College football is built on tradition—fight songs, pregame rituals, and game-day pageantry that fans treat like sacred scripture. But let’s be honest, not every tradition deserves the love (or airtime) it gets.
Some of these are outdated, overhyped, or just plain confusing to outsiders. Here are 15 college football traditions that might be fun for the locals but feel a little overrated to the rest of us.
15. The Turnover Props
It was fun the first time, but now every team has some random sideline gimmick. When your defensive back is wearing a construction hat, maybe it’s time to move on.
14. Rushing the Field for Beating a Mid-Tier Opponent
Storming the field is supposed to be a big deal. Doing it after taking down an unranked conference rival just feels like a reach.
13. Playing the Same Song on Repeat All Game
We get it, your band has one banger. But hearing it every third down gets old fast for everyone who isn’t wearing your team’s colors.
12. Mascots Riding Live Animals
Sure, it’s dramatic—but do the animals really want to be there? It’s cool for five seconds, then you’re just worried for the horse or the buffalo.
11. Fans Yelling Random Phrases in Unison
It might make sense on campus, but to outsiders, it’s just noise with no context. Sometimes it feels like an inside joke that’s run its course.
10. Marching Band Halftime Shows Treated Like Broadway
We love the band, truly—but not every halftime needs to be a full-on musical. Sometimes you just want to grab snacks and breathe.
9. The Obsession with Old Stadiums
Yes, it’s historic. It’s also cramped, outdated, and has Wi-Fi slower than your grandma’s flip phone.
8. Wearing the Same “Lucky” Gear Every Week
Fans swear by that old jersey or hat, but we all know it has no effect on the scoreboard. At some point, it’s just an excuse not to do laundry.
7. Rivalry Trophies That Make No Sense
Some of these are iconic, sure—but others feel like someone raided a junkyard and slapped a name on it. A trophy shouldn’t look like it came from a garage sale.
6. Pre-Game Animal Sacrifices (Metaphorically Speaking)
The intense chants, the weird rituals—it can feel like a cult meeting before kickoff. There’s passionate, and then there’s mildly terrifying.
5. Singing Along to Songs That Aren’t Even About Football
It’s fun in the moment, but Sweet Caroline has nothing to do with what’s happening on the field. It’s basically karaoke night disguised as tradition.
4. School-Specific Gestures and Hand Signs
If you’re not in the fan base, it just looks like a bunch of people doing strange hand yoga. Not every tradition needs a secret handshake.
3. Waving Goodbye to Opposing Fans
It’s not clever, it’s not intimidating—it’s just kind of petty. Especially when your team barely scraped out the win.
Read More: 12 Hilarious NBA Fan Traditions We All Love
2. Calling Your Stadium “The Toughest Place to Play”
Every fan base swears their home field is the loudest, scariest, most unbeatable place ever. They can’t all be right.
Read More: The 15 Funniest MLB Fan Traditions We’ve Ever Seen
1. Claiming Your Team Has “The Best Fans in College Football”
Every school says this, and somehow nobody ever agrees. It’s the most overused, self-congratulatory tradition of them all.
Read More: Ranking the 20 Most Interesting NFL Fan Traditions
