The close of the college football regular season has a name. It’s called Rivalry Weekend. Slapped into the middle of the Thanksgiving holiday, it has traditions of its own — like sticking your figurative finger in your opponent’s figurative eye for the next literal 12 months. On top of that? There is the College Football Playoff. And if you’re team can’t make it in, what could be better than knocking your arch-rival out? It’s one of the best times of the year for an RV road trip. But what are the most road-trip worthy football games to tailgate at?
Glad you asked. Let this conference-by-conference guide help you choose which football games to tailgate at, and which ones to watch from the comfort of your cabin.
Big Ten
Way up North where the air is cold (and the RVs are already winterized), football looks a little different. And by different, we mean awesome. Blocking. Tackling. Running the football. All of these are simple passions to be executed with violence in awful conditions. (Small wonder USC has experienced a little culture shock in the new conference.) Fans get unforgettable experiences. Winners get the most American trophies ever. And for the four Big Ten teams in the College Football Playoff Rankings Top 10, they’re playing for much more than bragging rights.
Minnesota at Wisconsin
The Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe
Why Go: Visiting Camp Randall is more than an opportunity to test your all-weather camping skills. Against the Golden Gophers the last week of the season, it’s a chance to experience Big Ten football in its most pure form. It’s cold. It’s physical for players and fans alike. That level of fan participation weathering the elements makes it one of the most compelling football games to tailgate. (Also, it’s exhilarating to see football players run to claim a giant ax — then run with it.)
Series Record: Wisconsin leads 63–62–4
Game Time: Friday, November 29, 2024 @ 12:00 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: Parking for buses and RVs is prohibited in all lots except for Lot 64, which is found at 606 Walnut Street. Cost is $50.
Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State
The Game
Why Go: This is the moment that Buckeye fans have been waiting for — a Harbaugh-free Michigan team. Better yet, it’s at Ohio Stadium where a win could set up a No. 1 versus No. 2 rematch against Oregon. The bad news? On the other sideline is the same coach that beat them last year: Sherrone Moore, who coached the Wolverines to a win during Harbaugh’s suspension. (Bonus points if anyone can spot Connor Stalions at the game.)
Series Record: Michigan leads 61–51–6
Game Time: Saturday, November 30, 2024 @ 12:00 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: An RV permit is required to park in an RV lot. RVs and their tailgates must fit within their assigned space. Permits are purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office.
No. 5 Notre Dame at USC
The Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh
Why Go: Explaining why you should go to the Notre Dame-USC game is like explaining why you should go see the Grand Canyon. Trust us. It’s big. One of the all-time biggest football games to tailgate at. The two schools have combined to win 24 national championships and 15 Heisman trophies. And while No. 5 Notre Dame’s playoff ambitions are still alive (and USC’s are not), consider this: USC coach Lincoln Riley has been to the playoffs three times, and this game is at home.
Series Record: Notre Dame leads 49–37–5
Game Time: Saturday, November 30, 2024 @ 3:30 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: Unless you’re in a Class B, you’ll likely need to inquire with Athletics regarding parking options available near the Coliseum. You can email Jennifer Noriega (jnoriega@usc.edu) to join the waitlist for RV parking.
Washington at No. 1 Oregon
The Border War
Why Go: Last year may seem like a lifetime ago to Washington, but I doubt it does to Oregon. In 2024, the Huskies squeaked by two wins to squeeze out Dan Lanning’s Ducks from the playoffs. Now both teams are in the Big Ten. The top-ranked, undefeated Ducks have everything in front of them and a score to settle against the only team that beat them last year. But Washington is a dangerous team with nothing to lose.
Series Record: Washington leads 63–48–5
Game Time: Saturday, November 30, 2024 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: You can your RV parking reservation by contacting the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 282.
SEC
With the temperature dropping this time of year, so do RVs. They come sliding southwards down the highways to hide from the cruel cold of the Big Ten’s long winter. If you’re one of those snowbirds, or just a Southern local looking to witness football lore in the making, the SEC has plenty of drama for you. There are bragging rights to be won. And with eight teams in the College Football Playoff Rankings Top 25, there are playoff dreams to be realized — or treated like a rag doll by your most hated rival.
Mississippi State at No. 14 Ole Miss
The Egg Bowl
Why Go: I have a confession to make. I am not an Ole Miss or Mississippi State fan, but growing up in the South, I’ve always loved this game. It’s among the weirdest, nastiest, and best in the sport. (Even — maybe especially — when both teams are terrible.) Ole Miss is a fringe playoff team this year, but that doesn’t guarantee anything in the Egg Bowl.
Series Record: Ole Miss leads 65–46–6
Game Time: Friday, November 29, 2024 @ 3:30 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: Additional RV parking on the Ole Miss campus is located parking at the east parking lot of the new South Campus Recreation Center located at 927 Whirlpool Drive, approximately 1.4 miles from the stadium.
Georgia Tech at No. 7 Georgia
Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate
Why Go: Normally held on a Saturday at noon, this year they’re mixing it up by playing on a Friday night. Which is cool. All year, every year, Georgia Tech keeps hearing about how great Georgia is. (And strength of record says they are.) Well, Brent Key’s Jackets will have an opportunity to play playoff spoiler to Kirby Smart’s Dawgs. It’s either that or going back to their old Jan Brady routine: “Georgia, Georgia, Georgia.”
