Archive
Finished game days, newest first: the tailgate warm-up, the three map clues and what each one was pointing at. Today’s game stays off this page until it is over.
Each day’s clues climb a ladder from a layup to a stumper (see How to play). Yesterday’s game can still be played from its link, so its answers are folded away below; older days show them in full. The archive lists the last 60 days.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Play this day before it closes at midnight Eastern.
Show the answers
Tailgate
Texas A&M students stand for the whole game as what?
Answer: The 12th Man. The 12th Man tradition dates to 1922, when student E. King Gill was called from the stands to suit up.
The opener
This Florida school's mascot is an ibis, a bird said to be the last to leave before a big storm and the first to return, and fans call the school by a single letter.
Answer: University of Miami · Coral Gables, FL. The University of Miami's main campus is in Coral Gables, Florida, although the Hurricanes play home games at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Fun detail: the ibis mascot is named Sebastian. Source
The middle clue
In a January 2025 semifinal at this NFL stadium, a little over an hour south of the Oklahoma line, the Buckeyes beat the Longhorns 28–14, sealed by a long fumble return for a touchdown.
Answer: AT&T Stadium · Arlington, TX. AT&T Stadium in Arlington hosted the Cotton Bowl semifinal on January 10, 2025, when Ohio State beat Texas 28–14. Fun detail: Jack Sawyer's 83-yard fumble return in the final minutes clinched it. Source
The closer
The only BCS title game between two teams from the same conference was played under this dome in January 2012, a 21–0 rematch won by the Crimson Tide.
Answer: Caesars Superdome · New Orleans, LA. The Superdome hosted the 2012 BCS National Championship Game on January 9, 2012. Fun detail: LSU had won the regular-season meeting 9–6 in overtime but crossed midfield only once in the rematch. Source
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Tailgate
Georgia's line of live English bulldog mascots all share which name?
Answer: Uga. Every Georgia bulldog has been named Uga. Handsome Dan is Yale's bulldog.
The opener
Open at one end and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Ohio stadium has hosted the scarlet and gray since 1922 and holds more than 100,000.
Answer: Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH. Ohio Stadium is Ohio State's home in Columbus and holds over 100,000 fans. Fun detail: its domed rotunda entrance was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, and the stadium is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Source
The middle clue
On New Year's Day 2026, the Hoosiers routed the Crimson Tide 38–3 in a 12-team playoff quarterfinal at this stadium, about three and a half hours west of the Arizona line.
Answer: Rose Bowl · Pasadena, CA. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena hosted Indiana's 38–3 quarterfinal win over Alabama on January 1, 2026. Fun detail: Indiana went on to finish 16–0 and win its first national title. Source
The closer
In November 2007, the No. 1 home team lost to the Razorbacks in triple overtime in this stadium, yet weeks later it became the first two-loss national champion of the BCS era.
Answer: Tiger Stadium · Baton Rouge, LA. LSU lost to Arkansas in triple overtime at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge in November 2007, its second triple-overtime loss of the season. Fun detail: the Tigers still won the BCS title, the first two-loss national champion since 1960 Minnesota. Source
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Tailgate
Ohio State's mascot Brutus is a giant version of what?
Answer: A buckeye nut. Brutus Buckeye is a walking buckeye nut, the seed of Ohio's state tree.
The opener
Born in 1935, this bowl has been played under this Louisiana dome since 1975; on New Year's Day 2026 it hosted a quarterfinal won by the Rebels 39–34 over the Bulldogs.
Answer: Caesars Superdome · New Orleans, LA. The Sugar Bowl started in 1935 at Tulane Stadium and moved to the Superdome in New Orleans in 1975; on January 1, 2026, Ole Miss beat Georgia there in a 12-team quarterfinal. Fun detail: the Sugar Bowl traditionally hosts the SEC champion when it is not in the playoff. Source
The middle clue
On December 21, 2024, the home team beat Dabo Swinney's Tigers 38–24 in a first-round game at this 100,000-seat SEC campus stadium, about an hour and a half up Interstate 35 from San Antonio.
Answer: Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium · Austin, TX. Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium hosted Texas's first-round win over Clemson on December 21, 2024, in the first 12-team playoff. Fun detail: the Longhorns went on to win a double-overtime quarterfinal before losing their semifinal to Ohio State. Source
The closer
In November 2016, the No. 2 home team beat the No. 3 Wolverines 30–27 in double overtime in this stadium, then went on to the playoff.
Answer: Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH. Second-ranked Ohio State beat third-ranked Michigan 30–27 in double overtime at Ohio Stadium in Columbus in November 2016. Fun detail: the win sent the Buckeyes into the College Football Playoff for the second time in three seasons. Source
Monday, October 19, 2026
Tailgate
Fans call the area around which school 'Happy Valley'?
Answer: Penn State. Penn State's home in central Pennsylvania is known as Happy Valley.
The opener
After every home score, a covered wagon pulled by two white ponies races across the field in this stadium, a nod to the settlers of an 1889 land run.
Answer: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium · Norman, OK. The Sooner Schooner first appeared at Oklahoma games in Norman in 1964 and became the official mascot in 1980. Fun detail: the wagon is a nod to the settlers of the 1889 Land Run, which gave the state's 'Sooner' nickname. Source
The middle clue
The Hoosiers routed the Ducks 56–22 in a January 2026 semifinal under the roof of this NFL stadium, about two hours south of the Tennessee line on Interstate 75, on the way to a 16–0 season.
Answer: Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta, GA. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta hosted the Peach Bowl semifinal on January 9, 2026, when Indiana beat Oregon 56–22. Fun detail: the same stadium had hosted the first 12-team national title game a year earlier. Source
The closer
Mike Leach's Air Raid offense, led by graduate-transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew, went 10–2 in the 2018 regular season at this stadium.
Answer: Martin Stadium · Pullman, WA. Martin Stadium is Washington State's home in Pullman and opened in 1972. Fun detail: Leach coached the Cougars from 2012 to 2019 and finished with the third-most wins of any coach in school history. Source
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Tailgate
In Ohio State's Script Ohio, which band member dots the 'i'?
Answer: A sousaphone player. A senior sousaphone player struts to the top of the 'i' with the drum major and takes a bow.
The opener
This Pennsylvania borough is named after the land-grant school it grew up around, which has since changed its name, and more than 100,000 fans descend on it for home games.
Answer: State College, PA. State College, Pennsylvania, is the borough beside Penn State's University Park campus. Fun detail: the town takes its name from the school's earlier name, Pennsylvania State College. Source
The middle clue
The Bulldogs ended a 41-year title drought here in January 2022, beating the Crimson Tide 33–18 in a retractable-roof NFL stadium that also hosts the Big Ten title game.
Answer: Lucas Oil Stadium · Indianapolis, IN. Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, hosted the 2022 CFP National Championship on January 10, 2022. Fun detail: Georgia had lost to Alabama by 17 points in the SEC title game just five weeks earlier. Source
The closer
Future officers march to class on this waterfront campus, where the football mascot has been a goat since the 1890s.
Answer: U.S. Naval Academy · Annapolis, MD. The United States Naval Academy is in Annapolis, Maryland, on the Severn River near Chesapeake Bay. Fun detail: a goat has been Navy's mascot since the 1890s, and the line of goats are all named Bill. Source
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Tailgate
Which Cajun rice dish simmers in big pots at tailgates outside LSU's Tiger Stadium?
Answer: Jambalaya. Jambalaya, often cooked in huge cast-iron pots, is a Baton Rouge tailgate staple.
The opener
A golden eagle circles this Alabama stadium before kickoff, and after wins fans roll the oak trees at a nearby street corner with toilet paper.
Answer: Jordan–Hare Stadium · Auburn, AL. Jordan–Hare Stadium is Auburn's home, holding about 88,000 fans. Fun detail: when coach Ralph 'Shug' Jordan's name was added in 1973, it became the first stadium in the country named for an active head coach. Source
The middle clue
The home team outlasted James Madison 51–34 in a December 2025 first-round game in this stadium, the Big Ten's westernmost, then shut out the Red Raiders in the quarterfinals.
Answer: Autzen Stadium · Eugene, OR. Autzen Stadium hosted Oregon's 51–34 first-round win over James Madison on December 20, 2025. Fun detail: the Ducks followed it with a 23–0 Orange Bowl quarterfinal win over Texas Tech. Source
The closer
The Crimson Tide routed the Fighting Irish 42–14 for the January 2013 BCS title in this NFL stadium, then named Sun Life Stadium.
Answer: Hard Rock Stadium · Miami Gardens, FL. Hard Rock Stadium has carried many names, including Joe Robbie, Pro Player, Dolphin and Sun Life Stadium. Fun detail: the 2013 game gave Alabama back-to-back BCS titles, its third in four seasons. Source
Friday, October 16, 2026
Tailgate
Which battle cry belongs to Auburn fans?
Answer: War Eagle. 'War Eagle' is Auburn's battle cry, and an eagle flies over Jordan–Hare Stadium before some games.
The opener
Every October the Sooners and Longhorns meet in this Texas stadium, split down the 50-yard line, and in 2023 Dillon Gabriel's touchdown pass with 15 seconds left won it 34–30 for the Sooners.
Answer: Cotton Bowl · Dallas, TX. The Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma has been played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas's Fair Park, during the State Fair of Texas, nearly every year since 1929; Gabriel's late pass to Nic Anderson decided the 2023 game. Fun detail: the winner takes home the Golden Hat, a trophy shaped like a cowboy hat. Source
The middle clue
Joe Burrow's Tigers capped a 15–0 season by beating the defending champions 42–25 in the January 2020 title game under this dome, a little over an hour's drive down the Mississippi River from their own campus.
