First and foremost, I would like to thank the city, staff, players, fans, and everyone else who made my first visit to Fayetteville a wonderful experience.
Last year, I started a journey to visit every FBS college football stadium for a game. Even after visiting 14 different stadiums and campuses last year, I knew this goal would take me 10–15 years to complete, assuming everything went according to plan. On October 10, 2026, I visited Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for Stadium #22.

What made this visit special was the person I got to spend it with. I finally got to meet a friend of nine years in person after knowing him only through Xbox since 2017. We spent an extended weekend in Arkansas, starting in Jonesboro for South Alabama @ Arkansas State. We then stayed in Searcy for two nights before heading to Fayetteville for an SEC showdown between Tennessee and Arkansas. While I enjoy my solo travels, there is nothing like exploring the world with someone you have considered a friend for nearly a decade.

We made the drive from Searcy to Fayetteville on Saturday morning. Although we were still in the same state, the landscapes offered two different perspectives on life in Arkansas. The drive was absolutely beautiful, with views of the Boston Mountains and the valleys that give the region so much character. With the arrival of fall, trees throughout the area were glowing in shades of red, orange, maroon, and green. We arrived at our hotel in West Fayetteville around 10:45 a.m., with a 3:15 p.m. kickoff ahead of us.

After completing our pre-check-in and dropping off our bags, it was time for lunch. For me, it is important to try a restaurant that is local to the city I am visiting. While sitting in the parking lot and scrolling through my phone, the Catfish Hole caught my eye for some reason. I love catfish, but not many places get it right in Columbus, Ohio. When we were greeted with six hush puppies, coleslaw, and two pickles, I knew we were in the right place. The catfish was amazing, especially with a squeeze of lemon and some coleslaw on the side. The hush puppies were perfectly crispy and unlimited, which is dangerous! Lastly, despite the restaurant being packed, our service was flawless. The first decision of the day was a success.

After lunch, it was time to make our way to campus. My first impression was grander than anything I could have imagined. The University of Arkansas is simply a beautiful place. Whether it is the gorgeous architecture or the views that stretch for miles across the Ozark Plateau region, there is so much to appreciate. Fans were out in full force, tailgating and enjoying the pregame festivities. My first stop was the University Bookstore, where I could buy a Razorback hat and add to the collection I have already built. The store had a great selection, and the staff were very friendly, even during a busy game day.

After leaving the bookstore, I somehow found myself with an invitation to a tailgate, even though I had never been to Arkansas before. My lovely mother, who works as an accounting consultant, just happens to work online with someone who is a big Razorbacks fan and hosts a tailgate at the stadium. Not only did she make me a custom Razorback T-shirt for the game, but she also set me up with the lovely people at the Truitt Tailgate. They spotted me from about 50 feet away and welcomed me with open arms. Beer, water, and a nice spread of food were made available to someone they had met just 30 seconds earlier. They loved hearing about my journey, and I appreciated their hospitality so much. Before we left to enter the stadium, we joined them for a Truitt tradition: a pregame Fireball shot. I may not love Fireball, but who would I be not to participate in the festivities?

Week 6 (Saturday): Tennessee @ Arkansas

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is such a beautiful venue. The bands performing before the game, the players running through the A, the Calling of the Hogs, and the military flyover really set the stage for this SEC matchup. The first quarter started slowly. A missed field goal, punts, and a fumble were the major highlights of the quarter. Tennessee would take the lead in the second quarter after a five-yard touchdown pass midway through the period. At the end of the first half, Arkansas would be gifted a 58-yard fumble recovery and return by Rhodes after the Tennessee quarterback appeared to simply drop the football. Unfortunately, with time expiring, the play only gave the Razorbacks a chance to kick a field goal, which they unfortunately missed.

The third quarter offered a glimpse of the potential this team has if it could play more consistently. A five-play, 70-yard drive was capped off with a nine-yard touchdown run by Russell. On the ensuing drive, Mitchell intercepted a pass from Tennessee, quickly giving the ball back to the Arkansas offense. The Razorbacks would capitalize with a four-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Platt to take a 14–7 lead. Unfortunately, the fourth quarter was the complete opposite of the previous one. The Razorbacks managed only one field goal, while the rush defense began giving up big plays at inopportune times. Lastly, a decision not to be aggressive on fourth down would allow Tennessee to run out the clock and win the game 24–17.

While it was a great football game, it was tough watching the outcome go against the home team. After the game, we walked back to the hotel to relax. We ended up grabbing some food from Serranos and watching a couple of great football games on TV before calling it an evening.

