Good Eatin': Top Ten Tailgating Universities In College Football

From the down-home cooking of the Bible Belt, to the sandy beaches of the southwest, the ideal tailgating universities are bound to make anyone's taste buds tingle. In the world of college football, amateur cooks come out of the woodwork to display their college's pride by crafting some of the best and unique morsels in all of the land.

Along with great food, comes spectacular scenery. When you mix football into the picture, one of the most memorable experiences for any sports fan comes alive. Here are the top ten tailgating colleges.

Army (West Point)

With the Hudson River practically right on the campus, West Point is an ideal location for any tailgating experience. Coming in at number ten on the list, Army brings unique scenery which can only be found in the woodlands of the Empire State.

If Army is not at the top of the charts in football, it's tailgating review is. Packing a picnic and traveling by ferry to a football game is considered living the high life for sports fans all over the country.

Apart from the historic fort next to the field, West Point offers a unique dining experience with a small village-type setting with restaurants and other venues off of the campus. In this way, the fans have the choice of partying on site next to the river, or stopping in the small, bustling town center.

Either way, game day at West Point is a beautiful and exciting experience for any college football fan who loves scenery and a casual dining setting.

University of Colorado

Boulder, Colorado certainly revolves around the nearby university. The town itself is attracted toward the younger population which includes mostly students of the University of Colorado.

Recently, Boulder tailgating has been noticed by major food experts including the Food Network and Man VS. Food on the Travel Channel. The fact that a whole city becomes a tailgate party on game day puts Colorado at number nine on the list.

A Boulder favorite is buffalo wings on tailgating day. It's ironic that Buffalo fans are fond of buffalo wings! The mouth-watering wings are bound to make any fan's country-fried appetite sizzle. What makes these wings special though, is that they are covered in a watery layer of spicy home made hot sauce which gives them an extra zip.

It is certainly ideal for the occasion.

USC

West coast blondes, beer, and football—every dude's dream! The University of Southern California has just that and much more. Just outside of Los Angeles, USC has a wide fan base which includes talented amateur cooks.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum parking lot is where some of the spiciest food is created and served. Even though the hot asphalt is not really the prettiest place to enjoy home cooking, the taste makes up for any loss of scenery.

One of the dishes prepared at USC is roasted peppers. Peppers can be stuffed with a variety of different ingredients to give off a spicy or sweet taste. Depending on the person who makes it, it can knock your jersey off.

UCLA

Historic Pasadena, California is home to both the Rose Bowl and great Bruin tailgating. One of the biggest rivalries between USC and UCLA just so happens to be a food war.

Every year fans from both teams compete to try and create the most unique and flavorful food which surpasses all others. Both UCLA and USC share some of the same types of foods. But what gives the Bruins their edge is that their tailgate agenda includes eating at the Rose Bowl.

University of Washington

Float down the shores of Lake Washington and you'll end up in the heart of Husky country. Coming in at number six on the list, the University of Washington shares a tailgating opportunity unique to its state.

Lake Washington gives any fan the chance to have a delicious meal on a boat, just off the shores of the university. There is easy access to the water from the school and the view speaks for itself. One thing special about this school's tailgating ways is that Seattle residents have no problem with inaccessability on the water around the area which gives every fan the chance to party like everyone else.

A nautical theme to tailgating brings a unique and newly popular style to any college football fan's doorstep at the University of Washington. Bon Voyage!

University of Alabama

Many sports fans would agree that when their team played the Alabama Crimson Tide, they had a great time before and after the game.

Crimson Tide fans try hard to put some South in everyone's mouth with vast amounts of grilled and fried foods that will stop anyone's arteries dead in their tracks.

Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama, is full of some of the most famous barbecue restaurants in all of the Southern United States. One of these places is Dreamland. Any barbecue lover who has been to the great state of Alabama knows that Dreamland is talked about from Birmingham to Mobile.

One of the best dishes of Alabama tailgating is barbecued pork and ribs. Topped off with spices and secret sauces, barbecued ribs and pork makes any fan's stay in Tuscaloosa one of the most memorable.

