Top College Football Gift Ideas for Father's Day

For those of you who may be panicking after reading this headline—yes, Father's Day is soon.

This Sunday, to be exact.

If you are reading this and are still scrambling to find a gift idea for your dad, there's a good chance he is a college football fan like you. After all, fandom for a school or the sport in general is usually passed down from generation to generation.

Here are five categories of gift ideas for the college football dad in your life. Each category contains a handful of suggestions to guide your search for the perfect Father's Day gift.

Getting something college football-related for your dad this Father's Day? Let us hear it in the comments section below—unless he also comments on here. We understand if you don't want to spoil the surprise.

Team Apparel

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Giving your dad a tie for Father's Day is as old as the holiday itself. Let's throw that tired tradition out the window and freshen it up with some college football flair.

Football jerseys aren't the style for most fathers on college football game days—that seems to be more of an NFL thing. But you can find a wide variety of athletic-cut polos adorned with his favorite team's logo, whether the school rolls with Nike, Adidas or Under Armour.

Hats and visors are always are go-to items for dads. And, if he's more of the outdoors type, you can pick up a fishing shirt or some camo gear branded with his school colors.

For a unique touch, you could get your dad what his favorite coach wears on the sidelines on Saturdays. For example, Auburn has Gus Malzahn sweater vests, and Texas has mock turtlenecks like the ones Charlie Strong wears. (If your dad is a Miami fan, breaking the "no tie" rule is fine.)

Books

Rob Carr/Associated Press

We should all try to read a little more, and you could take advantage of Father's Day by inspiring your dad to read a new book or two. If he isn't into the latest fiction or historical books, you can give him something he really would want to read about—college football.

For the more analytical types, Chris B. Brown's The Essential Smart Football and Bill Connelly's Football Study Hall are two great books about the stats and strategies of the game. Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman released The QB last October, an in-depth look at the quarterback position in modern football.

Some dads down South might enjoy Paul Finebaum, who is pictured above, and his book My Conference Can Beat Your Conference. And for a unique history of the sport, Michael Weinreb's excellent Season of Saturdays can help your father fill the gap between now and this fall.

Best of all, if your dad has a Kindle, iPad or some other kind of e-reading device, many of these books can be downloaded straight to it. Now you don't have to worry about the extra shipping costs it would take to get that gift to him by Sunday.

Pieces of Nostalgia

JOE HOLLOWAY, JR./Associated Press

One of the greatest aspects of college football is its rich history. If you're looking for a college football gift for your dad this Father's Day, you can't go wrong with some memories of his favorite team.

Websites such as Gridiron Memories have vintage football helmets for sale. Some memorabilia stores offer autographed gear from college football legends.

Stores such as 47 Straight Posters sell wall art, coasters and other items made from classic ticket and program designs. Art inspired by famous plays and moments in your school's history is also a good route. You could also help your dad relive recent and historic championship seasons with the popular collector's edition DVDs.

Hunting down an item from one of your dad's favorite games would be an incredible blast from the past.

Trip to the CFB Hall of Fame

David Tulis/Associated Press

Opened last August in downtown Atlanta, the College Football Hall of Fame is a destination all fans of the game should experience, young and old.

The new Hall of Fame has three floors of interactive galleries and exhibits for fans to check out. Looking at the hall's gigantic wall of helmets might be worth the price of admission alone, and fans see that within seconds of arrival.

Each ticket at the Hall of Fame is personalized as a digital pass for the holder's favorite school, and some exhibits will spotlight specific players and moments from that team's history based on who walks up to them.

If you and your dad are within reasonable driving distance from Atlanta, the Hall of Fame is giving free admission and special gifts to all fathers on Father's Day. If not, plan a trip to experience the hall with him in the future.

Game Tickets

David Goldman/Associated Press

Tickets are the ultimate gift for any college football fan, and they're simply perfect for Father's Day.

Buying your father gifts related to college football can be great, but there is nothing like giving him the sport's full experience with a ticket to a game.

Get your dad a ticket to his alma mater's homecoming game. Spring for the big rivalry game ticket. Plan a trip for him to go to whichever bowl game his team ends up playing in at the end of the season. Maybe his reaction will be like the one from this Alabama dad.

Whatever ticket you decide to buy, just make sure you get two. Taking in a college football game while sitting beside your dad can be a priceless moment and the best Father's Day gift.

Justin Ferguson is an on-call college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.