Answer: Caesars Superdome · New Orleans, LA. The Superdome in New Orleans hosted the 2020 CFP National Championship on January 13, 2020, when LSU beat Clemson 42–25. Fun detail: it was LSU's second national title won in this building, after the 2008 BCS title game. Source
The closer
A hook-and-lateral, a halfback pass and a Statue of Liberty two-point play finished the Broncos' January 2007 bowl upset of the Sooners in this stadium.
Answer: State Farm Stadium · Glendale, AZ. Boise State beat Oklahoma 43–42 in overtime in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2007, at what is now State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Fun detail: the stadium's natural-grass field rolls outside on a giant tray to soak up the sun between events. Source
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Tailgate
Which school's stadium is nicknamed 'The Swamp'?
Answer: Florida. Steve Spurrier popularized the nickname for Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in the early 1990s.
The opener
This bowl left its original namesake stadium in the 1990s for this Florida NFL venue, and on New Year's Day 2026 it hosted a quarterfinal in which the Ducks shut out the Red Raiders 23–0.
Answer: Hard Rock Stadium · Miami Gardens, FL. The Orange Bowl was first played in 1935 and is now held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, where Oregon beat Texas Tech 23–0 in a January 1, 2026 quarterfinal. Fun detail: the game's original home began life as Burdine Stadium and later took the bowl's name, becoming the Miami Orange Bowl. Source
The middle clue
The eventual national champions began their December 2024 title run with a 42–17 first-round win over the Volunteers in their own Big Ten campus stadium, about two hours northwest of the West Virginia line.
Answer: Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH. Ohio Stadium hosted Ohio State's first-round win over Tennessee on December 21, 2024. Fun detail: the Buckeyes were the No. 8 seed and won four playoff games in all to take the title. Source
The closer
Jim Harbaugh took over a 1–11 team in 2007 and by 2010 had it winning 12 games and its first BCS bowl, with Andrew Luck at quarterback in this stadium.
Answer: Stanford Stadium · Stanford, CA. Stanford Stadium is Stanford's home on the university campus, where Harbaugh coached from 2007 to 2010. Fun detail: Andrew Luck threw four touchdown passes as the Cardinal beat Virginia Tech 40–12 in the Orange Bowl to cap the 12-win 2010 season. Source
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Tailgate
What is the name of Texas's longhorn steer mascot?
Answer: Bevo. Bevo the longhorn has been Texas's mascot since 1916. Reveille is Texas A&M's collie.
The opener
Before home games, players rub a rock brought from a desert valley out west and run down a hill into this ACC stadium, 'the most exciting 25 seconds in college football'.
Answer: Memorial Stadium · Clemson, SC. Howard's Rock sits at the top of the hill at Clemson's Memorial Stadium, and players have rubbed it before running down the hill since 1967, apart from a short break in the early 1970s. Fun detail: the rock was a gift to coach Frank Howard from a friend who picked it up in Death Valley, California. Source
The middle clue
A giant block letter on the mountainside above this Big 12 campus gives the peak its name, and the school joined the conference in 2023 after a dozen years as an independent.
Answer: Brigham Young University · Provo, UT. Brigham Young University is in Provo, Utah, at the foot of the Wasatch Range. Fun detail: the 1984 team finished 13–0 and was voted national champion after beating Michigan in the Holiday Bowl. Source
The closer
In one of the first playoff semifinals, on New Year's Day 2015, the fourth-seeded Buckeyes upset the top-seeded Crimson Tide 42–35 under this dome.
Answer: Caesars Superdome · New Orleans, LA. The Superdome in New Orleans is home to the Sugar Bowl, which hosted a semifinal in the very first College Football Playoff. Fun detail: running back Ezekiel Elliott sealed the upset with an 85-yard touchdown run. Source
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Tailgate
Notre Dame's Fighting Irish are cheered on by which mascot?
Answer: A leprechaun. The Notre Dame Leprechaun, in green suit and hat, has been the official mascot since 1965.
The opener
This Georgia college town launched bands like R.E.M. and the B-52's, and its team in red and black won back-to-back national titles in the 2020s.
Answer: Athens, GA. Athens, Georgia, is home to the University of Georgia, chartered in 1785 as the first state-chartered public university in the US. Fun detail: a double-barreled cannon built during the Civil War sits on the lawn of City Hall. Source
The middle clue
Fans arrive by boat and tie up beside this stadium, the Big Ten's northernmost, about three hours north of the Oregon line, whose roofs frame a snow-capped volcano on clear days.
Answer: Husky Stadium · Seattle, WA. Husky Stadium in Seattle is Washington's home, opened in 1920 on Union Bay off Lake Washington. Fun detail: tailgating from boats moored next to the stadium is known as sailgating. Source
The closer
Because of the pandemic, the Rose Bowl semifinal of January 2021 was moved to this NFL stadium, where the Crimson Tide beat the Fighting Irish 31–14.
Answer: AT&T Stadium · Arlington, TX. The 2021 Rose Bowl, a playoff semifinal, was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on January 1, 2021, instead of in Pasadena. Fun detail: it was only the second Rose Bowl Game played outside Pasadena, after the 1942 game in Durham. Source
Monday, October 12, 2026
Tailgate
Texas A&M's beloved mascot Reveille, the highest-ranking member of the Corps of Cadets, is what kind of dog?
Answer: Rough collie. Reveille is a rough collie. Legend says if she barks during a class, the class is dismissed.
The opener
Kirby Smart's team that plays here won back-to-back national titles after the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the first repeat of the playoff era.
Answer: Sanford Stadium · Athens, GA. Sanford Stadium in Athens is the home of Georgia, which won the CFP title after the 2021 and 2022 seasons under Kirby Smart. Fun detail: Georgia became the first team to win consecutive titles in the playoff era. Source
The middle clue
A bronze statue of a helmeted ancient warrior watches over this green-and-white Big Ten stadium, about an hour and a half west of Detroit, which holds about 75,000 fans.
Answer: Spartan Stadium · East Lansing, MI. Spartan Stadium is Michigan State's home in East Lansing, holding about 75,000 fans. Fun detail: the original 1945 Sparty statue was made of terra cotta and moved indoors to protect it; a bronze copy now stands in its place. Source
The closer
On New Year's Day 2024, the unbeaten Huskies held off the Longhorns 37–31 in a playoff semifinal under this dome when a last pass fell incomplete with no time left.
Answer: Caesars Superdome · New Orleans, LA. Washington beat Texas 37–31 in the Sugar Bowl semifinal at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on January 1, 2024. Fun detail: the Huskies came in 13–0, and Quinn Ewers' final pass for Adonai Mitchell fell incomplete as time ran out. Source
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Tailgate
Before Florida State home games, Osceola rides to midfield and plants what?
Answer: A flaming spear. Osceola and his Appaloosa, Renegade, have planted a flaming spear at midfield since 1978.
The opener
The Bulldogs and the Gators have traditionally met at this neutral-site Florida NFL stadium, and Kirby Smart's team won here in both 2021 and 2022 on the way to back-to-back national titles.
Answer: EverBank Stadium · Jacksonville, FL. Florida and Georgia have traditionally met in Jacksonville, Florida, nearly every year since 1933, now at EverBank Stadium on the St. Johns River; Georgia won there 34–7 in 2021 and 42–20 in 2022. Fun detail: the game was long nicknamed 'The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party', and the stands are split orange and blue on one side, red and black on the other. Source
The middle clue
Clanging cowbells echo through this SEC stadium about 30 miles from the Alabama line, which opened in 1914 and is the second-oldest on-campus stadium in major college football.
Answer: Davis Wade Stadium · Starkville, MS. Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field is Mississippi State's home in Starkville. Fun detail: the SEC once banned artificial noisemakers because of the cowbells, and now allows them only at set moments of the game. Source
The closer
Freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence led a 44–16 rout of the Crimson Tide in the January 2019 title game at this NFL stadium.
Answer: Levi's Stadium · Santa Clara, CA. Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, home of the San Francisco 49ers, hosted the 2019 CFP National Championship on January 7, 2019. Fun detail: the win made Clemson the first team of the modern era to finish a season 15–0. Source
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Tailgate
Which stadium is known as 'The Big House'?
Answer: Michigan Stadium. Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor is the largest stadium in the United States.
The opener
The oldest bowl game, first played in 1902, has been held in this California stadium since 1923; on New Year's Day 2025 it hosted a 12-team quarterfinal won by the Buckeyes 41–21 over the Ducks.
Answer: Rose Bowl · Pasadena, CA. The Rose Bowl Game has been played at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena since 1923, and in January 2025 it hosted Ohio State's quarterfinal win over Oregon. Fun detail: it shares the day with the Tournament of Roses Parade, whose floats must be covered in flowers or other natural material. Source
The middle clue
Wrapped in brick, this ACC stadium about two and a half hours west of Jacksonville on Interstate 10 is where a rider on an Appaloosa horse gallops to midfield and plants a flaming spear before every home game.
Answer: Doak Campbell Stadium · Tallahassee, FL. Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee is Florida State's home, named for a former university president. Fun detail: the Osceola and Renegade tradition began in 1978 with the support of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Source
The closer
Defense ruled a December 2025 first-round game in this 100,000-seat campus stadium, as the visiting Hurricanes beat the home team 10–3.
Answer: Kyle Field · College Station, TX. Kyle Field hosted Miami's 10–3 first-round win over Texas A&M on December 20, 2025. Fun detail: Miami kept winning all the way to the national championship game, which it hosted in its own NFL home stadium. Source
Friday, October 9, 2026
Tailgate
What is the Sooner Schooner that races across Oklahoma's field?
Answer: A covered wagon. The Sooner Schooner is a covered wagon pulled by two white ponies named Boomer and Sooner.
The opener
On New Year's Day 2024, the Wolverines beat the Crimson Tide 27–20 in overtime in a playoff semifinal at this California stadium, then went on to win the national title.
