My 2025 College Football Nationwide Tour Dream Itinerary
I don’t really remember whether I really took a liking to college football or US geography and its regional varieties first, but the two dominoes probably fell in very short succession. The two are inextricably intertwined. Just as college towns and the map dots between them often bring out the most unique aspects of our country, so too does gameday gather the denizens of these places in a deeply memorable way. Thanks to this marriage, few ideas have ever captivated me quite like that of the nationwide college football fall tour.
I consider myself part of my generation in many ways. But man, this subject just turns me into a spitting image of the dearest Baby Boomer in your life with the logistics.
Any chance they’re Top 25? Would tickets spike? Shoot, how will our sightline be? The stadium seats 90,000, you know. And if it’s an afternoon game, those are on the sunny side! That seems pricey to fly right into town. Can we just fly to Chicago and…is there a bus? On and on and on. The sheer vastness of both the country and the college football landscape being combined affects my brain like a Schedule 1 substance. So I thought I’d put that to some type of use here.
I’ll present two versions of an ultimate college football 2025 travel itinerary: one where money is no object, and one for the budget-conscious fanatic. The only restriction I put in place is that I never wanted to see the same team twice - in my mind, the beauty of college football lies in the unique flavor each venue and city brings, even as the sport nudges further toward professionalization. Your itinerary would look quite different, and that’s entirely the point.
Week 1 (August 30)
LSU at Clemson (get-in: $287)
Week 1, under the lights. Perhaps the sport’s most famous fanbase traveling to one of its best gameday atmospheres. Two frontline Heisman contenders at quarterback. And two top-ten teams whose fanbases have nonetheless been getting a bit restless over the past few years longing for a return to the top.
The winner of LSU-Clemson, if it’s convincing, will have a good case to be ranked #2 - immediately after the winner of Texas-Ohio State. The loser won’t make it to Week 2 without having to confront uneasy existential questions about their current trajectory. It would be a sight to be there.
Colorado State at Washington (get-in: $20)
If you’re not familiar with the pregame vibes at UW, let me get you up to speed. The stadium overlooks Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains and routinely ranks among the sport’s best, and you’re soaking up all that the Huskies have to offer before this 8 PM PT kickoff. Seattle offers world-class food, tons of lodging, and enough flights that you shouldn’t be breaking the bank or taking an inconvenient route to get in and out, which will be common priorities in this section.
Week 2 (September 6)
Iowa at Iowa State: “Battle for Cy-Hawk” (get-in: $280)
One of the cool things about looking at all of college football’s ticket prices alongside each week’s schedule (as it’s presented on ESPN) is that you start to notice some slept-on fanbases, and Iowa State might be at the top of the list. Besides the season opener against South Dakota, the cheapest price you’re paying to get into Jack Trice Stadium (capacity 61,500) this year is $90. ‘Clones fans are about that action, and the intensity is ratcheted up to another level for their most famous rivalry, Cy-Hawk.
Baylor at SMU (get-in: $45)
File this one away under “sneaky big.” Here we have an in-state, non-conference matchup pitting two more teams with high-flying returning QBs and some Top 25 buzz. SMU’s boulevarding tailgates provide a strong pregame atmosphere, and Dallas, like Seattle, should be easy-in, easy-out.
Week 3 (September 13)
Texas A&M at Notre Dame (get-in: $453)
Fighting Irish fans are foaming at the mouth for more football after last season’s national championship game run and it shows in their ticket prices. But money is no object here, which means you’re left to enjoy a matchup equal parts delightfully random and critically high-stakes on Saturday night. Selling out your stadium is one thing - for this game, ND is going to have the type of full-throated support for an unforgettable home-field advantage.