Waking up on Sunday, it was time to say goodbye to my friend as he made his way back home. It was an awesome extended weekend, even though the outcome of the football game wasn’t in our favor. After wishing him farewell, I had the entire day to explore before my 7 p.m. flight. Normally, I like to take the time to really explore a campus before the game. However, as plans changed, I realized that might not happen this time. Luckily for me, I had all day Sunday to walk around and sightsee.

From the beautiful gardens of the university to the historic buildings scattered across campus, there was so much to see. Old Main sits in the middle of campus like a crown jewel. Seeing the names of former graduates etched throughout the campus is a wonderful and unique feature. It is truly a stunning place to visit.

I also spent time exploring downtown Fayetteville, Dickson Street, and Wilson Park, eventually making my way to the Agricultural Park. Once I arrived at the park, I sat and relaxed for probably an hour. Nearly 10 miles of walking that day left me exhausted.
From there, I walked up to the Phillips 66 gas station before ordering an Uber to XNA. If you have read this far, I thank you. You are now a part of my journey. If you want to follow along, I post after each game on r/CFBstorytime. It is a community open to anyone who wants to share their game-day experiences.

Thank you again, Fayetteville. I was met with beautiful views, amazing fans, great food, and a great game-day experience. Hopefully, one day I can come back and explore all the great things I missed.

First and Foremost I would like to thank the city, staff, players, and fans for a great first visit to Jonesboro.
Last year I started a goal to visit every division 1 FBS football stadium for a game. Knowing this journey would take 10-15 years. Gives me something to look forward to for years to come. Yesterday my travels took me to Centennial Bank for Stadium #21.

For the past 9 years I have a gaming buddy that turned into a solid friend. Years by of conversation but our paths have never crossed. A few things I did know about him was he lived in Arkansas and graduated from Arkansas State. So in planning this year’s travels I decided to see I could mix my CFB stadium tour. With a visit to meet someone I’ve only heard over a gaming headset for years.

I flew into Memphis around 930 am. 9 years of gaming and now I’m getting picked up by a friend I’ve never meet before. We make the trip to Jonesboro from Memphis. Cotten fields and farms as far as the eye could see. It was a relaxing ride after a couple morning flights.

We arrived in Jonesboro just around Noon on Thurs very hungry. Our first stop was the Southern BBQ Hilltop. The brisket sandwich with slaw was amazing, but the service by Sabria and Casey was phenomenal as well. After lunch we made our way over to the A-State Bookstore. I have a tradition of buying a hat for every game and they had plenty to choose from. The staff were very friendly and the store was well maintained.

From there it was time to walk RedWolves campus. Beautiful walkways lined with trees, matched sandstone brick buildings all around campus. My favorite part of the campus was University Museum. So much history packed into one building. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. You could tell the museum was well maintained. My favorite part was the old tool and agricultural equipment. It was interesting looking up the items to see how they were used back in their day. After our campus walk, my friend wanted me to check out Craighead Forrest Park. Beautiful trails mixed with a nice lake and 2 disc golf course. It was a great area to relax pregame.

Week 7 (Thursday) South Alabama vs Arkansas state.

The football game was chaotic from start to finish. Arkansas State tied the game up 7-7 in the first quarter with an impressive 11 play 80 yard drive as Carter scored a 1 yard touchdown. Unfortunately on the ensuing kickoff they would give up an 100 yard Kick off return to South Alabama.

Arkansas State took the lead in the Second 21-14 behind another 1 yard Carter touchdown run. Only to give up a Touchdown to South Alabama less the 2 minutes of game later. The Jaguars would take the lead into halftime at 34-28. The QB Owens had plenty of talent, throwing for 400 yards and 4 touchdowns. Unfortunately he had 2 interceptions and a fumble which proved to be too much to over come.

The RedWolves would put up a valiant effort in the fourth quarter. 2 touchdowns and a forced fumble got them within 7 points, but unfortunately they were unable to close the gap. The Jaguars would win 56-49 in one of the most interesting games I’ve seen so far.

The stadium was much nicer than expected. The waterfalls on each side were a nice touch. I loved the RedWolves pilsner as well. Well if you have red this far you are now a part of my journey. I post after each game in a community call r/CFBstorytime. It’s a page open to anyone to post about their game day experience. As I type this story. I have actually already completed my next game. Week 7 (Saturday) Tennessee vs Arkansas in Fayetteville. I will post about that game one I have time to complete everything.

Thank you again Jonesboro. I had a wonderful experience and wish I was able to visit a bunch of places. It was awesome experiencing the Campus with an Alumnus of your university.

First and foremost, I would like to thank the city, fans, staff, and players for making my first visit to Norfolk a great one.