Answer: Rose Bowl · Pasadena, CA. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena hosts College Football Playoff games in rotation; the January 1, 2024 game was a semifinal. Fun detail: Michigan's defense stuffed Alabama's quarterback on fourth down at the goal line to end the overtime. Source
The middle clue
A habitat at the heart of this Big 12 campus just off Interstate 35 has housed live mascots for decades, and the school was chartered in 1845 by an independent republic.
Answer: Baylor University · Waco, TX. Baylor University is in Waco, Texas, on the Brazos River, and was chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas. Fun detail: the Bear Habitat on campus has housed live bear mascots for decades. Source
The closer
Opened in 1914, this was the country's first bowl-shaped stadium, and its design inspired the Rose Bowl a few years later.
Answer: Yale Bowl · New Haven, CT. The Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, opened in 1914 as the first bowl-shaped stadium in the United States, seating about 70,000 at the time. Fun detail: the field was dug out of the ground and the excavated earth was piled up to form the embankment under the seats. Source
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Tailgate
Between the third and fourth quarters at Camp Randall, Wisconsin fans bounce to which song?
Answer: Jump Around. Jump Around by House of Pain has shaken Camp Randall Stadium since 1998.
The opener
The marching band here spells its state's name in cursive across the field, and a senior sousaphone player struts out to dot the 'i'.
Answer: Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH. Script Ohio is performed at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, and the Ohio State band first marched it in 1936. Fun detail: a trumpet player dotted the very first 'i'; today the honor goes to a senior sousaphone player. Source
The middle clue
Visiting teams at this Big Ten stadium, about an hour west of the Mississippi River, change in an all-pink locker room, a mind game started by coach Hayden Fry.
Answer: Kinnick Stadium · Iowa City, IA. Kinnick Stadium is the University of Iowa's home, named for 1939 Heisman winner Nile Kinnick. Fun detail: Fry, a psychology major, believed pink had a calming effect, so he had the visitors' locker room painted pink, and it has stayed that way. Source
The closer
A field goal in the final seconds gave the Fighting Irish a 27–24 semifinal win over the Nittany Lions in this NFL stadium in January 2025.
Answer: Hard Rock Stadium · Miami Gardens, FL. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens hosted the Orange Bowl semifinal on January 9, 2025, when Notre Dame beat Penn State 27–24. Fun detail: Mitch Jeter kicked the 41-yard winner with seven seconds left. Source
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Tailgate
Mississippi State fans are famous for ringing what at games?
Answer: Cowbells. Cowbells are Mississippi State's signature noisemaker, allowed at set moments under SEC rules.
The opener
Named partly for a houndstooth-hatted coach with six national titles, this Alabama stadium holds more than 100,000 fans.
Answer: Bryant–Denny Stadium · Tuscaloosa, AL. Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa is Alabama's home, named for university president George Denny and coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant. Fun detail: Bryant's name was added in 1975, while he was still coaching the Crimson Tide. Source
The middle clue
Nicknamed after a far bigger city with the same name, this Big 12 college town about two hours west of the Missouri line bleeds purple on fall Saturdays.
Answer: Manhattan, KS. Manhattan, Kansas, is home to Kansas State University, which opened in 1863 as one of the first land-grant colleges. Fun detail: the Wildcats play at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, named for the coach behind one of college football's great turnarounds. Source
The closer
In January 2016, a surprise onside kick helped the Crimson Tide beat Deshaun Watson's Tigers 45–40 for the national title in this NFL stadium.
Answer: State Farm Stadium · Glendale, AZ. The stadium then called University of Phoenix Stadium, now State Farm Stadium in Glendale, hosted the 2016 CFP National Championship on January 11, 2016. Fun detail: Alabama's fourth-quarter onside kick, with the score tied, swung the game. Source
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Tailgate
The library mural nicknamed 'Touchdown Jesus' overlooks which stadium?
Answer: Notre Dame Stadium. The 'Word of Life' mural on Hesburgh Library can be seen from inside Notre Dame Stadium.
The opener
The largest stadium in the United States, this Michigan bowl holds more than 107,000 fans and sits mostly below ground level.
Answer: Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, nicknamed the Big House, opened in 1927 and is the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere. Fun detail: much of the bowl is dug into the ground, so it looks surprisingly modest from the street. Source
The middle clue
Behind a Heisman-winning quarterback who threw 60 touchdown passes, the SEC team that plays in this stadium near the Mississippi River went 15–0 and won the 2019 national title.
Answer: Tiger Stadium · Baton Rouge, LA. Tiger Stadium is LSU's home in Baton Rouge; the Tigers have won national titles after the 1958, 2003, 2007 and 2019 seasons. Fun detail: Burrow threw 60 touchdown passes in 2019, a major-college record at the time. Source
The closer
On New Year's Eve 2022, the Horned Frogs upset the unbeaten Wolverines 51–45 in a playoff semifinal at this NFL stadium.
Answer: State Farm Stadium · Glendale, AZ. State Farm Stadium in Glendale hosted the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on December 31, 2022, when TCU beat Michigan 51–45. Fun detail: TCU became the first Big 12 team to win a playoff game. Source
Monday, October 5, 2026
Tailgate
Colorado's live mascot, Ralphie, is what kind of animal?
Answer: Bison. Ralphie is an American bison who sprints around Folsom Field with a team of student handlers.
The opener
A live steer mascot and 'Big Bertha', one of the world's largest bass drums, are game-day fixtures in this Texas stadium of more than 100,000.
Answer: Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium · Austin, TX. Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin is Texas's home and holds more than 100,000 fans. Fun detail: it was dedicated in 1924 to Texans who served in World War I, and coach Darrell Royal's name was added in 1996. Source
The middle clue
Two SWAC rivals, both HBCUs, have met under this dome near the Mississippi River nearly every Thanksgiving weekend since it opened in 1975, with a Battle of the Bands the night before.
Answer: Caesars Superdome · New Orleans, LA. Grambling State and Southern have played the Bayou Classic in New Orleans since 1974, at the Superdome nearly every year since it opened. Fun detail: the Friday night Battle of the Bands between the two marching bands draws a huge crowd of its own. Source
The closer
The home team beat Tulane 41–10 in a December 2025 first-round game at this campus stadium, then won a quarterfinal before falling in the semifinals.
Answer: Vaught–Hemingway Stadium · Oxford, MS. Vaught–Hemingway Stadium hosted Ole Miss's 41–10 first-round win over Tulane on December 20, 2025. Fun detail: the Rebels then beat Georgia 39–34 in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal before losing the Fiesta Bowl semifinal to Miami 31–27. Source
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Tailgate
Tennessee's howling mascot Smokey is which breed of hound?
Answer: Bluetick coonhound. Smokey is a bluetick coonhound who leads the Vols through the T before home games at Neyland Stadium.
The opener
Saturday night kickoffs made this Louisiana stadium of more than 100,000 famous, and a live big cat's habitat sits just outside its gates.
Answer: Tiger Stadium · Baton Rouge, LA. Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge is LSU's home and holds just over 102,000 fans. Fun detail: the crowd's roar after a late touchdown against Auburn in 1988 registered on a campus seismograph, and the game is remembered as the Earthquake Game. Source
The middle clue
This bowl left its namesake stadium in 2010 for this NFL venue about four hours north of Houston, and on New Year's Eve 2025 it hosted a quarterfinal in which the Hurricanes beat the defending champion Buckeyes 24–14.
Answer: AT&T Stadium · Arlington, TX. The Cotton Bowl Classic was played at the Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas's Fair Park from 1937 until moving to AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the January 2010 game; Miami beat Ohio State there on December 31, 2025. Fun detail: the old stadium still hosts the Texas–Oklahoma game every October. Source
The closer
The Hurricanes beat the Rebels 31–27 in a January 2026 semifinal at this NFL stadium, sending them to a title game in their own home stadium.
Answer: State Farm Stadium · Glendale, AZ. State Farm Stadium in Glendale hosted the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on January 8, 2026, when Miami beat Ole Miss 31–27. Fun detail: the stadium's natural-grass field rolls outside on a giant tray between events. Source
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Tailgate
A Runza, a bread pocket stuffed with beef, cabbage and onions, is a game-day staple in which state?
Answer: Nebraska. Runzas are sold at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, and the Runza chain is a Nebraska institution.
The opener
Outside this Oklahoma stadium, a plaza of bronze statues honors the program's seven Heisman Trophy winners, from Billy Vessels to Kyler Murray.
Answer: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium · Norman, OK. Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is the University of Oklahoma's home in Norman. Fun detail: the playing surface is called Owen Field, after Bennie Owen, who coached the Sooners from 1905 to 1926. Source
The middle clue
Fans on this Big 12 campus, about an hour from the New Mexico line, flash a 'Guns Up' hand sign, and a masked rider in black leads the team onto the field on horseback.
Answer: Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX. Texas Tech University is in Lubbock, on the South Plains of West Texas. Fun detail: the Masked Rider first led the team onto the field at the 1954 Gator Bowl. Source
The closer
The last national title game of the four-team playoff, in January 2024, was played at this NFL stadium, where the Wolverines beat the Huskies 34–13.
Answer: NRG Stadium · Houston, TX. NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, hosted the 2024 CFP National Championship on January 8, 2024. Fun detail: the win capped a 15–0 season and gave Michigan its first national title since 1997. Source
Friday, October 2, 2026
Tailgate
Besides LSU's Tiger Stadium, which school's stadium is also nicknamed 'Death Valley'?
Answer: Clemson. Clemson's Memorial Stadium is also called Death Valley, home of Howard's Rock.
The opener
More than 100,000 fans turn this Pennsylvania stadium into a sea of white for its famous night-game White Out.
Answer: Beaver Stadium · University Park, PA. Beaver Stadium is Penn State's home on the University Park campus and one of the largest stadiums in the country. Fun detail: its first stands were the old New Beaver Field bleachers, taken apart and reassembled on the new site in 1960. Source
The middle clue
After home wins, fans in this Big 12 river town less than 10 miles south of the Pennsylvania line link arms and sing John Denver's 'Take Me Home, Country Roads'.
