscaloosa our third pick for best college football destinations. Roll Tide!RAVE Meter: 98.8
4. South Bend, INTeam: Notre Dame Fighting IrishWhere to stay: Aloft South BendWhere to Eat: Cafe NavarreUp next in our ranking of the 10 best college football destinations is South Bend, Indiana. With the sixth best winning record all time, at 905 and 329, Notre Dame football is a legendary program. Great players to pass through the halls of Notre Dame include Joe Montana and Paul Hornung.And there’s more to South Bend than the Fighting Irish and Mayor Pete Buttigieg. While in South Bend, check out the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Studebaker National Museum, or Potawatomi Zoo.You could also take in a show (off the gridiron) at the Morris Performing Arts Center.RAVE Meter: 97.6
5. Lincoln, NETeam: Nebraska CornhuskersWhere to stay: Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker HotelWhere to eat: Hopcat – LincolnFifth in our ranking of the best college football destinations is Lincoln, Nebraska, home to one of the most storied college football teams of all time: the Nebraska Cornhuskers.With an all-time win record of 897 and 388, Cornhusker fans are some of the most faithful in all of college football, and perhaps in all of sports. The team’s been a bit down lately, but hope springs eternal.And Lincoln is also a great place to visit when you aren’t watching Huskers football. While visiting America’s “Happiest and Healthiest City” according to Gallup-Healthways, be sure to visit the music venues, theaters, historic sites, museums, and parks.Speaking of parks, Lincoln is home to more than 100 of them, and they’re all full of beautiful trails and gardens.RAVE Meter: 96.5
6. Norman, OKTeam: Oklahoma SoonersWhere to stay: Whispering Pines InnWhere to eat: Benvenuti’sSixth place in our ranking goes to Norman, Oklahoma, where the Oklahoma Sooners take the field in crimson and cream. The Sooners boast the eighth best winning record in the history of college football at 896 and 325. In addition to football, Oklahoma’s third largest city has plenty of restaurants, parks and museums to explore.The annual Chocolate Festival is another popular attraction in Norman, but a Sooners football game is without a doubt the hottest ticket in town with the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium being one of the loudest venues in the sport.
   RAVE Meter: 95.4
7. State College, PATeam: Penn State Nittany LionsWhere to stay: The Nittany Lion InnWhere to eat: Faccia Luna Pizzeria In addition to being considered one of America’s smartest towns, with one of the country’s best music scenes and a safe and comfortable lifestyle, State College, Pennsylvania is also home to the Penn State Nittany Lions.And that’s what we’re here to talk about.With an all-time win record of 887 and 391, ninth best in the history of college football, the Nittany Lions boast a loyal and passionate fanbase. But while you’re in State College, be sure not to miss the thriving downtown near the university, as well as all the beautiful natural scenery the area has to offer.RAVE Meter: 94.8
8. Cambridge, MATeam: Harvard CrimsonWhere to stay: Harvard Square HotelWhere to eat: Alden & HarlowThese days, Harvard isn’t often associated with football. But the fact of the matter is, there’s a long history of college football at this Ivy League school, and it’s something loyal Harvard Crimson fans are more than happy to talk about.At 875 and 397, Harvard has the tenth best winning record in the history of the sport. It helps that the Harvard Crimson had their first field a team all the way back in the 1870s. So there’s lots of history here for football fans of all sorts and backgrounds to take in.In addition to being a capital for academics and higher education (as well as football), Cambridge is also widely considered one of the nation’s most livable cities, with a vibrant arts and culture scene as well as  plenty of places to eat world-class food.RAVE Meter: 93.7
9. Athens, GATeam: Georgia BulldogsWhere to stay: Hotel IndigoWhere to eat: White Tiger GourmetNinth in our ranking of the 10 best college football destinations is Athens, Georgia, where the Georgia Bulldogs take the field. With an all-time win record of 819 and 423, the Georgia Bulldogs lay claim to the fifteenth best winning record in the entire history of the sport, drawing fans from all over the Southern U.S. and beyond.But from music (Athens is the birthplace of REM) to a vibrant nightlife,  Athens is also a great place to visit any time of the year, with great live music venues, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops.RAVE Meter: 92.6
10. Auburn, ALTeam: Auburn TigersWhere to stay: The Hotel at Auburn UniversityWhere to eat: The HoundAlabama is home to not one, but two great college football teams. The Auburn Tigers play at Auburn University, the state’s largest institution.With the nineteenth best winning record in the history of college football at 767 and 441, the Tigers have been in the national championship twice recently, winning once.In addition to football, Auburn has lots of art museums, theater venues, and even a famous film festival.Other things to do in Auburn include the Jule Collins Smith Museum, and the Southeastern Raptor Center.RAVE Meter: 91.8

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Kennedy

William Kennedy is a freelance writer based in Eugene, OR. He lives in an 8th floor condo near downtown with his wife, daughter, and 2 cats, who all politely accommodate his obsession with Doctor Who and The Smiths.

SOURCE: https://www.ravereviews.org/travel/best-college-football-destinations/