Duke at Tulane (get-in: $36) or Florida at LSU (get-in: $111)
“Fly to NOLA and see what happens” is truly a defensible strategy in this rare instance. First, don’t let the low get-in price fool you - Duke at Tulane is going to be a charged atmosphere, most obviously because it will be former Green Wave QB Darian Mensah’s return to Yulman Stadium after Duke lured him away with a pile of transfer portal cash. It should also be a very competitive game. Florida at LSU needs no introduction - you’re seeing a real-deal top SEC game and getting college football’s foremost gameday along with it - and for that backdrop, $111 feels like a relatively palatable foot-in-the-door number, even if you’re cost-conscious. Whether you end up in New Orleans or Baton Rouge, you’ll be eating the meals of your life and making friends without even trying.
Week 4 (September 20)
Washington at Washington State: “The Apple Cup” (get-in: $171)
This version of the itinerary hasn’t yet traveled to the Evergreen State, and the Apple Cup is the perfect time to do so. If the rivalry wasn’t already the most important game on both teams’ schedules pre-realignment, it took on a whole new meaning for Washington State when UW left the Coogs behind in the stripped-for-parts Pac-12. This is the first meeting in Pullman - a quintessential college town - since the teams formally separated conferences, and Martin Stadium will be rocking for it.
Tulane at Ole Miss (get-in: $33)
If the iron triangle of project management is that you can only achieve two of “good,” “fast,” and “cheap” but never all three, the iron triangle of this exercise is that it’s basically impossible to get a legendary atmosphere, competitive game, and cost-effective weekend all in one. This Tulane at Ole Miss spot gives that theory a run for its money, though, which is why it’s on the list despite this itinerary traveling to neighboring Louisiana (and potentially already seeing Tulane) last week. The potential affordability stems from the game being sandwiched between the Rebels hosting Arkansas and LSU in Weeks 3 and 5, which also brings trap game potential as the Wave have won nine-plus in each of the last three years. The only potential hurdle is getting to Oxford, but it’s only 86 miles from Memphis - you’ll figure it out. I’ll take any opportunity to see the Grove and Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, but this is the best bang-for-your-buck.
Week 5 (September 27)
Alabama at Georgia (get-in: $599)
Do you remember last year?
App State at Boise State (get-in: $53)
Another wonderfully wacky non-conference matchup with strings attached: as two of the marquee Group of Five programs, the winner of this one could have an inside track on securing the fifth automatic CFP berth. Boise’s blue turf has been a personal bucket list destination since I first laid eyes on it in NCAA 05 or thereabouts, and the city is up-and-coming and hopefully not too painful to get in and out of.
Week 6 (October 4)
Miami at Florida State (get-in: $153)
This is a high-floor matchup thanks to Doak Campbell Stadium and the in-state bragging rights on the table that could get even more interesting if Florida State can prove that last season’s shocking backslide was an anomaly. If that’s the case, you’re seeing a matchup that’s all of those aforementioned things while also being pivotal in the ACC title race.
Texas Tech at Houston (get-in: $71)
In the same vein as Baylor-SMU, we have an interesting in-state matchup being played in a huge, accessible city. The Red Raiders have perhaps the most expensive CFB roster ever built, while I’m bullish on new Houston QB Connor Weigman bouncing back and flashing some NFL talent while with the Cougars. You could probably make an entire weekend happen without crossing $500 of spend.
Week 7 (October 11)
Oklahoma-Texas (in Dallas): “Red River” (get-in: $556)
Red River usually just delivers. Between 2014 and 2021, every regular season matchup between the Sooners and Longhorns was decided by a touchdown or smaller margin. Last year’s 34-3 UT win triggered alarm bells in Norman, though, and Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables responded by importing Wazzu’s offensive coordinator-QB pairing (Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer) while also landing star RB Jadyn Ott out of the portal from Cal. This is a top-shelf college football spectacle.
Indiana at Oregon: (get-in: $64)
This may be a stretch for East Coasters, but I’m seeing Southwest running some affordable flights to Eugene by way of Sacramento and San Jose. And once you get to town, the rest falls into place. Autzen Stadium earns rave reviews, the quarterbacks (Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza) have drawn speculative Heisman and NFL Draft buzz, respectively, and both the Ducks and Hoosiers are individually intriguing after experiencing roster turnover following spectacular 2024 seasons.