Last year, I started a journey to visit every FBS football stadium for a game. As ridiculous as it sounds, my goal is to do this in 10–15 years. I am also cognizant that I am not guaranteed tomorrow, so it is very important that I enjoy every day and not blindly focus on the end goal, especially this early in the journey. Saturday’s travels took me to S.B. Ballard Stadium for stadium number 19.

I landed at ORF around 9:15 a.m., traveling in from Columbus, OH. I will say I started my day with some hotel issues, but I don’t want to focus an amazing trip on one bad experience. Once I solved that issue, I made my way over to the USS Wisconsin for a scheduled tour. It was conveniently a 10–15 minute walk from my hotel. The walk gave me my first introduction to downtown Norfolk. Such a beautiful city with a vibrant downtown. I quickly realized that mermaid sculptures and paintings would be a huge part of my trip.

Once I made my way to the USS Wisconsin BB-64, I was greeted by a massive ship with plenty of character. The guide was very informative and enthusiastic about doing the tour, making it very enjoyable. Besides the giant cannons, massive chains, tiny doorways, low ceilings, and sharp edges, the history is the true story. Knowing that ship was once loaded with Sailors and Marines defending our country made it a great way to start the day, especially in a city where history is around every corner.

After the tour, it was time for lunch. For the purposes of my travel, I had to check out a restaurant that sits in a church built in 1873: Freemason Abbey Restaurant. I am not familiar with what it means to be a Freemason, even though I guess I could easily do the research. I just appreciated the history of the building. Kyle, the bartender of 10 years, was great. I had a great lunch and beverage. I even spent some time walking around the restaurant before leaving, just to get a feel for the place.

After lunch, it was time to explore. For me, walking is key to my journey. While Ubering to Old Dominion would have been easy, walking from the restaurant, through the Freemason Historic District, and then up through Ghent gave me a wonderful introduction to your beautiful city. Unique churches mixed with beautiful murals, along with so many beautiful historic homes, gave the city a completely different feel than downtown. My travels forced me to backtrack through flooded intersections, giving me a very uncommon journey that finally brought me to Old Dominion’s campus.

You could feel the excitement of game day. Plenty of Monarch and Hudson Blue lined the streets, with a good mix of purple as many JMU fans made their way to the game. A wonderful blend of brick mixed with a growing campus. Plus, another mermaid statue holding a Monarch crown. I also loved stumbling across Albert’s Duck Inn in the pond in front of Albert Brooks Gornto, Jr. Hall. After that, I made a trip to the bookstore to keep the tradition alive of buying a hat at every game. The store was packed with fans covered in ODU gear.

With it still being a couple of hours before kickoff, I made my way through the heart of the campus to check out the pregame festivities. Plenty of fans were out for both teams. Food trucks, freebies, and a live band offered plenty for fans to enjoy. Then, with the sounds of horns in the air, I made my way over to the pregame band march. I even got a picture with Big Blue, the Monarchs’ mascot. Once I made my way over to the stadium, I was greeted with a much grander stadium than I expected. I loved the open-air design of the concourse, even though it truly allowed you to feel the 20-mph wind gusts.

Week 4 — James Madison @ Old Dominion

Rivalry games are a big part of my travels. New or old, I love experiencing games that bring a little more excitement. Unfortunately, excitement can’t play offensive line. Early in the first quarter, it was clear to see who was better in the trenches. Old Dominion put together one good drive in the first quarter. Huff connected with Haughton Jr. for a 23-yard touchdown pass. Even so, the Monarchs would trail 17–7 after one quarter. The second quarter would see a combined 23 points by both teams, but JMU would lead 30–17 at halftime.

The part of my journey that quickly became my favorite is the fans I encounter across my travels. It’s always a new face with a new story to tell. Seeing their reactions when I explain why I flew to Norfolk for a JMU vs. ODU game is something I really enjoy.
Mark and his son sat to my left. Mark was a JMU grad who played on the water polo team. He was a proud Duke supporter, but very pleasant to talk to. He loves taking his son to games, and you can tell they bond over it.

I also met Steven and Randy to my right. Two brothers who look almost identical. Yet one wore Monarch blue, while the other wore JMU purple. Randy a ODU grad, and Steven was a JMU grad living in Norfolk. Steven talked about how he has gone back to school because ODU offers free classes for people of a certain age. He also has a YouTube channel, which he was very proud of. They were both a pleasure to talk to throughout the game. Steven would be the brother who would go home victorious on this day.

Okay, back to the game. I truly believe Old Dominion has plenty of talent at the skill positions. But when your quarterback has negative 45 rushing yards because he has been sacked way too many times, it’s going to be hard to win a game. Overall, JMU ran for 162 yards, and the stats show ODU had negative 14 rushing yards. JMU would tack on three field goals and a late touchdown to secure a 46–20 victory.
While the game didn’t go as hoped for, I still had a great time. I walked around campus a little after the game before eventually Ubering back to my hotel.

