College Football 2011: Top 30 Tailgating Games
Tailgating is as much a part of college football as Knute Rockne and the Army-Navy game.
Until recently the Florida-Georgia game used to be called “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.” So partying before the game is part of the college football culture.
Of course, everyone does it a little different, and every student body thinks their school does it best. Just ask any Ohio University graduate about who parties hardest.
There will be some outstanding tailgates this fall, but let’s take a look at 30 you shouldn’t miss.
30. BYU at Hawaii (Dec. 3)
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Maybe the tailgate atmosphere won’t be the best you have ever seen, but who is going to argue that hanging out in Hawaii on Dec. 3 is a bad thing?
29. Ole Miss at Mississippi State (Nov. 26)
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The Egg Bowl is a nice rivalry, but it seems to be a bigger deal to Mississippi State.
So the party should be a lot of fun in Starkville, especially since the Bulldogs have been the better team the past two years.
Plus, Dan Mullen has really stoked the fire in this one.
28. Louisville at Kentucky (Sept. 17)
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For big-time programs, this is a cute little game.
But these two teams look forward to this early season contest, and both fan bases are equally stoked.
Louisville is getting better under Charlie Strong, and Joker Phillips is a good SEC coach.
It’s sort of a trailer-park version of the Kentucky Derby party.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
27. Texas at Texas A&M (Nov. 24)
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If everything is really BIGGER in Texas, then the tailgate party for this game should be ginormous.
After a breakout season last year, the Aggies are primed to challenge Oklahoma for the Big 12 title.
The Longhorns are looking to show last year was just a hiccup.
No matter what happens on the field, the pre-game party is the place to be. Tailgating in Aggieland is considered an honor.
26. Wisconsin at Michigan State (Oct. 22)
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This is a nice Big Ten matchup, but to the outsider it doesn’t have the marquee names.
Don’t be fooled.
Wisconsin fans love their team and will travel to East Lansing and mix with the vocal partisan fans of Michigan State.
25. Arizona at Arizona State (Nov. 19)
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There is going to be some serious talent on the field in this one.
Nick Foles. Vontaze Burfict. Juron Criner. Brock Osweiler.
There is also going to be some top-notch talent at the tailgate.
24. Oregon State at Oregon (Nov. 26)
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The tailgating rules outside Autzen Stadium have become stricter in recent years, but it’s still a place that knows how to throw a party.
Add in some good ol’ fashion hatred for a rival like Oregon State, and it’s going to get rowdy.
It also has the chance to be a pretty good game.
23. Alabama at Florida (Oct. 1)
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Have you ever been on Florida’s campus? Everyone is tan and beautiful, and they seem to be partying 24-7.
Bring Nick Saban and the hated Crimson Tide into Gainesville, and the beautiful people of the world unite for one huge shindig.
Best part is the party doesn’t stop at kickoff.
22. Florida at Auburn (Oct. 15)
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As cool as it is to party in Gainesville, it’s even more fun to party with a fanbase that hates the Gators.
The defending national champion Auburn Tigers will be more than happy to get well-lubricated before seeing Florida’s first-year coach Will Muschamp.
Plus it’s a chance to see Toomer’s Corner before its inevitable demise.
21. California at Stanford (Nov. 19)
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The Big Game is the 10th oldest rivalry in college football.
The tailgating is more reserved than an SEC game, but it’s important to experience tailgating around the country.
20. Nebraska at Michigan (Nov. 19)
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These two have actually met on the gridiron before, but now it has Big Ten ramifications.
Nebraska has one of the better fanbases in the country, and good number of them will make the trip to the Big House.
Michigan fans haven’t had much to get excited about lately, but they will be hyped for this one.
19. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (Dec. 3)
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Who doesn’t want to party with T. Boone Pickens?
OK, that may not be quite the tailgating we’re talking about here.
Still, this is potentially the best Big 12 game of 2011, and the Cowboys easily have a identity complex with the state’s premiere institution.
18. Tennessee at Alabama (Oct. 22)
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These two schools simply hate each other.
The disdain drips from every fan.
It would be fun to sit back and just listen to the rude things they’d say to each.
17. Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (Oct. 1)
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The Southwest Classic would be more appealing if it were played on campus.
But tailgating with close to a 100,000 fans in Arlington isn’t bad either.
Another positive is this game is becoming more competitive.
16. LSU at Alabama (Nov. 5)
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Let’s start by counting how many times the Crimson-clad fans yell “Roll Tide!”
Don’t forget the Rammer Jammer cheer either.
LSU fans are prepared for all of it, except for maybe the ’Bama Bombs, which are vodka-soaked cherries.
15. TCU at Boise State (Nov. 12)
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For one year only, this is the biggest game in Mountain West Conference history.