Week 8 (October 18)
Utah at BYU: “The Holy War” (get-in: $249)
The first Big 12 Holy War delivered in spectacular fashion last year, as the #9 Cougars came into Salt Lake City undefeated, fell behind 21-10, and led a 65-yard two-minute drill to get into position to kick the winning field goal. Final score: BYU 22, Utah 21. This rivalry has been getting more national shine over the past few years as both programs have continued their ascent up the sport’s ladder, but at its core the Holy War is just a classic in-state blood feud.
Louisville at Miami (get-in: $25)
No, seeing Miami at Hard Rock Stadium isn’t a traditional college football experience, but this is still a matchup of projected top-25 conference foes in one of the most unique cities in the country for a Jackson and five Washingtons. That’s a legitimately great deal.
Week 9 (October 25)
Kansas State at Kansas: “Sunflower Showdown” (get-in: $192)
It’s easy to evade this “don’t see the same team twice” restriction when the must-see non-blueblood matchups are as dispersed throughout the calendar as they seem to be this year. We hit our fourth in-state, power-conference rivalry game in Week 9, and it’s a contest that has taken on new life with the strong head coaches (Chris Kleiman and Lance Leipold) and returning quarterbacks (Avery Johnson and Jalon Daniels) in place at both schools.
Minnesota at Iowa (get-in: $76)
Use the savings from your stays in Houston and Miami (assuming you didn’t go too hard in South Beach) to find a way to Iowa City, home of the Hawkeyes. If you don’t believe in Kinnick Stadium’s bona fides, look no further than this video from before the 2018 NFL Draft when Penn State’s Saquon Barkley and Mike Gesicki were separately asked to name college football’s toughest opposing place to play. Minnesota’s a rivalry game, it should be a tight one, and the price point isn’t bad.
Week 10 (November 1)
South Carolina at Ole Miss (get-in: $106)
Remember, I’ve only directed the other traveler toward Ole Miss so far - in fact, the freespending itinerary has only been to one SEC campus (for Alabama at Georgia). This game was targeted not only for Oxford’s gameday reputation, but also because it could loom large in the Playoff race. If both the Gamecocks and Rebels enter this game with two or fewer losses, ticket prices will pop - and so will the atmosphere.
Georgia Tech at NC State (get-in: $63) or Virginia at Cal (get-in: $34)
Two ACC options in Week 10 for whichever coast you and your budget need this late in the game. GT-NCSU figures to be the more nationally relevant game - and the Wolfpack faithful definitely know how to tailgate - while Cal Memorial Stadium ranks as a “Peak College Football” venue in stadium aficionado GFed’s tier rankings. Both hubs (Raleigh/Durham and San Francisco) should have plenty of flights and lodging to get you in and out at a reasonable cost.
Week 11 (November 8)
Nebraska at UCLA (get-in: $142)
Here, one of college football’s most loyal fanbases descends upon our most famous venue for the first time in conference play. I’m expecting this game to be scheduled for the 7:30 PM ET time slot so the famous Rose Bowl sunset will be center stage during the second and third quarters.
Washington at Wisconsin (get-in: $26) or Northwestern at USC (get-in: $48)
The Big Ten theme continues with another time zone-dependent pair of options. Getting to experience Camp Randall Stadium in this price range feels like a steal, and college football culinary legend Andy Staples ranked Madison as, shockingly, the fifth-best college town in America for food. It’s only about an hour and a half outside Milwaukee and runs plenty of flights from its own airport as well. Great grub and a tradition-rich venue are also on the docket at USC, where the weather should be much more pleasant than in other regions at this time of year.
Week 12 (November 15)
App State at James Madison (get-in: $70)
As Jon Rothstein would say: “James Madison. Buy stock now.” JMU started its football program in 1972, climbing the NCAA ladder and reaching the FBS in 2022 - and the Dukes have promptly won eight, eleven, and nine games in each of their three seasons at the highest level. James Madison now enters 2025 ranked 49th in Bill Connelly’s SP+ power ratings, behind only Tulane among G5 schools. It’s only a matter of time before this is a power conference program, so lock in this “back when” story now and catch a game between certified G5 royalty and their up-and-coming challengers in a matchup that could have Playoff implications. Bridgeforth Stadium seems like a great location on the water and JMU’s reputation as a place that knows how to party precedes itself.