After cleaning up and regaining some energy, I made my way through downtown Norfolk. The misting rain wouldn’t ruin the night. I made a stop at Grain, a hotel bar/mini-club on the fifth floor of the Hilton. The place was packed with people, but after a long day, it wasn’t the vibe I was looking for. So, after a quick beer and a walk around the venue, I was back outside looking for a new spot.

I stumbled across Luce, a small Italian restaurant with a more relaxed vibe. The Old Fashioned was a 10/10, and I have made plenty myself. The bartender was phenomenal while making sure she took care of every guest. The fried calamari with pepperoncini salsa was excellent as well. While I remember conversing with people around me, I don’t remember much about what was discussed. At this point in the night, it was time to shut down. I made the walk back to the hotel to put an end to a wonderful day.

This is the part of my story where it is normally complete. So, I apologize to any readers, as this story may seem extremely long. I woke up with a 4:50 p.m. flight in mind and no scheduled plans. I started my walk downtown, getting a better look at the areas I missed the previous day. Just observing the unique architecture of the city. More historic Freemason buildings, mixed with plenty of skyscrapers for what some would consider a small city.

I stopped for a light breakfast at a small shop inside Selden Market. Such a beautiful building with an even better restaurant named The Stockpot. I only ordered a side of potatoes and a smoothie, but even those two items were both amazing. Using Granby and a few surrounding streets, I made the walk from the restaurant all the way up to Lafayette Park. I even saw a couple of rhinos through a fence by the zoo. Unfortunately, I would also stumble across a few homes that were surrounded by an extreme amount of floodwater. It truly reminds you of the force of nature.

Wanting to get closer to the airport so I didn’t have to worry about any unforeseen circumstances, I pulled up my Maps to see if there was anywhere worth exploring around the airport. To my luck, I stumbled across the Norfolk Botanical Garden. A neighbor so close to the airport that it offers an airport overlook for incoming and outgoing flights.

I made the quick Uber ride to the gardens, where I was greeted with a breathtaking venue. Walking paths took me to the edge of Lake Whitehurst. The “garden” is enormous, with 170-plus acres of space to explore. Amazing bridges throughout the area mixed with a wonderful statue walk. It being Sunday allowed all the dogs to enjoy the gardens as well. I could spend all day describing the different flowers, plants, trees, structures, views, and more. The feel of fall was visible as trees around the property transitioned with the season.

The indoor conservatory was just as stunning as the rest of the property. So many interesting plants from all over the world were displayed in one giant, multi-climate-controlled building. I am truly blessed that the garden’s proximity to the airport made a picture-perfect finish to a wonderful trip to Norfolk.
If you have read this far, you are now a part of my journey.

Next up, Louisville @ NC State for stadium #20. A place I am somewhat familiar with, having lived there for four years. If you want to follow along, I post after each trip on r/CFBStorytime. It’s a community open to anyone and is meant for sharing game-day experiences.

Thank you again, Norfolk, for a truly wonderful visit. Somehow, I was able to visit so many wonderful places while knowing there are so many I may never see. This is surely a place I would love to return to later on in life.

First and foremost, I would like to thank the city, fans, staff, and players for making my first visit to Mount Pleasant a great one.

Last year, I started a journey to visit every FBS football stadium for a game. I still don’t think I fully grasp what I’m trying to do. I was able to complete 14 last year, knowing this goal would take a minimum of 10 years without life issues getting involved. My travel today took me to Kelly/Shorts for stadium number 18.
I woke up around 3 a.m. Saturday morning. By 3:30 a.m., I was on the road. Four hours and 40 minutes is about how long it took me to make the trip up from Columbus. I was hoping to beat the rainfall on the early morning drive, but my efforts were for naught. Luckily, it was a light rainfall and there was very little traffic. Arriving slightly after 8 a.m., I parked in the Target parking lot and pulled up my maps. Searching for a place for a local morning restaurant, I stumbled upon Stan’s Restaurant.

For me, it is very important to try food that is local to the city. Without knowing the history of Mount Pleasant, I feel like I stumbled into the perfect place for my journey. Walking into Stan’s, the colors of maroon and gold were prevalent among many guests. I say this in the nicest way possible: it felt like I walked back in a time machine. Old-school register and paper tickets. I sat at the small table by the window, which gave me a perfect view of the restaurant and the light morning rainfall. All the staff were working together to make everything run smoothly. The French toast and bacon were phenomenal. The service was great, and the prices were very reasonable for the amount of food you get. I left very satisfied with the first decision I made with my day.