Answer: Morgantown, WV. Morgantown, West Virginia, is home to West Virginia University's Mountaineers. Fun detail: a Personal Rapid Transit system opened in the 1970s still carries students between campuses in small automated cars. Source
The closer
In a January 2025 quarterfinal under this dome, the Fighting Irish beat the Bulldogs 23–10 for their first major bowl win in three decades.
Answer: Caesars Superdome · New Orleans, LA. Notre Dame beat Georgia 23–10 in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans in January 2025. Fun detail: the Irish had lost their 10 most recent major bowl games, a run dating back to the 1994 Cotton Bowl Classic. Source
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Tailgate
Which town is home to Texas A&M?
Answer: College Station. Texas A&M and Kyle Field are in College Station, next door to Bryan.
The opener
Every home game at this Nebraska stadium has sold out since 1962, the longest streak in college football, and a full house outnumbers most towns in the state.
Answer: Memorial Stadium · Lincoln, NE. Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is Nebraska's home, and its sellout streak dating to 1962 is the longest in college football history. Fun detail: a full house is often said to make the stadium the state's third-largest city on game day. Source
The middle clue
The first on-campus game in College Football Playoff history was played on December 20, 2024, at this stadium a few miles south of the Michigan line, with the home team beating the Hoosiers 27–17.
Answer: Notre Dame Stadium · Notre Dame, IN. Notre Dame Stadium opened the 12-team era with the first campus playoff game on December 20, 2024. Fun detail: the Irish rode that home win all the way to the national championship game, where they lost to Ohio State. Source
The closer
Nick Saban's first national title with the Crimson Tide came here in January 2010, a 37–21 win over the Longhorns in the first BCS title game this stadium staged apart from its own New Year's game.
Answer: Rose Bowl · Pasadena, CA. Alabama beat Texas 37–21 in the BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on January 7, 2010. Fun detail: it was the first time the Tournament of Roses hosted the title game as a separate event from the Rose Bowl Game. Source
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Tailgate
LSU's live tiger mascot is always given which name?
Answer: Mike. LSU's live tigers are all named Mike, after athletic trainer Mike Chambers.
The opener
This California stadium will become the first to host three Summer Olympics when it stages track and field in 2028, and a white horse gallops around it after home touchdowns.
Answer: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum · Los Angeles, CA. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is USC's home and was dedicated in 1923 to veterans of World War I. Fun detail: it is set to host Olympic events for a third time in 2028. Source
The middle clue
The first College Football Playoff national championship, in January 2015, was played under the giant video board of this NFL stadium about three hours up Interstate 35 from Austin, and the Buckeyes beat the Ducks 42–20.
Answer: AT&T Stadium · Arlington, TX. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the Dallas Cowboys, hosted the first CFP title game on January 12, 2015. Fun detail: Ohio State won it with third-string quarterback Cardale Jones, who had made his first college start only five weeks earlier. Source
The closer
On September 1, 2007, the visiting Mountaineers blocked a last-second field goal to beat the No. 5 home team 34–32 in this stadium, a historic FCS upset.
Answer: Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI. Appalachian State beat Michigan 34–32 at Michigan Stadium on September 1, 2007, the first win by an FCS team over an AP-ranked FBS team. Fun detail: Corey Lynch blocked the final field-goal try to seal it. Source
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Tailgate
After big wins, Auburn fans cover the oak trees at Toomer's Corner in what?
Answer: Toilet paper. Rolling Toomer's Corner with toilet paper is Auburn's signature victory celebration.
The opener
This Wisconsin stadium stands on ground that trained Union soldiers during the Civil War, and it is the oldest stadium in its conference still in use.
Answer: Camp Randall Stadium · Madison, WI. Camp Randall Stadium is Wisconsin's home in Madison, opened in 1917 on the site of Camp Randall, a Civil War training camp. Fun detail: the Badgers' band famously plays a 'Fifth Quarter' concert after every home game. Source
The middle clue
A freshman Heisman winner led the ACC team that plays in this stadium, less than 30 miles from the Georgia line, to a 14–0 season and the last BCS national title, in January 2014.
Answer: Doak Campbell Stadium · Tallahassee, FL. Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee is the home of Florida State, which beat Auburn 34–31 at the Rose Bowl in the final BCS title game. Fun detail: quarterback Jameis Winston threw the winning touchdown pass with 13 seconds left. Source
The closer
In January 2017, Deshaun Watson's touchdown pass with one second left beat the Crimson Tide 35–31 for the national title in this NFL stadium.
Answer: Raymond James Stadium · Tampa, FL. Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hosted the 2017 CFP National Championship on January 9, 2017. Fun detail: Deshaun Watson's winning pass went to Hunter Renfrow, a former walk-on. Source
Monday, September 28, 2026
Tailgate
Playing 'between the hedges' means a road trip to which school's stadium?
Answer: Georgia. Privet hedges have ringed the field at Georgia's Sanford Stadium since 1929.
The opener
Players rub a rock and run down a hill into this South Carolina stadium, nicknamed after a famously hot desert valley and home of an orange-clad team since 1942.
Answer: Memorial Stadium · Clemson, SC. Memorial Stadium is Clemson's home and holds over 81,000 fans. Fun detail: the 'Death Valley' nickname is credited to Presbyterian College coach Lonnie McMillian, whose teams kept losing there. Source
The middle clue
Urban Meyer's team that plays in this SEC stadium, about an hour and a half south of the Georgia line on Interstate 75, won BCS national titles after the 2006 and 2008 seasons, with Tim Tebow on both rosters.
Answer: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium · Gainesville, FL. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville is the home of Florida, which beat Ohio State for the 2006 season's BCS title and Oklahoma for the 2008 season's. Fun detail: Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2007, the first sophomore ever to do so. Source
The closer
In October 2007, a 41-point underdog stunned the home team 24–23 in this stadium, at the time the biggest point-spread upset in college football history.
Answer: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum · Los Angeles, CA. Stanford beat USC 24–23 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 6, 2007, despite USC being favored by 41 points. Fun detail: the point-spread record stood until 2017, when 45-point underdog Howard won at UNLV. Source
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Tailgate
Which sausage, often simmered in beer, is the classic Wisconsin tailgate food?
Answer: Bratwurst. Beer-simmered bratwurst is a fixture of Wisconsin tailgates around Camp Randall Stadium.
The opener
Rows of privet shrubs have ringed the field of this Georgia stadium since it opened in 1929, and the program's line of live mascots is laid to rest inside it.
Answer: Sanford Stadium · Athens, GA. Sanford Stadium in Athens is Georgia's home, opened in 1929 and named for Steadman Sanford, a driving force behind early Georgia athletics and later the university's president. Fun detail: the line of bulldog mascots, all named Uga, are laid to rest in a small memorial inside the stadium. Source
The middle clue
Dabo Swinney's teams from this ACC stadium, about two hours up Interstate 85 from Atlanta, beat the Crimson Tide in the title game after both the 2016 and 2018 seasons.
Answer: Memorial Stadium · Clemson, SC. Memorial Stadium is Clemson's home; the Tigers won national titles in 1981, 2016 and 2018. Fun detail: Clemson and Alabama met in four straight playoffs from the 2015 to 2018 seasons, three of them in the title game. Source
The closer
Dabo Swinney's Tigers rallied past the Buckeyes 29–23 in a December 2019 playoff semifinal at this NFL stadium, taking the lead with under two minutes left.
Answer: State Farm Stadium · Glendale, AZ. Clemson beat Ohio State 29–23 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal at State Farm Stadium in Glendale in December 2019. Fun detail: Ohio State raced to a 16–0 lead before Clemson's defense stopped three long drives in the red zone. Source
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Tailgate
Texas A&M students stand for the whole game as what?
Answer: The 12th Man. The 12th Man tradition dates to 1922, when student E. King Gill was called from the stands to suit up.
The opener
Nick Saban won six national titles in 12 seasons, from 2009 to 2020, with the team that plays in this stadium, the greatest run of the modern era.
Answer: Bryant–Denny Stadium · Tuscaloosa, AL. Bryant–Denny Stadium is the home of Alabama, which won titles under Saban after the 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020 seasons. Fun detail: Saban's seven total titles (one came at LSU) passed the six Bear Bryant won for the same program. Source
The middle clue
Famously loud for about 54,000 seats, this Big Ten stadium about two hours south of the Washington line on Interstate 5 welcomes a mascot who rides onto the field on the back of a motorcycle.
Answer: Autzen Stadium · Eugene, OR. Autzen Stadium in Eugene opened in 1967 and is Oregon's home. Fun detail: it is named for the Autzen family of Portland, whose foundation gave $250,000 toward construction. Source
The closer
With one second left in November 2008, Michael Crabtree caught a sideline pass, broke a tackle and scored to beat the No. 1 Longhorns 39–33 in this stadium.
Answer: Galaxy Stadium · Lubbock, TX. Galaxy Stadium, long known as Jones AT&T Stadium, is Texas Tech's home in Lubbock. Fun detail: after Graham Harrell's winning pass to Crabtree, Tech recovered an errant lateral on the final kickoff to seal the 39–33 upset. Source
Friday, September 25, 2026
Tailgate
Georgia's line of live English bulldog mascots all share which name?
Answer: Uga. Every Georgia bulldog has been named Uga. Handsome Dan is Yale's bulldog.
The opener
Orange-and-white checkerboard end zones and more than 100,000 voices singing 'Rocky Top' fill this riverside Tennessee stadium.
Answer: Neyland Stadium · Knoxville, TN. Neyland Stadium is the University of Tennessee's home in Knoxville and one of the largest stadiums in the country. Fun detail: it is named for General Robert Neyland, who coached the Volunteers across three stints between 1926 and 1952. Source
The middle clue
Two years after a 3–9 season, Curt Cignetti's team that plays in this Big Ten stadium, less than two hours north of the Ohio River, went 16–0 and won the national title for the 2025 season.