Series Record: Georgia leads 71–41–5
Game Time: Friday, November 29, 2024 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: Just three miles away, at Bulldog Park, each space is individually owned and available for the owner’s use throughout the year. Amenities include oversized pads with guest parking, full hookups, and shuttle service to and from Sanford Stadium.
Auburn at No. 13 Alabama
The Iron Bowl
Why Go: Nick Saban believes Jordan-Hare Stadium is haunted. For good reason. Remember the Camback in 2010. Or the Kick Six in 2013. How about Gravedigger on 4th and 31 last year? What makes Auburn-Alabama one of the most fun football games to tailgate are how alive those memories are. And because this is the Iron Bowl, we don’t know what’s going to happen, but we’re pretty sure that you’ll remember it — especially if you’re there in person.
Series Record: Alabama leads 50–37–1
Game Time: Saturday, November 30, 2024 @ 3:30 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: Single game RV passes are required but available for purchase online.
No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M
The Lone Star Showdown
Why Go: This is the first time these two rivals have played since the 27-25 Longhorn win 2011. Just prior to that season, Texas had flirted with independence. Then batted its eyes at the Big Ten. But then exploded with irony-saturated rage when Texas A&M walked out on the Big 12 for the SEC. Saturday will be the first Lone Star Showdown since that moment and the first meeting in the SEC. Even before kickoff, it’s a historic night. (Oh, and the winner likely goes to SEC championship. How’s that for stakes?)
Series Record: Texas leads 76–37–5
Game Time: Saturday, November 30, 2024 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: One tow vehicle (passenger vehicle) parking permit is provided with each RV parking permit at Texas A&M.
ACC
The ACC gets a lot of grief these days, but the reality is that the conference has won more titles (three: 2013, 2016, 2018) in the last 20 years than the Big Ten (two: 2014, 2023). Maybe they can blame the Playoff Committee for leaving undefeated Florida State out last year. Or Georgia for further humiliating the Noles, 63–3. (Or nearly every other team on Florida State’s 2024 schedule.) But even if the once-mighty Florida State-Florida game is at a low ebb (it is), there are two in-state conference rivalries still worth an RV road trip.
No. 15 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson
The Palmetto Bowl
Why Go: Gone are the glory days when Steve Spurrier and Dabo Swinney used to trade zingers like two boxers before a match. But the recent years ain’t been bad either. In 2022, Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks played playoff spoiler for Clemson. And the next year? He’s getting heckled by a 5-year-old. With Clemson ranked No. 12, there’s plenty on the line in Death Valley. It also means this is not only one of the best football games to tailgate. It’s an equally great game to trash talk.
Series Record: Clemson leads 73–43–4
Game Time: Saturday, November 30, 2024 @ 12:00 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: Clemson has 70 full-service RV sites on both sides of the main arena. They cost $40 per night with a two-night minimum. Sites include 30- and 50-amp power, water, and sewer hookups.
Virginia at Virginia Tech
The Commonwealth Clash
Why Go: For any fan of college football, a night game in Blacksburg is a bucket-list experience. “Enter Sandman” has been described by ESPN’s Chris Flower as the rockingest entrance in college football. On top of that, there are turkey legs, fall weather, and Thanksgiving vibes when the Virginia Cavaliers, their greatest rival, comes to Lane Stadium. (And once the game is done, you’re already in hiking country.)
Series Record: Virginia Tech leads, 61–38–5
Game Time: Saturday, November 30, 2024 @ 8:00 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: Lots on campus open at noon on Fridays before game days. Also, one of the things that makes Virginia Tech a great football game to tailgate at is the turkey legs. Cook them, and you will make friends.
Big 12
Look we’re not gonna sugarcoat this: The Big 12 schedulers should be spanked. Somehow, its most storied and significant rivalries have either left conference (see the Lone Star Showdown) or already been played. BYU-Utah? That was earlier this month. Kansas-Kansas State? That was October. Baylor-TCU? Weeks ago. Instead, we’re treated to an entrée of games that are a testament to the weirdness of college football’s scrambled geography — games like West Virginia-Texas Tech, Utah-Central Florida, and TCU-Cincinnati. Oh, brother. Fortunately, there are at least two games that have some venom to them. And snowbirds, one parks you in the desert sun.
No. 16 Arizona State at Arizona
The Duel in the Desert
Why Go: Look, we get the irony — that two former Pac 12 teams are now highlights of the Big 12’s Rivalry Weekend. (Welcome to modern college football.) But in this case, it’s a rare example of the Big 12 getting it right. At 125 years, the Territorial Cup is oldest rival trophy in college football. And if Arizona State wins it, they’ll have a shot at something bigger: the Big 12 championship game and a playoff berth. Which might make it one of the biggest football games to tailgate in the Big 12’s entire season.
Series Record: Arizona leads, 51–44–1
Game Time: Saturday, November 30, 2024 @ 3:30 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: RV parking can be found in Lot 10. Here’s a look at the parking map.
No. 24 Kansas State at No. 18 Iowa State
Farmageddon
Why Go: Even before Texas and Oklahoma rode off east into the sunrise of the SEC, the Big 12 was usurping their two-team dominance. Both Kansas State and Iowa State are now two of the meanest competitors for the yearlong rock fight that makes up the Big 12 standings. But don’t be fooled. It’s not new. These two rivals have been going at it continuously since 1917.
Series Record: Iowa State leads, 53–50–4
Game Time: Saturday, November 30, 2024 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
RV Tailgater Tip: Lots open for entry on Friday before home games from 8:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. They will reopen on Saturday whenever donor car parking lots open. All RVs must depart Sunday morning.
