15 best places to go tailgating in college football

Sep 19, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU fans cheer on the Tigers during the tailgating before the game between Louisiana State and Auburn at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Ranking the 15 best places to go tailgating in college football. Make sure you hit up these places and prepare for a party and festive atmosphere.

College football and tailgating go together like peanut butter and jelly, rum and coke and burgers and fries. You can’t go to a college football game and not mingle with the thousands of students, alumni, and fans outside the stadium for a few hours to eat, drink and be merry.

Whether at a huge SEC or Big Ten program or a small Division III school, you can’t go to a tailgating party and not enjoy yourself. Certainly, some places are more fun than others and that is what this list is all about.

This is a list of the 15 best places to go tailgating in college football and includes a few games for each venue that you should mark on your calendar to make the most of your trip.

Before beginning the countdown to the top tailgating destination in college football, let’s take a look at the five schools who just missed the cut.

Honorable Mention:

Florida – Gator Country is is hot, humid and home to some awesome football fans that make for an enjoyable tailgate experience. Try to get to Gainesville when they play rival Tennessee.

Alabama – It’s difficult to have a college football list that doesn’t include Alabama. Tuscaloosa may not have the landscape or geographical advantages that others on this list enjoy, but we’re talking about the best team in college football over the last seven years and a chance to see history with this team.

Washington – Lake Washington provides a unique tailgating experience on the water for fans of the Huskies. Chris Petersen has this program on the cusp of greatness and this year represents a chance to get out on the Lake before watching the team return to past Pac-12 glory.

Nebraska – Lincoln is the largest town in the state of Nebraska when the Cornhuskers play a home game on Saturday. The Sea of Red is an incredible experience and few fans are as loyal and passionate about their football as the Huskers.

Colorado – Most, if not all, of the programs named on this list, are quality programs but that’s not the case with the downtrodden Buffaloes. However, the Rocky Mountains as the backdrop to any tailgating party can’t be missed.