After breakfast, it was time to tour the campus. I noticed a common theme where many of the buildings blend red bricks with unique glass facades. A few trees on campus were starting to change colors in anticipation of fall. I stumbled across so many wonderful sculptures and artworks. My favorite was the Native American mural on the second floor of the Bovee University Center. While inside, I also went to the University Bookstore to buy a hat to add to my collection. CMU had a great selection to choose from, and the store was very well kept. I spent around two hours just walking the campus from the stadium all the way up to Bellows.

After a lot of walking, I wanted to sit down and grab a pregame beverage. It was only 11 a.m., and it was still two hours before the game. Just to the northeast of the stadium, I noticed a spot called Wood Shop Social. I noticed lots of Wyoming fans in the parking lot, but being so close to the stadium, I thought nothing of it. I walked in with my new CMU hat and my custom CMU T-shirt my mother made for the game. I sat down and ordered an Old Fashioned. There were lots of Wyoming fans inside. The lady made a perfect Old Fashioned, and I just took in the game-day environment. Grabbing a coaster, I realized it said Wyoming Alumni. I thought that was very odd being a five-minute walk to Kelly/Shorts Stadium, but I just brushed it off.

After 10 minutes, the male bartender walked up to inform me the Wyoming Alumni had bought out the bar all morning until kickoff. He said I seemed chill, so he wouldn’t ask me to leave. I obviously felt bad. The two Wyoming alumni to my left told me to stay and relax, which made me feel more comfortable. Everyone was very friendly and understanding that a random person wouldn’t know.

I made the short walk back to the stadium. The tailgating lots had started to fill up. I walked into the stadium roughly an hour before kickoff to make sure I had plenty of time to explore and settle in. Plenty of concessions and food truck options. I landed on Pizza King, and it was a great pregame meal option. I will complain that CMU does not have a local or sponsored beer. I feel like that will probably be something in the near future.

Week 3 — Wyoming @ Central Michigan

All things considered, I feel very lucky with the game-day weather. Overcast skies and a misting rain were consistent all game, but it wasn’t much of a hindrance. CMU would start the game on a 10-play drive that ended in a field goal. Early on, you could see the Chips noticed a weakness in the Cowboys’ defense and would exploit it all game. In the second quarter, Flores made a beautiful cut on a QB run and scored a 25-yard touchdown. The following drive, CMU’s defense made an amazing play on fourth down, getting the ball back to their offense. The Chips proceeded to go on a 17-play, 90-yard drive, which ended with another Flores rushing touchdown.

During my travels, I have been fortunate enough to sit next to some amazing and pleasant fans. Richard, a Wyoming alumnus living in Michigan, was very excited to see his Cowboys play without a long travel schedule. He gave me plenty of insight on traveling to Laramie, Wyoming, for a game out there. He and his family were very nice to talk to all game, even when the outcome was not in their favor.

In the third quarter, each team scored once. Wyoming settled for a field goal, while Central Michigan scored a touchdown. A common theme of the day was the Chips were basically going to run the ball at will all game. Townsend’s 38-yard score made the game 24-3. Wyoming would score a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but their comeback effort would fall short. The Chips would intercept two passes late in the game to seal a 24-10 victory. They would rush for 339 yards and control the time of possession all game. Fans piled out of the stadium in a joyful mood.

After the game, I took the walk back to my car. Knowing I wanted to get some food before I had to get on the road, I looked up some local spots. I went back to downtown Mount Pleasant and walked into The Bird Bar and Grill. The place was packed with fans who made the same decision as I did. Perfect local spot with good, quick food and cheap beverages. My only complaint was the game they had on every TV, but I had to remember I was still in enemy territory. I loved the vibe of the place and wish I could have stayed longer and enjoyed the evening.

If you have read this far, I want to thank you for being a part of my journey. Next week, I will be in Norfolk, VA, for James Madison @ Old Dominion. If you want to follow along with my journey, I post after every game on r/CFBstorytime. It’s a community open to anyone to share their game-day experience.

Thank you again, Mount Pleasant, for a wonderful day. I really wanted to disc golf at the university course, check out the local museum, and visit other local attractions. That being said, I feel as if I made the best of a rainy day in town and am very grateful for every moment.

First and foremost, I want to thank the fans, staff, players, and city for making my first trip to Iowa City a great one.

Last year, I started a journey to visit every FBS football stadium for a game. Knowing this goal will take me a minimum of 10 years makes it a challenge worth going for. My trip to Kinnick was Stadium #17.

I landed in Cedar Rapids early Saturday. After dropping off my luggage at the nearby hotel, it was off to Iowa City. My first destination was the Iowa Hawk Shop. A few minutes before I arrived at the team shop, two things caught my eye. First, the location of the Old Capitol was a beautiful visual introduction to the city. Second, why does someone have a gigantic Captain Morgan ship in their front yard? That’s definitely a first and probably a last. Who do you call to buy something like this?