Answer: Memorial Stadium · Bloomington, IN. Memorial Stadium in Bloomington is the home of Indiana, which beat Miami 27–21 in the January 2026 title game to finish 16–0. Fun detail: quarterback Fernando Mendoza became the program's first Heisman Trophy winner that season. Source
The closer
In a December 2025 first-round game, the visiting Crimson Tide beat the home team 34–24 at this campus stadium.
Answer: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium · Norman, OK. Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium hosted Alabama's 34–24 first-round win over Oklahoma on December 19, 2025, the first game of the second 12-team playoff. Fun detail: the playing surface is called Owen Field, after coach Bennie Owen. Source
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Tailgate
Ohio State's mascot Brutus is a giant version of what?
Answer: A buckeye nut. Brutus Buckeye is a walking buckeye nut, the seed of Ohio's state tree.
The opener
The team that plays in this stadium won both the first four-team playoff (2014 season) and the first 12-team playoff (2024 season).
Answer: Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH. Ohio Stadium is the home of Ohio State, which also won the 2002 season's BCS title and several earlier poll titles. Fun detail: the 2024 Buckeyes won four playoff games to claim the title as the No. 8 seed. Source
The middle clue
This SEC stadium of about 76,000, opened in 1938 and about half an hour from the Oklahoma line, plays on a field named for longtime coach and athletic director Frank Broyles.
Answer: Razorback Stadium · Fayetteville, AR. Razorback Stadium, officially CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium, is Arkansas's home in Fayetteville, opened in 1938 and now seating 76,212. Fun detail: the playing field was named Frank Broyles Field in 2007, honoring the outgoing athletic director who had also coached the Razorbacks. Source
The closer
In October 2024, Diego Pavia led a program that had lost 60 straight games to AP top-five teams to a 40–35 win over the No. 1 Crimson Tide in this stadium.
Answer: FirstBank Stadium · Nashville, TN. Vanderbilt beat No. 1 Alabama 40–35 at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville on October 5, 2024, its first win over a top-ranked team. Fun detail: fans tore down the goalposts and carried them out of the stadium. Source
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Tailgate
Fans call the area around which school 'Happy Valley'?
Answer: Penn State. Penn State's home in central Pennsylvania is known as Happy Valley.
The opener
Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' blares as the home team runs out in this ACC stadium, and the maroon-and-orange crowd jumps in unison.
Answer: Lane Stadium · Blacksburg, VA. Virginia Tech has entered Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, to 'Enter Sandman' since 2000. Fun detail: the crowd's jumping during the entrance has registered on the university's own seismological observatory. Source
The middle clue
Since the 2017 season this bowl has been played in this downtown NFL stadium, a little over an hour east of the Alabama line on Interstate 20; in January 2025 the Longhorns won a double-overtime quarterfinal here.
Answer: Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta, GA. The Peach Bowl began in 1968 and moved to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in its opening season; on January 1, 2025, Texas beat Arizona State 39–31 in double overtime there. Fun detail: the first Peach Bowl in the new stadium saw unbeaten UCF beat Auburn, after which UCF claimed a national title of its own. Source
The closer
In November 2021, Hassan Haskins ran for five touchdowns in this stadium as the home team beat the No. 2 Buckeyes 42–27, its first win in the rivalry in a decade.
Answer: Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan beat Ohio State 42–27 at Michigan Stadium on November 27, 2021, its first win in The Game since 2011. Fun detail: the Wolverines went on to win the Big Ten title and reach the playoff for the first time. Source
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Tailgate
In Ohio State's Script Ohio, which band member dots the 'i'?
Answer: A sousaphone player. A senior sousaphone player struts to the top of the 'i' with the drum major and takes a bow.
The opener
A giant library mural of Christ with raised arms looms over the north end zone of this Indiana stadium, built under Knute Rockne in 1930.
Answer: Notre Dame Stadium · Notre Dame, IN. Notre Dame Stadium opened in 1930 on the Notre Dame campus, just north of South Bend, Indiana. Fun detail: the 'Word of Life' mural on Hesburgh Library got its nickname because Christ's raised arms look like a referee signalling a touchdown. Source
The middle clue
The Bulldogs won the most lopsided title game of the playoff era here in January 2023, routing the Horned Frogs 65–7 in an NFL stadium that opened in 2020, a short drive from the home fields of two Big Ten newcomers.
Answer: SoFi Stadium · Inglewood, CA. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, home of the Rams and Chargers, hosted the 2023 CFP National Championship on January 9, 2023. Fun detail: the 58-point margin is the largest in any national title game of the BCS or playoff eras. Source
The closer
Urban Meyer's Gators routed the top-ranked Buckeyes 41–14 for the January 2007 BCS title in this NFL stadium, then named for a university.
Answer: State Farm Stadium · Glendale, AZ. Florida beat Ohio State 41–14 in the BCS National Championship Game at what was then University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on January 8, 2007. Fun detail: it was the Gators' first national title since 1996. Source
Monday, September 21, 2026
Tailgate
Which Cajun rice dish simmers in big pots at tailgates outside LSU's Tiger Stadium?
Answer: Jambalaya. Jambalaya, often cooked in huge cast-iron pots, is a Baton Rouge tailgate staple.
The opener
Between the third and fourth quarters, the whole crowd in this Big Ten stadium jumps to House of Pain's 'Jump Around' so hard the stands bounce.
Answer: Camp Randall Stadium · Madison, WI. Jump Around began at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, during the 1998 season. Fun detail: the stadium stands on the site of Camp Randall, a Civil War training camp. Source
The middle clue
Since 2007 this bowl has been played in this NFL stadium about two hours east of the California line on Interstate 10, whose grass field rolls outside on a giant tray; on New Year's Eve 2024 it hosted a quarterfinal won by the Nittany Lions over the Broncos.
Answer: State Farm Stadium · Glendale, AZ. The Fiesta Bowl began in 1971 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe and moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale in 2007; Penn State beat Boise State 31–14 there on December 31, 2024. Fun detail: the retractable field tray lets the natural grass grow outdoors between games. Source
The closer
With one second left in a 2013 rivalry game, the No. 1 team's 57-yard field-goal try fell short and was returned 109 yards for the winning touchdown in this stadium.
Answer: Jordan–Hare Stadium · Auburn, AL. Auburn's Chris Davis returned Alabama's last-second field-goal attempt for a touchdown at Jordan–Hare Stadium on November 30, 2013, sealing a 34–28 win. Fun detail: the Kick Six came just two weeks after another miracle finish in the same stadium, the Prayer at Jordan–Hare. Source
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Tailgate
Which battle cry belongs to Auburn fans?
Answer: War Eagle. 'War Eagle' is Auburn's battle cry, and an eagle flies over Jordan–Hare Stadium before some games.
The opener
Built on a former horse ranch, this California campus has a famously irreverent marching band whose mascot is a dancing tree.
Answer: Stanford University · Stanford, CA. Stanford University sits beside Palo Alto, California, on land that was once Leland Stanford's Palo Alto Stock Farm. Fun detail: the Stanford Tree is the band's mascot rather than an official university mascot. Source
The middle clue
In January 2026, the Hoosiers finished a perfect 16–0 season and won their first national title by beating the host team 27–21 on its own home field, the southernmost in the ACC.
Answer: Hard Rock Stadium · Miami Gardens, FL. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, home of the Miami Hurricanes and Dolphins, hosted the 2026 CFP National Championship on January 19, 2026. Fun detail: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza had become the first Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy that season. Source
The closer
In November 2010, Cam Newton's Tigers erased a 24–0 deficit to beat the home team 28–27 in this stadium, the largest comeback in the rivalry's history, on the way to a national title.
Answer: Bryant–Denny Stadium · Tuscaloosa, AL. Auburn beat Alabama 28–27 at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa in the 2010 Iron Bowl after trailing 24–0 in the second quarter. Fun detail: 101,821 fans watched, a record crowd for the series at the time. Source
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Tailgate
Which school's stadium is nicknamed 'The Swamp'?
Answer: Florida. Steve Spurrier popularized the nickname for Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in the early 1990s.
The opener
Its coach-coined nickname warns that only the home team gets out alive, and fans in orange and blue answer big plays with the Chomp in this Florida stadium.
Answer: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium · Gainesville, FL. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, known as the Swamp, is Florida's home and seats roughly 88,500. Fun detail: Steve Spurrier coined the nickname in the early 1990s, explaining that a swamp is where Gators live and only Gators get out alive. Source
The middle clue
Since 2021 this December bowl has been played in this black-domed NFL stadium, under an hour from the California line on Interstate 15, where the Trojans beat the Aggies 35–31 after the 2024 season.
Answer: Allegiant Stadium · Paradise, NV. The Las Vegas Bowl moved from Sam Boyd Stadium to Allegiant Stadium for its December 2021 game, and USC beat Texas A&M 35–31 there on December 27, 2024. Fun detail: the stadium's huge torch beside the field honors the late Raiders owner Al Davis. Source
The closer
Cam Newton's Tigers won the January 2011 BCS title here on a field goal as time expired, beating the Ducks 22–19.
Answer: State Farm Stadium · Glendale, AZ. The stadium then called University of Phoenix Stadium hosted the 2011 BCS National Championship Game; it is now State Farm Stadium. Fun detail: it also hosted the 2007 BCS title game, when Florida beat Ohio State 41–14. Source
Friday, September 18, 2026
Tailgate
What is the name of Texas's longhorn steer mascot?
Answer: Bevo. Bevo the longhorn has been Texas's mascot since 1916. Reveille is Texas A&M's collie.
The opener
At the end of the first quarter, everyone in this Iowa stadium turns to wave at the young patients watching from the children's hospital next door.