So being there for a Bronco Bash tailgate would be worth the trip to Idaho.
However, Boise in November can’t be pretty.
14. Nebraska at Penn State (Nov. 12)
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The two storied programs have met 13 times and Penn State owns a 7-6 advantage.
The last time they met was in 2003 when Nebraska won 18-10.
Now it’s a conference game, and this could develop into a nice rivalry.
Don’t miss the fun outside Beaver Stadium.
13. Oklahoma at Florida State (Sept. 17)
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The Sooners put a whooping on FSU last year in Oklahoma.
Now the Seminoles get to see if they can capitalize on the home-field advantage.
Florida State football hasn’t been the power that it once was, but the extracurriculars outside Doak Campbell Stadium remain some of the best.
12. Ohio State at Michigan (Nov. 26)
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Normally, this would be a Top 3 tailgate experience.
But this game hasn’t meant much nationally for about four years, so until Michigan becomes a little more competitive, it’s hard to get too excited about it.
Still, the fans of these two hate each other, which always means for some fun chants and few fights.
11. USC at Notre Dame (Oct. 22)
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Going to a game at Notre Dame is a must for any college fan.
Getting to watch the band march across campus and eating one of those special steak sandwiches are just two of the traditions that you can enjoy while tailgating.
The opportunity to tailgate with some USC fans is a plus.
10. Army vs. Navy (Dec. 10)
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The game is a classic, so getting together with friends and fans of both teams is definitely on the to-do list.
The conversations and activities are clearly not the same as what happens outside Camp Randall or Death Valley (take your pick LSU or Clemson).
What resonates, though, is the passion and love of college football.
9. Boise State vs. Georgia (Sept. 3)
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This is one of the opening weekend’s best games.
Add in the fact this game is being played in Atlanta, and this should be a fun gathering.
The tailgate won’t be epic, but it always interesting to see how fanbases who don’t normally interact respond to each other.
8. LSU at West Virginia (Sept. 24)
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The WVU fans who made the trip to Baton Rouge last year got a little taste of how they tailgate at LSU.
Now it’s time for the Mountaineers to take it up a notch and show the Tigers how they do it in the Blue Lot.
Mountaineer fans can get a little testy outside (and inside) the stadium, but this is nothing new to LSU.
You have hillbillies mixing with Cajuns … what could go wrong here?
7. Alabama at Auburn (Nov. 26)
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It would probably be fun to tailgate outside of Jordan Hare Stadium for any game.
Partying before the Iron Bowl is taking it to an entirely different level.
Alabama and Auburn are two of the better tailgating schools in the country. Put them together and what you get is a college football dream party.
While fans of both sides have shown some compassion to each other lately, but when the game gets here all bets are off.
6. Florida vs. Georgia (Oct. 29)
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Remember, this thing was called “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” for a long time.
It got that name for a reason.
Sipping cocktails and chugging Natty Lights isn’t a bad way to get pumped for some good ol’ SEC football.
5. Alabama at Penn State (Sept. 10)
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Crimson Tide fans may they think they party hard before games, but Penn State officials had to implement drinking rules for outside Beaver Stadium during the game.
A Penn State tailgate is easily 125,000 fans thick, even though the stadium holds just a few less than 108,000. The others just hang out and party and watch on TV.
While many of the best tailgates are held in the Deep South, don’t overlook the revelry in State College, Pa.
4. Amherst at Williams (Nov. 12)
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It’s the peak of the fall foliage season in the Northeast when one of the nation’s most storied rivalries hits the field.
That’s right, Amherst versus Williams is as good as it gets.
The "Biggest Little Game in America" isn’t for everyone, but sharing a cognac with the Williams or Amherst fans is something every college fan should try once.
3. Ohio State at Nebraska (Oct. 8)
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Now this is two of the more intense fanbases in the country.
Both have been looking forward to this game since the schedules were released.
Let’s see if you count the number of Buckeye necklaces and corn cob hats.
2. LSU vs. Oregon (Sept. 3)
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There’s no history here, but when you get two potential national champs facing off in the first weekend, it’s time to party.
Both fanbases are known for getting rowdy, so no matter who you are rooting for it’s going to be fun.
Of course, LSU’s fans may not understand any of the Oregon jokes … but who cares.
All they care about is yelling “Tigah Bait!”
1. Oklahoma vs. Texas (Oct. 8)
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The Red River Rivalry remains one of the best college football games every year.
What also makes it fun is the atmosphere outside the stadium before the game.
There is equal parts OU fans and UT fans.
Another interesting element that you don’t get any where else is the fact the Texas State Fair is taking place at the same time.
How about that fried Twinkie right after the keg stand?
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