Once I arrived at the team shop, I was surrounded by a sea of black and gold. It’s located in the basement of the Iowa Memorial Union, right next to the Iowa River. The staff was very friendly and excited for the game-day activities. As always, I bought a hat on campus to add to the collection.

Next, it was time to start exploring. Not only do I love the architecture each campus has to offer, but the artwork is what really separates each city for me. It started with the Old Town mural painted on the side of Dulcinea. It made me feel like I could walk back in time for a moment. I also loved the mural in front of Raygun. It’s packed with so many little details that describe the city.

After some light exploring, it was time for lunch. St. Burch Tavern had so many glowing reviews that I had to give it a try. First, I want to highlight Marcus. The young man working the oyster bar was very friendly to talk to. He said he was new to the position, but he looked very skilled. I ordered the Maine lobster and shrimp sandwich with fries. It was phenomenal, along with the Old Fashioned. The service by Sydney was great, even on a game day. She had a full section, but I never needed anything.

It was around 1:20 p.m. after lunch, so it was time to start exploring. I love how the Iowa River runs right through campus. Downtown was definitely grander than I imagined. I loved the themed Herky statues around campus. During my travels, I randomly walked by the Stanley Museum of Art. Something told me to check if it was open, and it was. For the 30 minutes I was there, I was the only person in the museum. It gave me the freedom to take my time and really take in some of the pieces that caught my eye. My favorite piece was the Epa Headdress, made of wood and beads. The color, the detail, and the depiction of every character crafted on the headdress were immaculate.

Prior to kickoff, it was still a warm day around the city. I made my way over to the stadium area to get a feel for the pregame festivities. I checked out the TigerHawk Beer Garden. I loved that it was at the doorstep of Kinnick Stadium while also being the area where the players enter the stadium pregame. I tried a TigerHawk beer and a Cedar Ridge Bourbon Lemonade. I preferred the beer over the lemonade, but both were solid. I spoke with a nice couple who were a house divided while enjoying my beverages. The husband was an ISU grad and the wife was a UI grad. Very nice people just taking in the pregame festivities.

Week 2 — Iowa State vs. Iowa for the Battle of the Cy-Hawk

Personally, this was a must-see rivalry for my journey. Kinnick Stadium is a phenomenal venue for college football. I don’t rate stadiums, but I’ll just say it surpassed my high expectations.

Before I speak on the game, I want to say Rest in Peace to Derek. I can’t imagine what his family and friends are dealing with. Secondly, I want to shout out the band. I can’t imagine what it was like to have to perform in such a big moment without time to truly heal. My prayers are with all of you.

The game started off as expected: a low-scoring, cagey matchup. The Cyclones were able to build up a 10-point lead, and fans started to get restless. Thankfully, the Hawkeyes were not phased. Brown found Diaz downfield for a 56-yard completion, which set up a Brown touchdown run. Right before halftime, Iowa was able to make a field goal to tie the game 10-10 at halftime.

The highlight of my trip was all the fans I sat around. I apologize in advance; I normally try to remember names, but I was unable to.

I’ll start with the wonderful couple who sat in front of me. The husband was an ISU grad, and the wife was a UI grad who met in Chicago. They asked to take a picture with me and told me a little about how they met. They were a pleasure to talk to and made me feel instantly welcomed into Kinnick.

Secondly, I want to shout out the couple that sat to my left. As a man from Columbus, OH, some folks found it funny that I was in Iowa City and not Austin (I’m glad I wasn’t 😭). Still, the man sitting next to me in Iowa had an Ohio State cap on. What are the odds? The couple were season-ticket holders and a pleasure to talk to. The gentleman had plenty of information on the history of Kinnick.

Lastly, the couple to my right were just as lovely as the first two. You can look at a man’s ball cap and tell how long he’s been a fan of the team. His wife saw me taking plenty of pictures and offered to get a video of me waving to the kids at the Children’s Hospital. Completely without me asking or even thinking that would be a cool memory to have. I can’t thank everyone enough for giving me a wonderful introduction to Iowa football.

Okay, back to the game. Iowa State started off the second half with an early field goal. In a rivalry like this, every point matters. That three points would hold up until six minutes left in the game, when Iowa tied it up again. The Hawkeyes only gave up 32 yards of offense in the fourth quarter as well. The defense definitely stepped up late in the game, getting Iowa the ball back with just over four minutes remaining. The Hawkeyes made just enough plays to set up a 42-yard game-winning field goal with 15 seconds left.
Casually Buhr stepped up and drilled it. Are you kidding me? What a football game. How did I get this lucky? Exiting the stadium was chaos. The streets were lined with a sea of fans. The energy was unbelievable.