Answer: Kinnick Stadium · Iowa City, IA. The Wave began at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City in 2017, aimed at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, which overlooks the field. Fun detail: the visitors' locker room at Kinnick is painted pink. Source
The middle clue
In the first 12-team playoff, this Big Ten campus stadium about two hours north of the Maryland line hosted a first-round game in December 2024, and the home team beat the Mustangs 38–10.
Answer: Beaver Stadium · University Park, PA. Beaver Stadium hosted Penn State's first-round win over SMU on December 21, 2024, one of four playoff games played on campus that weekend. Fun detail: Penn State reached the Orange Bowl semifinal before falling to Notre Dame 27–24. Source
The closer
The No. 1 Tigers beat the No. 2 home team 9–6 in overtime here in November 2011, a touchdown-free 'Game of the Century' that led to a title-game rematch.
Answer: Bryant–Denny Stadium · Tuscaloosa, AL. The 2011 LSU–Alabama game was played at Bryant–Denny Stadium on November 5, 2011. Fun detail: Alabama missed four field goals that night, then won the BCS title rematch 21–0 two months later. Source
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Tailgate
Notre Dame's Fighting Irish are cheered on by which mascot?
Answer: A leprechaun. The Notre Dame Leprechaun, in green suit and hat, has been the official mascot since 1965.
The opener
Born in 1935, this bowl has been played under this Louisiana dome since 1975; on New Year's Day 2026 it hosted a quarterfinal won by the Rebels 39–34 over the Bulldogs.
Answer: Caesars Superdome · New Orleans, LA. The Sugar Bowl started in 1935 at Tulane Stadium and moved to the Superdome in New Orleans in 1975; on January 1, 2026, Ole Miss beat Georgia there in a 12-team quarterfinal. Fun detail: the Sugar Bowl traditionally hosts the SEC champion when it is not in the playoff. Source
The middle clue
Students guard a bronze warrior statue on this Big Ten campus before the big in-state rivalry game; the school began in 1855 as the first agricultural college of its kind.
Answer: Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI. Michigan State University's campus is in East Lansing, right next to the state capital, Lansing. Fun detail: it was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first school of its kind in the country. Source
The closer
In November 2024, an unranked Wolverines team beat the No. 2 home team 13–10 in this stadium on a late field goal, its fourth straight win in the rivalry.
Answer: Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH. Michigan beat Ohio State 13–10 at Ohio Stadium on November 30, 2024. Fun detail: the Buckeyes recovered to win the national title in the first 12-team playoff a few weeks later. Source
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Tailgate
Texas A&M's beloved mascot Reveille, the highest-ranking member of the Corps of Cadets, is what kind of dog?
Answer: Rough collie. Reveille is a rough collie. Legend says if she barks during a class, the class is dismissed.
The opener
Kirby Smart's team that plays here won back-to-back national titles after the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the first repeat of the playoff era.
Answer: Sanford Stadium · Athens, GA. Sanford Stadium in Athens is the home of Georgia, which won the CFP title after the 2021 and 2022 seasons under Kirby Smart. Fun detail: Georgia became the first team to win consecutive titles in the playoff era. Source
The middle clue
With an unusual east–west field used since 1920, the oldest in the Big 12, this orange-clad stadium sits about an hour west of Tulsa.
Answer: Boone Pickens Stadium · Stillwater, OK. Boone Pickens Stadium, formerly Lewis Field, is Oklahoma State's home in Stillwater and seats 53,885. Fun detail: its field has run east–west since 1920, an unusual alignment for football, and it is the oldest field in the Big 12. Source
The closer
A former walk-on quarterback turned Air Raid head coach mentored Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray in back-to-back seasons, 2017 and 2018, at this stadium.
Answer: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium · Norman, OK. Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is Oklahoma's home in Norman, where Lincoln Riley became head coach in 2017. Fun detail: both Mayfield and Murray were transfers who had started their college careers under other staffs. Source
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Tailgate
Before Florida State home games, Osceola rides to midfield and plants what?
Answer: A flaming spear. Osceola and his Appaloosa, Renegade, have planted a flaming spear at midfield since 1978.
The opener
A flotilla of fan boats has tied up beside this riverside SEC stadium since 1962, before more than 100,000 fans inside sing 'Rocky Top'.
Answer: Neyland Stadium · Knoxville, TN. Neyland Stadium in Knoxville sits on the Tennessee River, where the Vol Navy has moored on game days since 1962. Fun detail: the end zones are painted in an orange-and-white checkerboard. Source
The middle clue
The only FBS stadium named for an African American, honoring a lineman who died after a 1923 game, stands in this Big 12 college town about half an hour north of Des Moines on Interstate 35.
Answer: Ames, IA. Ames, Iowa, is home to Iowa State University, about 30 miles north of Des Moines. Fun detail: Jack Trice Stadium is the only FBS stadium named for an African American. Source
The closer
The Bulldogs outlasted the Sooners 54–48 in double overtime in a January 2018 playoff semifinal at this stadium.
Answer: Rose Bowl · Pasadena, CA. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena hosted the January 1, 2018 semifinal, when Georgia beat Oklahoma 54–48 in double overtime. Fun detail: it was the first Rose Bowl Game ever decided in overtime. Source
Monday, September 14, 2026
Tailgate
Which stadium is known as 'The Big House'?
Answer: Michigan Stadium. Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor is the largest stadium in the United States.
The opener
Every October the Sooners and Longhorns meet in this Texas stadium, split down the 50-yard line, and in 2023 Dillon Gabriel's touchdown pass with 15 seconds left won it 34–30 for the Sooners.
Answer: Cotton Bowl · Dallas, TX. The Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma has been played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas's Fair Park, during the State Fair of Texas, nearly every year since 1929; Gabriel's late pass to Nic Anderson decided the 2023 game. Fun detail: the winner takes home the Golden Hat, a trophy shaped like a cowboy hat. Source
The middle clue
A giant block letter on the mountainside above this Big 12 campus gives the peak its name, and the school joined the conference in 2023 after a dozen years as an independent.
Answer: Brigham Young University · Provo, UT. Brigham Young University is in Provo, Utah, at the foot of the Wasatch Range. Fun detail: the 1984 team finished 13–0 and was voted national champion after beating Michigan in the Holiday Bowl. Source
The closer
In October 2015, the visiting Hurricanes used eight laterals on a kickoff return with no time left to beat the home team in this campus stadium.
Answer: Wallace Wade Stadium · Durham, NC. Wallace Wade Stadium is Duke's home in Durham and seats about 35,000. Fun detail: its full name is Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. Source
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Tailgate
What is the Sooner Schooner that races across Oklahoma's field?
Answer: A covered wagon. The Sooner Schooner is a covered wagon pulled by two white ponies named Boomer and Sooner.
The opener
Nicknamed for 'The Granddaddy of Them All', the New Year's Day bowl it has hosted since 1923, this California stadium opened in 1922.
Answer: Rose Bowl · Pasadena, CA. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena opened in 1922 and has hosted the Rose Bowl Game every year since 1923 except one. Fun detail: the 1942 game was moved to Durham, North Carolina, because of wartime fears of an attack on the West Coast. Source
The middle clue
Since 1993 this bowl has been played inside this downtown dome about an hour and a half down Interstate 35 from Austin, where the Cougars beat the Buffaloes 36–14 in December 2024.
Answer: Alamodome · San Antonio, TX. The Alamodome in San Antonio opened in 1993, the same year the Alamo Bowl was first played there; BYU beat Colorado 36–14 there on December 28, 2024. Fun detail: the New Orleans Saints played part of their 2005 home schedule in the Alamodome after Hurricane Katrina. Source
The closer
The only BCS title game between two teams from the same conference was played under this dome in January 2012, a 21–0 rematch won by the Crimson Tide.
Answer: Caesars Superdome · New Orleans, LA. The Superdome hosted the 2012 BCS National Championship Game on January 9, 2012. Fun detail: LSU had won the regular-season meeting 9–6 in overtime but crossed midfield only once in the rematch. Source
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Tailgate
Between the third and fourth quarters at Camp Randall, Wisconsin fans bounce to which song?
Answer: Jump Around. Jump Around by House of Pain has shaken Camp Randall Stadium since 1998.
The opener
Tailgaters set up tents with chandeliers under the oaks of this ten-acre lawn on an SEC campus, and the team walks through them to the stadium on game day.
Answer: The Grove · Oxford, MS. The Grove is a 10-acre green space at the heart of the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford. Fun detail: the team's pregame Walk of Champions passes through the Grove under a brick arch. Source
The middle clue
Fans in this SEC college town, about two and a half hours southeast of Memphis, ring cowbells at home games, a noisemaker their conference now allows only at set moments of the game.
Answer: Starkville, MS. Starkville, Mississippi, is home to Mississippi State University and Davis Wade Stadium. Fun detail: cowbells have been part of game day here since at least the early 1940s, and SEC rules now allow them only at set moments, such as after scores. Source
The closer
Brian Kelly's 2009 team went unbeaten through the regular season in this campus stadium, one of the oldest in college football, before he left for the Fighting Irish.
Answer: Nippert Stadium · Cincinnati, OH. Nippert Stadium is Cincinnati's home, used for football in rudimentary form since 1901 and as a concrete stadium since 1915. Fun detail: the unbeaten 2009 Bearcats lost 51–24 to Florida in the Sugar Bowl after Kelly had already resigned. Source
Friday, September 11, 2026
Tailgate
Mississippi State fans are famous for ringing what at games?
Answer: Cowbells. Cowbells are Mississippi State's signature noisemaker, allowed at set moments under SEC rules.
The opener
This Florida school's mascot is an ibis, a bird said to be the last to leave before a big storm and the first to return, and fans call the school by a single letter.
