The Greatest College Football Entrances and Traditions

College football is more than just a game; it's an experience deeply woven with traditions that ignite passion and unite fans. From electrifying stadium entrances to time-honored rituals, these customs define the unique atmosphere of college football. Here's a look at some of the best and most captivating traditions across the nation.

The Power of Pregame: Setting the Stage

Before the first whistle even blows, the energy in a college football stadium is palpable, thanks to traditions designed to pump up the crowd and intimidate the opposition.

Enter Sandman (Virginia Tech)

When it comes to stadium entrances, Virginia Tech's "Enter Sandman" is one of the best in the country, if not the best. As the first notes of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" blast through the speakers at Lane Stadium, the crowd erupts in a frenzy. Cheerleaders holding "LET'S GO" and "HOKIES" signs lead the charge, creating a rowdy environment as the Hokies storm the field. The synchronized jumping and screaming transform the stadium into an intimidating cauldron of sound and fury. Fireworks and flashing lights erupt from all around the stadium, brightening the sky as the team runs out. The bass of the song, along with shaking the stadium, captures the energy of Hokie Nation.

Running Through the T (Tennessee)

Good Old Rocky Top is fourth on this list. Tennessee’s tradition of Running Through the T, with the stadium lighting up orange, creates one of the best atmospheres in the game. Tennessee’s band forms a giant “Power T” shape for the Vols to run through. It was created to give the Vols a clear pathway without encountering their opponents. Their entrance music is a mix of beats with their iconic “Rocky Top,” and fireworks erupt on beat.

Clemson's Howard's Rock and Running Down the Hill

Clemson's Memorial Stadium is famously known as "Death Valley," and a reason for that is Howard's Rock, which sits atop the hill Clemson famously runs down while entering the stadium. This famous pregame tradition involves the team running down a grassy hill just outside of their locker room. The rock, given to former Clemson coach Frank Howard by Clemson alum Sam Jones from the Mojave Desert, debuted on Sept. 6, 1966. The tradition of running down the hill after rubbing the rock started in 1967. They run out to “We Will Rock You” into the band’s “Tiger Rag,” as purple and orange lights flash throughout the stadium, creating a beautiful sight. Like many other college football stadium traditions, Clemson's rises to an unmatched level during night games.

Osceola and Renegade (Florida State)

Florida State’s War Chant has to be one of the most well-known traditions in the game of college football. Osceola charges downfield, riding Renegade, as their fight song rings throughout. 80,000 fans at Doak S. Campbell Stadium singing along and doing the tomahawk chop. This is a true tribute to the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Masked Rider (Texas Tech)

Next on the list is Texas Tech’s masked rider entrance. This is the oldest tradition for College Football entrances, dating back to the 1930s. A masked rider in all black leads the Red Raiders with their “guns up,” while fire and smoke erupt as they run out. Their “Fight Raiders Fight” plays in the background as red fireworks light up Jones AT&T Stadium.

2001 (South Carolina)

Moving on to the top five of the list, the South Carolina Gamecocks’ 2001 entrance fills the crowd with anticipation. This is a piece to honor Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey," but was inspired by Elvis Presley’s concert entrance, where he appeared on stage to this theme music. It is especially awesome to see at night when Williams-Brice Stadium is lit up red to really get fans fired up.

Oregon Duck Entrance

The Oregon Duck comes out riding a motorcycle, followed by the players running out with the first few holding flags. There is smoke and fireworks, which add to the excitement. The crowd sings along to “Mighty Oregon,” the official fight song of the university.

Notre Dame Entrance

Their entrance has the song “Here Come The Irish” playing in the background. It is accompanied by smoke and flashing lights, which is especially remarkable at night.

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Texas A&M's Home of the 12th Man

Texas A&M’s Home of the 12th Man is next on this list of electric entrances. They have one of the most hype walk-out songs in “Power” along with their band’s drumline and sirens in the background. Similar to other programs previously mentioned on this list, the Aggies run out with smoke and fire behind them, and red fireworks light up opposite ends of Kyle Field.

Ralphie's Run (Colorado)

Before games, Colorado’s live bison mascot Ralphie makes a horseshoe-shaped run as she leads the football team onto the field in a thrilling display. Dating back to 1967, Ralphie’s Run is considered one of the most entertaining and oldest traditions in college football.

Game-Changing Traditions: During the Action

Traditions aren't confined to pregame festivities; they often play a role during the game itself, adding to the excitement and creating memorable moments.

Jump Around (Wisconsin)

Wisconsin's "Jump Around" tradition is linked back to former Badgers tight end Ryan Sondrup and a group of his teammates sitting at a jukebox at Wando's bar, a well-known local establishment in Madison, in 1998. At the time, Sondrup was interning for the athletic department - he was recovering from an injury - and asked if he could come up with something different for football games to "get the players excited and juiced up." They landed on "Jump Around." It debuted that season during Wisconsin's homecoming game vs. Purdue, and has been a staple ever since. It is played going into the fourth quarter of home games with fans, as the tradition's name suggests, jumping around. “Jump Around” by House of Pain has become a fan favorite at UW-Madison. At the end of the third quarter, the song electrifies the red and white crowd as the jump around in unison.