Other favorites of Tide fans are Archibald's and Nick's In The Sticks. Both of which serve some of the best southern barbeque in the country.

Many would agree (including myself) that Dreamland's style of barbecue opens up a whole new realm to how food is prepared and grilled. Ask any person in Alabama, and they will tell you how good the food is at Dreamland, or in Tuscaloosa for that matter.

University of Tennesee

Tailgating at Neyland Stadium is a spectacular opportunity to add to any college football fan's resume. The landscape is unlike any other sports complex with easy access to the stadium from land and by water.

A Volunteer favorite is having delicious food topped off with a boat ride on the calm and serene river. Tennesee is just like the University of Washington in this way—the nautical theme is very present. One of the main differences between the two schools is food quality.

Barbequed spare ribs are a Vol specialty which combines the art of grilling with the creative mixtures of sauces. Ribs and other barbeque favorites are what give Volunteer tailgating its edge over many schools in the NCAA. There is no doubt UT deserves high marks all across the board.

University of Mississippi

It would be a disservice to place Ole Miss any lower than third on this list.
One of the strangest tailgating settings in the NCAA, the University of Mississippi is known for providing the most unique tailgating experiences.

One of the biggest traditions at Ole Miss is proper attire and formal dining, which is shown at what is known to be "The Grove," just outside of the stadium.

The unique dining setting that Rebels fans have practiced for generations is the use of chandeliers underneath the different tailgating tents. Some chandeliers are very elaborate and decorative, while others are plain with a rugged style.

This is not all that makes Mississippi so great. How could someone forget the Southern-fried delights?

Fried chicken is a dish that people of all ages can appreciate. It's probably not the healthiest choice a person could make, but it certainly is backed up by its delicious taste.

All in all, the unique atmosphere of Ole Miss, its delicious fried food, and proper tailgating routine make it one of the most memorable college football experiences.

Penn State University

Penn State—who would've thought? I guess the Nittany Lions are not only good at football, but also good at tailgating. There is nothing like dominating at both.

Other than an occasional snow day, Penn State is a perfect place to have a traditional tailgate party. The fans are especially known to party harder than most universities which gives them the edge at number five on the list.

Amongst the roudiness of happily drunken fans and hard partiers, Penn State is usually acknowledged for its politeness to incoming fans of the opposite team. This gives any college football fan a warm welcome unlike some other schools.

Rolling hills play a large part in boosting Penn State's reputation. Scenery is no doubt the tops, especially in cool climate of Pennsylvania.

LSU

Coming in at number one as the best tailgating school in the country, LSU beats all of the rest with its original style of cooking and amazing atmosphere.
An evening game at Death Valley surpasses all other school spirit in the nation.

With 94,000 screaming fans packed into one stadium, the rumble can be registered on a seismograph. Years ago, Paul "Bear" Bryant noted that it was one of the hardest stadiums to play in, with the intimidation factor in mind.

Louisiana has some of the most unique and delicious morsels in all of the United States.

When you combine the flavors of the French Quarter with the heart and soul of LSU football, there is an atmosphere that is one of the most memorable in all of college football.

Great tailgating and football are the staples of what makes the sport so spectacular and what keeps the fans happy.

One of the most recognized Cajun foods in Death Valley is gumbo. Gumbo is basically a soup-like dish that includes a variety of different creole spices mixed with different types of seafood like shrimp, crawfish, and fish.

To top it off, gumbo can be filled with chicken, rice, sausage, peppers, and tomatoes. This mixture creates one of the most well-known food items in all of tailgating.

Another Cajun favorite is jambalaya, which can be made with shrimp, crawfish, white or brown rice, tomatoes, peppers, chicken, beef, and pasta noodles.

As the NCAA's best tailgating school with the best food choices, Tiger fans create a very unique partying environment with great football and fantastic food creations.

Honorable Mentions

As hard as this list was, a lot of fan bases came very close to making the top ten. There is just no possible way tailgating could be the same without them!

Honorable Mentions:

University of Wisconsin

University of Nebraska

Auburn University

Univerisity of Georgia

The Ohio State University

University of Texas