Answer: University of Miami · Coral Gables, FL. The University of Miami's main campus is in Coral Gables, Florida, although the Hurricanes play home games at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Fun detail: the ibis mascot is named Sebastian. Source
The middle clue
Born in 1947 as the Tangerine Bowl, this bowl is played in a 1936-built stadium about an hour and a half up Interstate 4 from Tampa, where the Fighting Illini edged the Gamecocks 21–17 after the 2024 season.
Answer: Camping World Stadium · Orlando, FL. The Citrus Bowl is played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, where Illinois beat South Carolina 21–17 to finish the 2024 season. Fun detail: the stadium itself was called the Florida Citrus Bowl for decades before taking a sponsor's name. Source
The closer
Freshman Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench at halftime and won the January 2018 title game in overtime with a 41-yard touchdown pass on second-and-26, beating the Bulldogs 26–23 in this NFL stadium.
Answer: Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta, GA. Alabama beat Georgia 26–23 in overtime in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 8, 2018. Fun detail: fans call the winning throw to DeVonta Smith simply '2nd and 26'. Source
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Tailgate
The library mural nicknamed 'Touchdown Jesus' overlooks which stadium?
Answer: Notre Dame Stadium. The 'Word of Life' mural on Hesburgh Library can be seen from inside Notre Dame Stadium.
The opener
Students stand for the entire game as the '12th Man' in this Texas stadium, and the night before home games tens of thousands fill it for Midnight Yell.
Answer: Kyle Field · College Station, TX. Kyle Field is Texas A&M's home, holding about 102,700 fans after its 2015 renovation. Fun detail: the 12th Man tradition traces back to 1922, when student E. King Gill was called down from the stands to suit up in case the team needed him. Source
The middle clue
Two SWAC rivals, both HBCUs, have met under this dome near the Mississippi River nearly every Thanksgiving weekend since it opened in 1975, with a Battle of the Bands the night before.
Answer: Caesars Superdome · New Orleans, LA. Grambling State and Southern have played the Bayou Classic in New Orleans since 1974, at the Superdome nearly every year since it opened. Fun detail: the Friday night Battle of the Bands between the two marching bands draws a huge crowd of its own. Source
The closer
In October 2022, the home team beat the No. 3 Crimson Tide 52–49 in this stadium for its first win over Nick Saban, and fans tore down the goalposts.
Answer: Neyland Stadium · Knoxville, TN. Tennessee beat Alabama 52–49 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on October 15, 2022, ending Alabama's 15-game winning streak in the rivalry. Fun detail: fans carried the goalposts around campus, and donations of $152,000 paid for new ones. Source
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Tailgate
Colorado's live mascot, Ralphie, is what kind of animal?
Answer: Bison. Ralphie is an American bison who sprints around Folsom Field with a team of student handlers.
The opener
Before each half, a live bison and her team of handlers sprint a U-shaped lap of this Colorado stadium.
Answer: Folsom Field · Boulder, CO. Ralphie, a live American bison, leads Colorado onto the field at Folsom Field in Boulder. Fun detail: the first Ralphie arrived in 1966, and every Ralphie since has been female. Source
The middle clue
Jim Harbaugh's team that plays in this Big Ten stadium, under an hour from the Ohio line, went 15–0 and won the national title for the 2023 season, its first since 1997.
Answer: Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor is the home of Michigan, which beat Washington 34–13 in the January 2024 title game. Fun detail: the 2023 Wolverines beat Ohio State for a third straight year along the way. Source
The closer
Before his 16–0 national title run with the Hoosiers, Curt Cignetti went 52–9 from 2019 to 2023 at this campus stadium, guiding his team from the FCS up to the FBS.
Answer: Bridgeforth Stadium · Harrisonburg, VA. Bridgeforth Stadium is James Madison's home in Harrisonburg and seats 24,877. Fun detail: it opened as Madison Stadium in 1975 with room for only about 5,200 fans. Source
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Tailgate
Tennessee's howling mascot Smokey is which breed of hound?
Answer: Bluetick coonhound. Smokey is a bluetick coonhound who leads the Vols through the T before home games at Neyland Stadium.
The opener
This bowl left its original namesake stadium in the 1990s for this Florida NFL venue, and on New Year's Day 2026 it hosted a quarterfinal in which the Ducks shut out the Red Raiders 23–0.
Answer: Hard Rock Stadium · Miami Gardens, FL. The Orange Bowl was first played in 1935 and is now held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, where Oregon beat Texas Tech 23–0 in a January 1, 2026 quarterfinal. Fun detail: the game's original home began life as Burdine Stadium and later took the bowl's name, becoming the Miami Orange Bowl. Source
The middle clue
Nicknamed after a far bigger city with the same name, this Big 12 college town about two hours west of the Missouri line bleeds purple on fall Saturdays.
Answer: Manhattan, KS. Manhattan, Kansas, is home to Kansas State University, which opened in 1863 as one of the first land-grant colleges. Fun detail: the Wildcats play at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, named for the coach behind one of college football's great turnarounds. Source
The closer
Cadets on this campus play home games about 6,600 feet above sea level, and trained birds of prey fly before kickoff.
Answer: U.S. Air Force Academy · Colorado Springs, CO. The United States Air Force Academy sits against the Rampart Range just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Fun detail: its Cadet Chapel, with 17 aluminum spires, is one of the most recognizable modern buildings in America. Source
Monday, September 7, 2026
Tailgate
A Runza, a bread pocket stuffed with beef, cabbage and onions, is a game-day staple in which state?
Answer: Nebraska. Runzas are sold at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, and the Runza chain is a Nebraska institution.
The opener
The Bulldogs and the Gators have traditionally met at this neutral-site Florida NFL stadium, and Kirby Smart's team won here in both 2021 and 2022 on the way to back-to-back national titles.
Answer: EverBank Stadium · Jacksonville, FL. Florida and Georgia have traditionally met in Jacksonville, Florida, nearly every year since 1933, now at EverBank Stadium on the St. Johns River; Georgia won there 34–7 in 2021 and 42–20 in 2022. Fun detail: the game was long nicknamed 'The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party', and the stands are split orange and blue on one side, red and black on the other. Source
The middle clue
Expected to stage the ceremonies of the 2034 Winter Olympics, this stadium became a Big 12 home in 2024, and a conference rival's campus is about an hour's drive south.
Answer: Rice–Eccles Stadium · Salt Lake City, UT. Rice–Eccles Stadium is Utah's home in Salt Lake City, rebuilt from the 1927 Rice Stadium to stage the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Fun detail: its field sits 4,637 feet above sea level, and it is expected to host the ceremonies again at the 2034 Winter Olympics. Source
The closer
DeVonta Smith's Crimson Tide beat the Buckeyes 52–24 in the January 2021 title game at this NFL stadium, before a crowd limited by the pandemic.
Answer: Hard Rock Stadium · Miami Gardens, FL. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens hosted the 2021 CFP National Championship on January 11, 2021. Fun detail: Smith, that season's Heisman winner, caught three touchdown passes in the first half alone. Source
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Tailgate
Besides LSU's Tiger Stadium, which school's stadium is also nicknamed 'Death Valley'?
Answer: Clemson. Clemson's Memorial Stadium is also called Death Valley, home of Howard's Rock.
The opener
After every home score, a covered wagon pulled by two white ponies races across the field in this stadium, a nod to the settlers of an 1889 land run.
Answer: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium · Norman, OK. The Sooner Schooner first appeared at Oklahoma games in Norman in 1964 and became the official mascot in 1980. Fun detail: the wagon is a nod to the settlers of the 1889 Land Run, which gave the state's 'Sooner' nickname. Source
The middle clue
Vince Young ran in a fourth-down touchdown with 19 seconds left here in January 2006, ending the Trojans' 34-game win streak 41–38 for the BCS title, in a stadium about 12 miles from the Trojans' home field that is now home to a Big Ten team.
Answer: Rose Bowl · Pasadena, CA. The 2006 Rose Bowl doubled as the BCS National Championship Game, played at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena. Fun detail: it is regularly ranked among the greatest college football games ever played. Source
The closer
In a 2006 'Game of the Century', No. 1 beat No. 2 by 42–39 here, a day after the visitors' legendary former coach Bo Schembechler died.
Answer: Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH. The 2006 Ohio State–Michigan game was played at Ohio Stadium on November 18, 2006, the first time the rivals met ranked first and second. Fun detail: both teams came in 11–0. Source
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Tailgate
Which town is home to Texas A&M?
Answer: College Station. Texas A&M and Kyle Field are in College Station, next door to Bryan.
The opener
The oldest bowl game, first played in 1902, has been held in this California stadium since 1923; on New Year's Day 2025 it hosted a 12-team quarterfinal won by the Buckeyes 41–21 over the Ducks.
Answer: Rose Bowl · Pasadena, CA. The Rose Bowl Game has been played at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena since 1923, and in January 2025 it hosted Ohio State's quarterfinal win over Oregon. Fun detail: it shares the day with the Tournament of Roses Parade, whose floats must be covered in flowers or other natural material. Source
The middle clue
After home wins, fans in this Big 12 river town less than 10 miles south of the Pennsylvania line link arms and sing John Denver's 'Take Me Home, Country Roads'.
Answer: Morgantown, WV. Morgantown, West Virginia, is home to West Virginia University's Mountaineers. Fun detail: a Personal Rapid Transit system opened in the 1970s still carries students between campuses in small automated cars. Source
The closer
Mike Leach's Air Raid offense, led by graduate-transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew, went 10–2 in the 2018 regular season at this stadium.
Answer: Martin Stadium · Pullman, WA. Martin Stadium is Washington State's home in Pullman and opened in 1972. Fun detail: Leach coached the Cougars from 2012 to 2019 and finished with the third-most wins of any coach in school history. Source
Friday, September 4, 2026
Tailgate
LSU's live tiger mascot is always given which name?
Answer: Mike. LSU's live tigers are all named Mike, after athletic trainer Mike Chambers.
