By Carlton Jared Lockett
The Daily Meal

Americans love football season for the sport of it, but also for that thing that turns a game into a social occasion: tailgating. Each football season, fans, alumni, and friends gather for kickoff to support one of their favorite college football teams -- relishing copious amounts of Buffalo wings, barbecue ribs, chargrilled briskets, and (if you're attending Louisiana State University's tailgate), Creole seafood gumbo along the way. Tailgates are about supporting your team, but also about kicking back, eating and drinking, and observing time-honored traditions.

For the third year in a row, The Daily Meal has tackled the task of identifying the very best colleges for tailgating in America. To determine this year’s list, we created a public poll, asking readers to tell us about their favorite college tailgate scenes, sharing details about campus tailgating spaces, time-honored traditions, and, of course, classic dishes!

As we evaluated our list of nominees this year, we noticed that there were a lot of Division I schools included, so to diversify, we added more Division II and Division III schools to our survey -- and some of them made the top 25.

Best Colleges For Tailgating

 

12. Baylor

Baylor University in Waco, Texas, makes its debut on our list this year, and if you're ever in Waco during football season, you'll find out why. Baylor's new stadium ups the ante by offering sailgating on the Brazos River, but that's not the only place to tailgate.

 

12. Baylor

If boating is not your thing, rent a RV, fire up of a grill of your favorite, brats, burgers and hot dogs "Texas style." Whichever activity you decide to use, park your boat along the river, drop an anchor and enjoy!

 

11. Auburn

Ever camped out before game-time days in advance? That takes dedication and lots of school spirit, but that's what Auburn fans do. Auburn University's school tradition of the pre-game walk with the players to the stadium, called the Tiger Walk, is one in which students and alumni proudly participate.

 

11. Auburn

Before the walk, fans enjoy a myriad of delicious foods and drinks in their Tiger gear, including iconic Southern barbecued pulled pork. Should the team win, Toomer's Corner (a fanzone hotspot) will be TP-ed, so bring extra toilet paper.

 

10. McDaniel College, Westminster, Maryland

McDaniel is one tailgate you should get to early, parking spots gets get filled really fast for this drive-in tailgate. With its brand new $8.2 million stadium, McDaniel offers a unique tailgating experience, allowing Green Terror fans to drive up to the ridge (which overlooks the field).

 

10. McDaniel College, Westminster, Maryland

The layout of the land allows people to stand by their cars (with chairs and tents and grills and tables of foods and coolers, etc.) and watch the game.

 

9. Florida

The Gators take their partying to another level: The party kicks off at "The Swamp" (as Florida Field is popularly known) and keeps going. Lauren Gordon, reported on last year’s list that "A Gator tailgate just may be the biggest such affair you’ll ever go to, with dozens of out-of-towners filling up tents and RVs for a good time. Gator fans are always ...

 

9. Florida

... decked out in extravagant tailgate garb and fry up amazing Southern food for a celebration the whole town can enjoy."

 

8. Prairie View A&M

Tailgating in Prairie, Texas, means reserving a spot for your RV on the alumni field months in advance. Once tailgating kicks off, you will find yourself surrounded by endless barbecue grills overflowing with ...

 

8. Prairie View A&M

... brisket, ribs and delicious pulled pork. Tailgating at Prairie View is family-friendly, and filled with generations of Panthers alumni and current undergrads alike.

 

7. Howard

Howard University is late to tailgating, having kicked off its first one in 2008, but it has caught up quickly. The band is great, but the food is even better. Beyond the usual burgers and hot dogs, look for ...

 

7. Howard

... stuffed jalapeños wrapped in bacon, Louisiana gumbo, fiery jerk chicken, smoked porgy, slow-smoked bone-in pork shoulder, and barbecued pork ribs, among other delights.

 

6. Alabama

If you are anywhere near Tuscaloosa on game day, you must attend a Roll Tide tailgate. Start your rounds at "The Quads," located nearby the stadium -- an area packed with grills cooking barbecue brisket, hamburgers, hot dogs and more. Don't miss the signature ...

 

6. Alabama

... Yellowhammer Slammer cocktail at Gallette’s, a concoction of vodka, rum, amaretto, and orange and pineapple juice served in a 20-ounce cup; the bar sells 5,000 of them on a good game day.

 

5. Ole Miss

"To have a tailgate experience like you’ve never had before," as Lauren Gordon put it last year, "you have to visit The Grove at Ole Miss. Prepare for sensory overload: On addition to the miles of tented, Rebel-Nation-loving fans in red, white and blue garb, there are folk hanging chandeliers and donning bow ties and pearls. This is one very serious party time. All of this is just a precursor to the Walk of Champions, where players ...

 

5. Ole Miss

... walk to the stadium through The Grove full of fans on the way to victory. The spirit and pride Ole Miss fans have fills the stands and overflows outside the game for post-parties that rage on and on."

 

4. Michigan

We have one thing to say about the University of Michigan's tailgating experience: #GoBlue! OK, we have a little more to say about it than that. The party starts when the parking lot opens at 7 a.m. and continues on until the beginning of the game, when dedicated fans head in for some quality field watching time. Roughly 90 minutes before the show, fans are invited ...

 

4. Michigan

... to watch the traditional drumline stepshow to get them psyched for the game. In the tailgating area, you'll find a spacious lot where tailgaters can spread out to get their pre-game party on. On the way to the stadium, some fans hang out at the local Quickie Burger, which also serves breakfast all day for those who need a boost to last through the game. There are also plenty of surrounding spots to pick up a bite to eat if you don’t want to cook at the game.

 

3. Penn State

With close to 100,000 fans swarming the games and mulling around "Nittanyville" (formerly Paternoville), the tent city students set up before game day to get the best seats in the student section, there is no denying that this is a top place to tailgate. The crowd is ebullient, the spirit is strong, and there are tons of ...

 

3. Penn State

... traditional foods to enjoy other than just your average tailgate fare. Penn State "stickies" (sticky buns laced with caramelized sugar) from the Ye Olde College Diner are a game-day must.

 

2. South Carolina State

This is one tailgate you won’t want to miss is in Orangeburg, South Carolina at South Carolina State University. Bulldog tailgates are famous above all for the variety and quality of food you'll find in the tailgating lot. Elaborate spreads are accessible in a warm, welcoming environment that makes ...

 

2. South Carolina State

... tailgating for the whole family enjoyable. There are a few restrictions as to where you can cook, so be sure to check the lot out before you commit.

 

1. LSU

Louisiana State University channels that true Baton Rouge spirit, with tailgates overflowing with alligators and pigs on the spit, boiled crawfish and steaming gumbo. The LSU band marches down the hill to the stadium, inciting an atmosphere of pure fun. Tailgate setups are so ...

 

1. LSU

... elaborate, you feel like a living room has moved onto the lot, which is good because you should get comfortable -- the party doesnt stop all day or all night.

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For the complete list of the 25 Best Colleges for Tailgating go to TheDailyMeal.com.

More From The Daily Meal:
-- The 8 Healthiest Beers to Pack in Your Tailgate Cooler
-- 10 Easy Swaps to Make Your Tailgate Healthier
-- Healthiest Foods to Bring to a Tailgate
-- 10 Easy Swaps to Make Your Tailgate Healthier

Check out more tailgating stories on ThePostGame.