The most famous college football traditions around the country

As autumn arrives, college campuses come alive with first-semester excitement and the festivities of football season. Students from eager freshmen to seasoned seniors return to cheer on their teams, while athletes, marching bands, and spirit squads unite in creative ways to celebrate America's favorite sport and lead their teams to victory.

Football season has officially begun, and while parties and tailgates abound, it is the quirky traditions that define each school and promote community and pride. From live mascots that pep up the crowds to eccentric rituals gifting effortless wins even the most rational would question, here are seven of the country's most unique football traditions!

1. “Dotting the I” at Ohio State: Watching Ohio State’s marching band eloquently form into a beautiful script spelling "Ohio" adds a touch of grace to the rowdy stadium of screaming fans. This tradition, which takes many hours of practice, began in 1936 with the dotting of the “I” rewarded to a senior sousaphone player in the band.
2. Buffalo Run with Ralphie at the University of Colorado-Boulder: Start every home football game at UC Boulder by witnessing the majestic run of Ralphie the Buffalo (who is actually a bison) as she leads the football team to wishful victories amongst several thousand spectators. This tradition began in 1967 and when Ralphie comes charging you better watch out: If you're on Folsom Field she might knock you out. It's one big Buffalo leading the team; no tradition has a bigger head of steam
3. Howard's Rock at Clemson University: Some people believe in the metaphysical properties of crystals, but the players at Clemson University attribute their wins to the magical properties of Howard’s Rock, a decorative office stone from Death Valley turned pre-game ritual that sits atop the east zone hill. Beginning in 1966 with the players running past the rock onto the field, where they would later beat Virginia, Howard’s Rock has since been touched before every game to increase the chances of a home win.
4. The Sooner Schooner at the University of Oklahoma: Anytime Oklahoma scores, expect a lot of noise and look out for Boomer and Sooner on the field, the two white ponies that power the Sooner Schooner wagon. The wagon first appeared at a football game in 1964 but didn’t become the school’s official mascot until 1980. Today, the replica of the Studebaker Conestoga wagon is the symbol of the University of Oklahoma and is one of the best-known images in college sports.
5. Stab the sword at the University of Southern California: Half warrior, half drum major, the USC football field appropriately becomes a battleground as this iconic mascot commands the energy from football fans with a strong stab of the prized USC sword into the field, nodding to the Marching Band to perform the classic “Tribute to Troy” battle cry.
6. Jump Around at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: Is there a more fitting hype song to cheer UW Madison's team to victory than House of Pain's 1992 hit "Jump Around”? The stadium's thousands of jumping fans are a force to be reckoned with, with some fans even expressing fear of the stadium collapsing, but luckily, no damage has been done since the tradition's debut in 1998.
7. 12th Man at Texas A&M University: The 12th Man represents the entire student body at Texas A&M and symbolizes their commitment and readiness to support the team whenever needed. You’ll regularly see the Aggie student section standing for the entire length of the game in any weather to show their unrivaled school support and honor the spirit of E. King Gill, the original “12th man”. You’ll often see students and fans waving “The 12th Man Towels” during a game as another sign of unity across this passionate fanbase.
8. Chief Osceola and Renegade at Florida State University: FSU puts on quite a visual spectacle and memorable pre-game ritual when a student dressed as Chief Osceola rides a horse named Renegade before home football games. The Chief carries a flaming spear, rides Renegade to midfield, and then plants the spear into the ground. This event symbolizes the start of the game and is awesome for fans, igniting the Seminole nation crowd into madness!
9. "Enter Sandman" at Virginia Tech: You won’t witness a much louder entrance than when Virginia Tech takes the field at Lane Stadium to Metallica's "Enter Sandman." The song is blasted over the stadium’s sound system while the sold-out crowd starts jumping up and down, making the stadium literally shake so all the fans can feel it. The team will always emerge from the tunnel at just the right part of the song and the atmosphere is truly electric and awfully intimidating for opposing teams.
10. "The Kinnick Wave" at the University of Iowa: Having been first introduced in 2017, the Kinnick Wave is a relatively new tradition, but has quickly become one of the most unique and heartfelt gestures in all of college football. Following the first quarter of Iowa home games, everyone in the stadium (fans, players, coaches, and officials) simultaneously waves to the patients and their families at the University’s Children’s Hospital, who can see the game from their rooms at the adjacent hospital. It’s hard not to tear up when you see this gesture of support to the many children battling difficult illnesses, that gives some perspective to the battle being fought on the field.
11. "The Flight of the War Eagle" at Auburn: The “War Eagle” tradition at Auburn is an iconic part of the school’s identity and provides one of the coolest and most unique traditions in college football. Before each home game, in a highly anticipated and emotional moment for fans - a live golden eagle, known as "War Eagle," flies around the stadium, landing at midfield. While the flight of the War Eagle started in the early 2000s, the battle cry “War Eagle” has been around for much longer and it’s the standard way to show support and connect with Auburn faithful fans.
12. "The March On” at Army / Navy: The Army / Navy annual rivalry might have more built-in traditions than any other football game on the planet. From the flyovers to the prisoner exchange to the antics of the GOAT and the MULE mascots, this game features some cherished traditions. But nothing will give you chills quite like “the March On” before the game, when both academies march onto the field in full dress uniform. The impressive display of unity sets the tone for the game and reminds the crowd that above all else, we’re American.
13. "Country Roads” at West Virginia University: This John Denver song has taken on a life of its own amongst the Mountaineer community. Following every home game (win or lose) fans, players, and coaches all join to sing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” to celebrate and unite in school spirit. Over the years, this powerful experience has become one of the most anticipated and recognizable moments at WVU Games – and it happens after the game is over. For the West Virginia faithful this song reminds them that they are all “right where they belong”.
14. The Penn State “White Out”: Since 2004, each season Penn State designates one home match-up at Beaver Stadium as the annual “White-Out” Game where all 100,000+ plus fans come dressed for the world’s biggest white party. It’s one of the most electrifying and visually stunning traditions that is truly unmatched in college football. The environment makes it one of the scariest places to play for an opposing team. But for a fan, it makes for a one-of-a-kind experience if you enter that stadium. Just don’t be the person wearing blue!
15. “Play Like a Champion Today” at Notre Dame: There are few schools quite as rich in College Football History and Tradition as Notre Dame, but nothing embodies ND Football quite like the “Play Like a Champion Today” sign. This iconic sign is located at the top of the stairway leading out from the locker room at Notre Dame Stadium, and all players touch the sign as they exit the locker room and head to the field, inspiring the players to give their best on the field and reminding them of the legacy of Notre Dame Football and those that came before them from Rudy to Joe Montana.

Whether you’re taking part in one of these age-old traditions or starting a new one of your own, have fun cheering on your favorite college football team this season and during many more!