The opener
Open at one end and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Ohio stadium has hosted the scarlet and gray since 1922 and holds more than 100,000.
Answer: Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH. Ohio Stadium is Ohio State's home in Columbus and holds over 100,000 fans. Fun detail: its domed rotunda entrance was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, and the stadium is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Source
The middle clue
A habitat at the heart of this Big 12 campus just off Interstate 35 has housed live mascots for decades, and the school was chartered in 1845 by an independent republic.
Answer: Baylor University · Waco, TX. Baylor University is in Waco, Texas, on the Brazos River, and was chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas. Fun detail: the Bear Habitat on campus has housed live bear mascots for decades. Source
The closer
The service academies' rivalry game, held in one city for 90 of its first 124 meetings, was played as a neutral-site game at this NFL stadium in December 2023.
Answer: Gillette Stadium · Foxborough, MA. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, home of the NFL's New England Patriots, hosted the 2023 Army–Navy Game as a neutral site. Fun detail: Navy is scheduled to play its rivalry game with Notre Dame there in 2026. Source
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Tailgate
After big wins, Auburn fans cover the oak trees at Toomer's Corner in what?
Answer: Toilet paper. Rolling Toomer's Corner with toilet paper is Auburn's signature victory celebration.
The opener
Before home games, players rub a rock brought from a desert valley out west and run down a hill into this ACC stadium, 'the most exciting 25 seconds in college football'.
Answer: Memorial Stadium · Clemson, SC. Howard's Rock sits at the top of the hill at Clemson's Memorial Stadium, and players have rubbed it before running down the hill since 1967, apart from a short break in the early 1970s. Fun detail: the rock was a gift to coach Frank Howard from a friend who picked it up in Death Valley, California. Source
The middle clue
On New Year's Eve 2022, the Bulldogs edged the Buckeyes 42–41 in a playoff semifinal at this NFL stadium, which also hosts the SEC title game every December.
Answer: Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta, GA. Georgia beat Ohio State 42–41 in the Peach Bowl semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on December 31, 2022, on Stetson Bennett's touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell with 54 seconds left. Fun detail: the Buckeyes' 50-yard field-goal try missed almost exactly at midnight, so some Georgia fans call the game the 'Midnight Miracle'. Source
The closer
The Crimson Tide routed the Fighting Irish 42–14 for the January 2013 BCS title in this NFL stadium, then named Sun Life Stadium.
Answer: Hard Rock Stadium · Miami Gardens, FL. Hard Rock Stadium has carried many names, including Joe Robbie, Pro Player, Dolphin and Sun Life Stadium. Fun detail: the 2013 game gave Alabama back-to-back BCS titles, its third in four seasons. Source
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Tailgate
Playing 'between the hedges' means a road trip to which school's stadium?
Answer: Georgia. Privet hedges have ringed the field at Georgia's Sanford Stadium since 1929.
The opener
This Pennsylvania borough is named after the land-grant school it grew up around, which has since changed its name, and more than 100,000 fans descend on it for home games.
Answer: State College, PA. State College, Pennsylvania, is the borough beside Penn State's University Park campus. Fun detail: the town takes its name from the school's earlier name, Pennsylvania State College. Source
The middle clue
First played in 1946, this bowl is held at this riverside NFL stadium about half an hour south of the Georgia line on Interstate 95, where the Rebels routed the Blue Devils 52–20 in January 2025.
Answer: EverBank Stadium · Jacksonville, FL. The Gator Bowl is played in Jacksonville at EverBank Stadium, built on the site of the old Gator Bowl Stadium; Ole Miss beat Duke 52–20 there on January 2, 2025. Fun detail: Woody Hayes's Ohio State career ended after he punched a Clemson player on the sideline at the 1978 Gator Bowl. Source
The closer
In November 2007, the No. 1 home team lost to the Razorbacks in triple overtime in this stadium, yet weeks later it became the first two-loss national champion of the BCS era.
Answer: Tiger Stadium · Baton Rouge, LA. LSU lost to Arkansas in triple overtime at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge in November 2007, its second triple-overtime loss of the season. Fun detail: the Tigers still won the BCS title, the first two-loss national champion since 1960 Minnesota. Source
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Tailgate
Which sausage, often simmered in beer, is the classic Wisconsin tailgate food?
Answer: Bratwurst. Beer-simmered bratwurst is a fixture of Wisconsin tailgates around Camp Randall Stadium.
The opener
A golden eagle circles this Alabama stadium before kickoff, and after wins fans roll the oak trees at a nearby street corner with toilet paper.
Answer: Jordan–Hare Stadium · Auburn, AL. Jordan–Hare Stadium is Auburn's home, holding about 88,000 fans. Fun detail: when coach Ralph 'Shug' Jordan's name was added in 1973, it became the first stadium in the country named for an active head coach. Source
The middle clue
Fans on this Big 12 campus, about an hour from the New Mexico line, flash a 'Guns Up' hand sign, and a masked rider in black leads the team onto the field on horseback.
Answer: Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX. Texas Tech University is in Lubbock, on the South Plains of West Texas. Fun detail: the Masked Rider first led the team onto the field at the 1954 Gator Bowl. Source
The closer
Jim Harbaugh took over a 1–11 team in 2007 and by 2010 had it winning 12 games and its first BCS bowl, with Andrew Luck at quarterback in this stadium.
Answer: Stanford Stadium · Stanford, CA. Stanford Stadium is Stanford's home on the university campus, where Harbaugh coached from 2007 to 2010. Fun detail: Andrew Luck threw four touchdown passes as the Cardinal beat Virginia Tech 40–12 in the Orange Bowl to cap the 12-win 2010 season. Source
Monday, August 31, 2026
Tailgate
Texas A&M students stand for the whole game as what?
Answer: The 12th Man. The 12th Man tradition dates to 1922, when student E. King Gill was called from the stands to suit up.
The opener
The first national title game of the 12-team playoff, in January 2025, was played under this Georgia NFL stadium's camera-shutter roof, and the Buckeyes beat the Fighting Irish 34–23.
Answer: Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta, GA. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta hosted the 2025 CFP National Championship on January 20, 2025. Fun detail: it also hosted the January 2018 title game, when freshman Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench to win it for Alabama in overtime. Source
The middle clue
Behind a Heisman-winning quarterback who threw 60 touchdown passes, the SEC team that plays in this stadium near the Mississippi River went 15–0 and won the 2019 national title.
Answer: Tiger Stadium · Baton Rouge, LA. Tiger Stadium is LSU's home in Baton Rouge; the Tigers have won national titles after the 1958, 2003, 2007 and 2019 seasons. Fun detail: Burrow threw 60 touchdown passes in 2019, a major-college record at the time. Source
The closer
In November 2016, the No. 2 home team beat the No. 3 Wolverines 30–27 in double overtime in this stadium, then went on to the playoff.
Answer: Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH. Second-ranked Ohio State beat third-ranked Michigan 30–27 in double overtime at Ohio Stadium in Columbus in November 2016. Fun detail: the win sent the Buckeyes into the College Football Playoff for the second time in three seasons. Source
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Tailgate
Georgia's line of live English bulldog mascots all share which name?
Answer: Uga. Every Georgia bulldog has been named Uga. Handsome Dan is Yale's bulldog.
The opener
The marching band here spells its state's name in cursive across the field, and a senior sousaphone player struts out to dot the 'i'.
Answer: Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH. Script Ohio is performed at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, and the Ohio State band first marched it in 1936. Fun detail: a trumpet player dotted the very first 'i'; today the honor goes to a senior sousaphone player. Source
The middle clue
This bowl left its namesake stadium in 2010 for this NFL venue about four hours north of Houston, and on New Year's Eve 2025 it hosted a quarterfinal in which the Hurricanes beat the defending champion Buckeyes 24–14.
Answer: AT&T Stadium · Arlington, TX. The Cotton Bowl Classic was played at the Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas's Fair Park from 1937 until moving to AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the January 2010 game; Miami beat Ohio State there on December 31, 2025. Fun detail: the old stadium still hosts the Texas–Oklahoma game every October. Source
The closer
A hook-and-lateral, a halfback pass and a Statue of Liberty two-point play finished the Broncos' January 2007 bowl upset of the Sooners in this stadium.
Answer: State Farm Stadium · Glendale, AZ. Boise State beat Oklahoma 43–42 in overtime in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2007, at what is now State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Fun detail: the stadium's natural-grass field rolls outside on a giant tray to soak up the sun between events. Source
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Tailgate
Ohio State's mascot Brutus is a giant version of what?
Answer: A buckeye nut. Brutus Buckeye is a walking buckeye nut, the seed of Ohio's state tree.
The opener
This Georgia college town launched bands like R.E.M. and the B-52's, and its team in red and black won back-to-back national titles in the 2020s.
Answer: Athens, GA. Athens, Georgia, is home to the University of Georgia, chartered in 1785 as the first state-chartered public university in the US. Fun detail: a double-barreled cannon built during the Civil War sits on the lawn of City Hall. Source
The middle clue
Fans tailgate in a row of converted railroad cabooses beside this SEC stadium, about 70 miles up Interstate 20 from the Georgia line, and the home team takes the field to the '2001: A Space Odyssey' theme.
Answer: Williams–Brice Stadium · Columbia, SC. Williams–Brice Stadium is the University of South Carolina's home in Columbia, holding about 77,500 fans. Fun detail: the 'Cockaboose Railroad' cabooses next to the stadium have no engine and never move; they are luxury tailgating suites. Source
The closer
Future officers march to class on this waterfront campus, where the football mascot has been a goat since the 1890s.
Answer: U.S. Naval Academy · Annapolis, MD. The United States Naval Academy is in Annapolis, Maryland, on the Severn River near Chesapeake Bay. Fun detail: a goat has been Navy's mascot since the 1890s, and the line of goats are all named Bill. Source