Sandstorm (South Carolina)

While "Sandstorm" is played around the country at different sporting events, South Carolina has made it one of college football's top student-body traditions at Williams-Brice Stadium. The song was first played during the 2009 South Carolina-Ole Miss game, and has stayed a part of the Gamecocks' gameday traditions ever since. It is played at the start of home games, after the Gamecocks score and going into the fourth quarter:

Shout (Oregon)

Picture Pat McAfee standing on top of a rolling chair sing-shouting, "a little bit louder now" during "College GameDay." Now, expand that to include all of Autzen Stadium. The Isley Brothers' "Shout" first started playing ahead of fourth quarters at Autzen Stadium in 2010. The idea behind the Ducks' iconic tradition was to honor the film "Animal House," which was filmed on Oregon's campus and featured the song.

Dixieland Delight (Alabama)

There's no official record of when exactly the Crimson Tide began playing "Dixieland Delight," but it has become a fourth-quarter staple at Alabama home games. The tradition has an added charm in that it features add-on lyrics by students, including, most notably, "(Expletive) Auburn! And LSU! And Tennessee too!" A particularly rowdy rendition of the song (warning: explicit language used) featured the refrain "(Expletive) Auburn!" at the 2014 Iron Bowl, getting the song temporarily banned from playing until its return in 2018. Hit song “Dixieland Delight” by Alabama has become a staple at games, especially during fourth quarter timeouts. It was briefly banned in 2014 for vulgarity, but its popularity brought it back in 2018.

Mr. Brightside (Michigan)

Another thrilling song that takes place in Ann Arbor is “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers. Cornering the end of the third quarter, this enthusiastic, fan driven sing along breaks out during home games.

I Won't Back Down (Florida)

Following the death of Gainesville Native Tom Petty, his song “I won’t back down” is played in between the third and fourth quarter. The song is accompanied by fans putting their arms around each other, swaying and waving their flashlights.

Callin' Baton Rouge (LSU)

Saturday Night in Tiger Stadium is the total package and “Callin' Baton Rouge” by Garth Brooks plays a huge role in the atmosphere. Typically played before every home game, fans clap and sing along to this Iconic LSU song.

The Hawkeye Wave (Iowa)

This heartwarming tradition began in 2017 when fan Krista Young suggested all 70,000 people in Kinnick Stadium turned to wave at the young patients at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital after the first quarter.

Visual Spectacles: A Sea of Color and Sound

Beyond specific rituals, some traditions transform the stadium into a visually stunning display of school pride.

White Out (Penn State)

It's one of the greatest scenes in college football. For one game each regular season, more than 106,500 fans pack into Beaver Stadium, the second-largest college football stadium in the country, and create a sea of white. Penn State’s white out game represents Big 10’s dramatic energy. In the over 100,000 people stadium, fans are decked out in all white in support of their team. The tradition began in 2004 as a student-only event and later expanded to encompass the stadium in 2007.

Checker Neyland (Tennessee)

Beginning in 2014, the University of Tennessee has held nine Checker Neyland games. Checker Neyland showcases Tennessee’s checkerboard pattern across the stadium by utilizing the sections in a strategic manner. Fans are assigned either orange or white based on their seat location.

Unique Traditions: Quirky and Unforgettable

Some traditions stand out for their sheer uniqueness, adding a touch of local flavor and personality to the college football experience.

Sooner Schooner (Oklahoma)

It's one of the more distinct stadium traditions in college football, largely due to the involvement of a wagon and two live horses. The Schooner was introduced in 1964 and later became the official mascot of the Sooners in 1980, per Oklahoma. Every time Oklahoma scores, the Sooner Schooner runs out of the tunnel and onto the field. It's parked in the tunnels at the stadium during the game, waiting for the next Sooners' score to happen.

Dotting the 'i' (Ohio State)

OH-IO! As noted by the Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, the dotting of the "i" takes place at the end of The Best Damn Band in the Land's performance of its "Script Ohio" routine. While there's no definitive start date for the tradition, it is confirmed to have taken place during the 1936 season. The sousaphone player traditionally today dots the "i," after which they bow to all four sides of Ohio Stadium. However, special guests are sometimes invited to dot the "i." Script OhioMarching bands can be very entertaining. Go to a SWAC game if you don’t believe me. There’s a lot of coordination that goes into how marching bands move, while also playing instruments. This is easily the most iconic of marching band formations.

The Cowbells (Mississippi State)

Mississippi State has, undoubtedly, one of the most unique college sports traditions: the cowbells. Artificial noise makers are prohibited at most college football games, expect ones with Mississippi State. The cowbell has specific rules that state when they can be rung during a game. No other school has a rule like that.

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