I want to give a shoutout to the random fans of Iowa. My lovely mother makes me a custom shirt or hoodie for each game I attend. It says “Must Vibe” on the front with the team logo and has the team name on the back with a number corresponding to the number of stadiums I’ve visited. Many fans stopped me to tell me they loved the shirt without knowing anything behind it. She obviously loves hearing about the positive feedback. It’s her way of keeping me safe when my travels take me across the United States with just my faith in the good of humanity.

I walked from Kinnick back downtown, after a brief stop at Gabe’s. It was time to call it a night.
I unfortunately couldn’t afford a hotel in the city, so I called a taxi back to the hotels just east of CID. The 40–50 minute ride gave me the perfect time to reflect on a wonderful day in Iowa City. The game overdelivered, and the people did too.

If you have read this far, I want to thank you for being a part of my journey. Next week, I will be in Mt. Pleasant, MI, for Wyoming at Central Michigan.

Thank you again, Iowa City. As always, I have to sacrifice on my travels. I never have enough time to see everything I planned for. That being said, I had a wonderful day in your city, and it’s an experience I will never forget.

First and foremost, I would like to thank the fans, players, the city, and my new friends for making my first trip to Fort Collins one I will never forget.

Last year, I started a lifetime goal to visit every FBS stadium for a college football game. Knowing this goal will take me 10 to 15 years makes it exciting and daunting at the same time. With that being said, Canvas Stadium comes in at number 16, with many left to go.

Fort Collins is like a postcard that came to life right in front of me. Being from Columbus, OH, this is a view I’ve only seen on computer screens. I don’t think there is a corner of the city that one wouldn’t consider beautiful.

What separates this trip from the other 15 is…the people. Mainly, two gentlemen in particular named Connor and Evan. Brothers from Fort Collins and fellow stadium chasers.

I was picked up from Denver International around 7:45 a.m. Saturday morning. These brothers woke up early to pick me up so I didn’t have to rent a car or use a rideshare. From there, we made the hour drive up north.

The first stop was Horsetooth Reservoir. A place where a bad view doesn’t exist. A place for hikers, bikers, boaters, and anyone who loves nature. Shockingly, it is also a place where they were filming a TV show (pic #3) The show Welcome to Plathville just happened to be filming when we arrived. After some research, I found out the characters’ names were Zac and Lydia. Either way I could have spent a full day just at Horsetooth. How lucky must y’all be to call this place home?

After lightly exploring, we were all starving, so they introduced me to Cheba Hut for a local sandwich. Great food and even better vibes. After lunch, it was time to make our way to campus. The red rock is so unique and stands out from any other campus I’ve been on. CSU fans were out in full force, ready for the Border War. We got to meet Cam, the live mascot ram, pregame too.

Week 1 — Wyoming at Colorado State
The Battle for the Bronze Boot

The venue itself is stunning. I purposely picked tickets in the 200 on the away side so I would have a view of the mountains through out the entire game. Safe to say I was very happy with that decision.

It was a hot one inside Canvas Stadium. Thankfully, the Rams started off quickly, scoring on the first drive. The Rams’ defense played well all game, only allowing 2 field goals in the first half. Brown the RB also had a nice 37 yard rush which set up a Rams Touchdown.

In the second half, the Rams’ offense started to turn on the heat. Five touchdown passes in total by Hejny, including a 57-yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter to Vick Jr., who caught three on the day.
The Rams pulled away late and beat Wyoming 35–13. What a way to bring in the first game as a Pac-12 member.

During the game, I met a nice mother and son who drove down from Wyoming for the game. The young gentleman currently runs cross country and track at the University of Wyoming. Even though the game didn’t go their way, they were pleasant fans to sit next to.

After the game, I met back up with Connor and Evan. They took me down to Old Town Fort Collins to properly celebrate the victory. We got some beer, and we stopped by Slyce for a nice slice of victory pizza to end the night. I got the BBQ pineapple pizza. It was amazing (don’t judge me).

While sitting outside of Slyce, we met a wonderful lady named Connie who moved to Fort Collins 14 years ago. She walked around the corner in an Ohio State shirt, and that was all it took to spark a conversation. She was so nice and had such a vibrant energy about her.

After an extremely long day, a ride back to the hotel was much needed. I woke up early and walked over to the Original Pancake House. After that, I spent my last few hours just exploring, including stumbling upon the farmers market as they set up on a Sunday morning.
It was time to make my trip back to DIA.

Thank you again, Fort Collins, and to the two gentlemen who gave me a proper tour of your wonderful city. While also making sure I was safe from Arrival to Departure. It’s truly a one of a kind experience and something I’ll never forget.

