Discover the Top 11 College Football Fun Facts: Uncover the Unexpected and Be Amazed!

1. Notre Dame's Stairway to Heaven

Oh, the stairway to Heaven isn't an all-access pass, but it sure does have a legendary sign above it: Notre Dame's "Play Like A Champion Today" sign, first hung in 1986, has become a pre-game ritual for players inside the stadium's tunnel, despite claims of a similar sign at Oklahoma Sooners since the late 1940s.
Source => espn.com

2. Pasadena's Foot Traffic Attraction

Before stadiums were a dime a dozen and sports tourism skyrocketed, Pasadena must’ve really been rooting for some foot traffic: The first-ever college football bowl game took place in 1902, labeled the Rose Bowl, with Michigan and Stanford competing amidst the Tournament of Roses Parade in an attempt to attract more visitors to the city.
Source => sportsbusinessjournal.com

Did you know an English club once joined the Scottish Professional Football League and never left? Discover the unique story of Berwick Rangers and their 138-year football journey! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

=> Fun Facts about Football

3. Golden Couple of College Football Rivalries

Ready for a marriage with more longevity than Hollywood's elite? Behold the golden couple of college football rivalries: Lehigh University and Lafayette College's the Rivalry has been going strong with 157 games played since their first fateful encounter in 1884, a mere year after standardized football rules were established. Mark your calendars, as these lovebirds will face off again on November 18th at Goodman Stadium for their 159th rendezvous.
Source => www1.lehigh.edu

4. Michigan State's Agrarian Roots

Before "party in the USA" was a chart-topper, Michigan State was pioneering agriculture with a beat: Established in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, it claimed the title of the first agricultural college in the United States, eventually evolving into Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, and finally becoming Michigan State University in 1955 thanks to a legislative name-lift!
Source => michigantoday.umich.edu

5. Reveille: Texas A&M's Class-Pausing Canine

Who let the dogs out (of class)? Texas A&M's canine mascot, Reveille, that's who! This barking beauty has a penchant for getting Aggie students out of their lectures and into an early recess: Reveille's role on campus is undeniably prestigious - as the highest-ranked female in the Corps of Cadets, she sports five silver diamonds and, upon her passing, receives a formal military funeral, securing eternal bragging rights while overlooking the Aggies' football stadium.
Source => tamu.edu

6. Miami vs. Nebraska: Gridiron Soap Opera

When the Miami Hurricanes and Nebraska Cornhuskers meet, it's not just a clash of epic football teams – it's a full-blown, nail-biting, gridiron soap opera with enough drama to fill a stadium: This storied rivalry spans 12 meetings over decades, often deciding national championships, and is currently tied 6-6, with Miami's last-second overtime field goal clinching a heart-stopping 36-33 win.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Oregon Ducks' Runway Fashion

If Project Runway stumbled into the college football sphere and spliced its DNA with the avant-garde aesthetic of Lady Gaga's stylist, you might get a glimpse of the Oregon Ducks' dizzying fashion parade on Saturdays: Boasting over 200 uniform combinations in the past decade, their 2022 season sashayed through an eclectic mix, from monochromatic green to angelic white, and even a somber black ensemble that paid homage to breast cancer awareness.
Source => si.com

8. Kroger Field's $110 Million Makeover

What did the football stadium say to the facelift? You had me at Kroger! In an extreme makeover worth $110 million, Kentucky's Kroger Field (formerly known as Commonwealth Stadium) underwent a massive renovation in 2015, boasting a fresh press box, swanky loge box seats, club seats, recruiting room, suites, concourses, bathrooms, lights, and a pretty new exterior facade – all while slimming down to a svelte 61,000-seat capacity.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. USC Trojan Marching Band: The Collegiate Rockstars

When the phrase "world tour" usually conjures images of rock stars and pop divas, the USC Trojan Marching Band is here to strike their chords across the globe: Known as "The Spirit of Troy," this illustrious collegiate ensemble has graced the stages of iconic events like the Olympics in 1932 and 1984, serenaded Normandy on the 50th anniversary of D-Day, jammed on the Great Wall of China, and even sailed to Macao as the first American group to perform in their Chinese New Year parade!
Source => usctrojans.com

10. Notre Dame's Hallowed Heisman History

Whistling past the graveyard: The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have more than leprechaun magic on their side with 11 claimed national titles and a whopping seven Heisman Trophy winners. Their rivals feel the hallowed heat with USC, Navy, Michigan, and a slew of others, as their home turf battles have graced NBC's airwaves since 1991 - a feat few college football teams have achieved.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Pioneering Pigskin: The Rutgers-Princeton Showdown

Way before the Kardashians tackled reality TV, some college lads were tackling each other in a peculiar game of footie: The first intercollegiate football game took place between Rutgers and Princeton on November 6, 1869, with rugby-style rules, 25 players per team, and scores known as "games." Rutgers emerged victorious, 6-4, as they strategically deployed stationary "sleepers" near opponents' goals while advancing the ball using only kicks, headbutts, or side-shuffles.
Source => scarletknights.com