West Virginia at Arizona State (get-in: $26)
Last year’s CFP darlings are offering too sweet a deal to pass up here, and all your accessibility boxes should be checked with ease, as Tempe is just a couple of miles outside of Phoenix. The Sun Devils with coach Kenny Dillingham and the QB-WR pairing of Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson are as fun as the campus they represent, and I’m genuinely interested in how the Mountaineers look in Rich Rodriguez’s return season, too.
Week 13 (November 22)
Tennessee at Florida (get-in: $167)
Two fresh teams in a good old-fashioned SEC pressure cooker here. The Big Ten offers fun options this week as well, with Nebraska traveling to Penn State and USC heading to Oregon.
Mizzou at Oklahoma (get-in: $53) or Pitt at Georgia Tech (get-in: $29)
After a realignment-driven hiatus from 2012 to 2023, the quite feisty Mizzou-Oklahoma rivalry (which should really have a name) was restarted last year in Columbia, with the Tigers prevailing, 30-23. The bitterness took a turn south when former OU guard Cayden Green transferred to Columbia and a few Sooners fans posted sham negative reviews of Green’s father’s business. So, yeah, there’s no love lost between these two (Green is now a projected first-round pick in next year’s draft).
If you haven’t caught Georgia Tech yet, Bobby Dodd Stadium is supposed to be quite underrated (as are the Yellow Jackets). With how easy it generally is to get to Atlanta, this could be a very affordable way to do some traveling and watch a Top 25 team.
Week 14 (November 29)
Ohio State at Michigan: “The Game” (get-in: $591)
There’s no game on the college football calendar with more juice right now. The sheer psychological warfare of The Game caused last year’s Ohio State team to lose to an unranked Michigan team that could hardly throw a forward pass. The Buckeyes would then remember they were the best collection of talent in the country and ripped through the CFP en route to a title. Ryan Day said with full sincerity that the loss was one of the worst things that’s ever happened in his life. This game matters.
Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan (get-in: $33)
Rivalry week can get pricey, and I struggled to fill this slot while adhering to the admittedly unnecessary “one viewing per team” restriction. The Louisville-Kentucky Governor’s Cup sales pitch was hammered out (a steal at $53) - but the Cards are penciled in against Miami. An audible was called to Air Force-Colorado State, but CSU is actually Washington’s Week 1 opponent. I scrolled and scrolled the Saturday slate in despair. Then, I saw it, almost by accident: lying in hiding at the very top of the screen, MACtion. And not just any game from America’s most lovable, honest conference: an eminently affordable true rivalry game in the infamously famous Tuesday night time slot. BTW, Ypsilanti is right outside of Detroit and even closer to Ann Arbor, so I think this actually works devastatingly well. Just as I should have expected, the MAC gifts us the finishing high note we so richly deserve.
Wrapping Up
Here’s how the final itineraries shook out:
Here’s where our travels took us on the first itinerary:
Alternatively, on the second:
In a mere fourteen weeks with no duplicate teams, the “Money is No Object” schedule saw:
Home fields from all four power conferences, plus the Pac-12, Sun Belt, and an independent
16 of the top 18 teams in Bill Connelly’s 2025 power ratings
Three of the top five venues from ESPN’s stadium ranking poll last year, and another five in the Top 25
Eight of the top 10 players in the preseason Heisman Trophy odds
And, for good measure, we ate in four of the Top 25 best college towns for local cuisine from that iconic Andy Staples ranking
Ever the scrapper, though, the budget-friendlier version caught home fields from all the power conferences, plus the Mountain West, AAC, and MAC, up to 16 of the top 25 in Connelly’s ratings, up to five top venues, a quartet of Heisman favorites, and as many as eight elite food scenes. Now that would be a hell of a time.