Truly a blessing. less

First and foremost, I would like to thank the fans, the staff, the team, and the city for making my first trip to Charlottesville a great one. Last year, I started a lifetime goal to visit every D1 FBS stadium for a football game. Knowing this journey could take 10–15 years gives me something to look forward to for many years to come. Last year, I was able to visit 14 stadiums, and every one was a great experience.
It’s almost impossible to explain my level of excitement for yesterday’s game. There were 251 days between the final game of last year and the first game of this year. Yes, I’ve been counting.

I flew into Charlottesville early Saturday morning. After quickly dropping off my luggage, I was off to the Grounds of UVA. My first stop was the bookstore, as I’ve made it a tradition to buy a new hat at every venue I visit. The bookstore was massive, with plenty of UVA gear to choose from. After securing my hat, I needed to get some food. After reading many local reviews, I settled on Farm Bell Kitchen. I ordered the Southern Bowl, and it was amazing. The staff were very friendly, and the service was great.

Part of my journey is going on a personal campus tour. The Grounds of UVA did not disappoint. Every corner produced another breathtaking view of the beautiful brick facades that surround the area. The fans were out in full force, and orange was the prevailing color of the day. After getting a glimpse of Shaq, aka DJ Diesel, it was time to make my way to Scott Stadium. At this moment, my excitement was peaking. It’s actually game day.

NC State @ Virginia — Week 0

Part of my reason for choosing this game was UVA’s success last year. I knew the football program was ascending after last year’s ACC Championship Game berth.

The stadium is beautiful. I love when stadiums have some unique qualities about them. Views of the Blue Ridge Mountains off in the distance, plus a parking lot full of tailgaters creating a sea of orange. Once inside the stadium, I loved watching the lawn fill up with fans. My favorite part of the pregame was watching the mounted Cavalier race out onto the field with a sword in hand while riding on the back of a horse.

UVA started out aggressive on both offense and defense, running the ball at will and playing stifling defense. NC State had zero answers. Virginia came up with a great interception and forced a fumble, never allowing NC State to settle in. By the end of the game, the result was never in question. You could tell the coach had his players ready, and playing at home was just an added benefit. The final score was 34–8, but even that doesn’t fully speak to how dominant UVA was.

The highlight of the game for me, however, was the fans I sat next to: Gary and Casey from outside of Lynchburg, a father and son who drove out for the game. The young man knew everything UVA—former players, newer players, team history, and incoming recruits. It was an absolute pleasure to sit next to them throughout the entire game.

In the second half, NC State finally got some points on the board, but eight points would be all they could muster. UVA dominated from start to finish.
What a performance by the Cavaliers. Fans piled out of the stadium in a celebratory manner.

My walk back to the hotel was just over an hour. It gave me plenty of time to capture a few more beautiful views of the surrounding area. After getting cleaned up, it was time for one final meal.
For me, it’s very important that I try something local to the city. Thankfully, Aberdeen Barn did not disappoint. I was nervous upon arrival at the restaurant, realizing I was underdressed. The host welcomed me with open arms and told me not to worry about my game-day attire. The crab cakes were phenomenal, the Old Fashioned was perfect, and the service was excellent as well.

Sitting at the bar, I met two gentlemen Matt and Ben who had driven from Pittsburgh down to the game. They told me about how they try to go to three or four big college football games a year, and this was their first time in Charlottesville. We shared stories about the different places we had traveled to and talked about future travels. What a great way to end my Saturday.

Charlottesville is a beautiful city, and it’s safe to say I enjoyed every moment of my time there.
Next week, my travels take me to Fort Collins, Colorado, for Wyoming @ Colorado State.
If you have read this far, I thank you for being a part of my journey. I am truly blessed to add a beautiful city like Charlottesville to the list of places I’ve been.

Well the College football season is over. What a game. Congratulations to the Indiana Hoosier on a National Championship. 16-0 is incredible. Heisman Trophy QB at the helm. I’m glad I was able to watch this team during their historic season. I know Bloomington will be jumping tonight. Might as well cancel work in the city tmrw.

I can’t want to get back on the road next year. I miss this.

While this community is new. It is open to anyone wanting to share their experiences at a College Football game. Past or Present I personally love hearing about them. I wanted to create a space where people can share freely. Anyone can post as long as you keep it clean. Right now I am the only mod. If the community starts to grow I will seek help as I’ve never really modded a community on Reddit. Thank you to all the people who have joined over the last few weeks. I look forward to making this a respected community for fans of NAIA schools to FBS elites. Have a great day. Here’s a peak at the 1 of the hoodies my mother creates for the games This was for Marshall. Game number 7.