Austin Named Among Top College Football Towns for 2025

Texas Hellraisers fans cheer in stands during game vs BYU at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas on Sept. 10, 2011.
Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

The wait is over — college football season is finally here!

Football games have become a rite of passage for students. Saturday home games are marked by packed parking lots, portable grills, and crowded seas of school colors and mascots. And the experience isn't limited to current students — alumni near and far often travel to a game to relive their glory days.

Besides the act of attending a college football game, several factors can enhance the experience: from campus scenery and football success to the size of the stadium and the quality of surrounding bars and restaurants. To analyze these factors and more, The Washington Post sports staff voted on their favorite towns and also considered geography and conference parity. The analysis also used statistics from last year's football season.

Which college football towns ranked the best? One Texas town made the list, and you can probably guess which.

The Texas capital is known for many things, like its live music scene, tech industry and its slogan "Keep Austin Weird." But few things can get Austinites riled up like Longhorns football.

While DKR's capacity is roughly twice the student body, the massive sea of burnt orange on game days explains the necessity of the massive stadium. Hours before kickoff, fans sporting Western wear gather for drinking games, live music and barbecue.

A general view of kickoff between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Austin, Texas.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

"It’s all very Texas, but nothing tops the moment before kickoff arrives when the marching band strikes up and everyone sticks a hand in the air, pinkie and index finger raised for the international sign of Hook ’Em, and sings in unison, 'The Eyes of Texas,' in a big, undulating, burnt orange tide," The Post's Ava Wallace writes.

Top 10 college football towns 2025

No. 1: Madison, Wisconsin

• School: University of Wisconsin
• Population: 269,840
• Student population: 52,097
• Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium
• Stadium capacity: 76,057
• Conference: Big Ten
• National titles: 0

No. 2: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• School: Louisiana State University
• Population: 227,470
• Student population: 41,707
• Stadium: Tiger Stadium
• Stadium Capacity: 102,321
• Conference: SEC
• National titles: 5

No. 3: Ann Arbor, Michigan

• School: University of Michigan
• Population: 123,851
• Student population: 52,855
• Stadium: Michigan Stadium
• Stadium capacity: 107,601
• Conference: Big Ten
• National titles: 10

No. 4: Eugene, Oregon

• School: University of Oregin
• Population: 176,654
• Student population: 24,462
• Stadium: Autzen Stadium
• Stadium capacity: 54,000
• Conference: Big Ten
• National titles: 0

No. 5: Clemson, South Carolina

• School: Clemson University
• Population: 17,681
• Student population: 29,077
• Stadium: Memorial Stadium
• Stadium capacity: 81,500
• Conference: ACC
• National titles: 3

No. 6: Athens, Georgia

• School: University of Georgia
• Population: 96,124
• Student population: 43,146
• Stadium: Sanford Stadium
• Stadium capacity: 93,033
• Conference: SEC
• National titles: 3

No. 7: South Bend, Indiana

• School: University of Notre Dame
• Population: 103,453
• Student population: 13,042
• Stadium: Notre Dame Stadium
• Stadium capacity: 80,795
• Conference: Independent
• National titles: 13

No. 8: Austin, Texas

• School: University of Texas
• Population: 961,855
• Student population: 53,864
• Stadium: Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium
• Stadium capacity: 100,119
• Conference: SEC
• National titles: 4

No. 9: Boulder, Colorado

• School: University of Colorado
• Population: 108,250
• Student population: 38,799
• Stadium: Folsom Field
• Stadium capacity: 50,183
• Conference: Big 12
• National titles: 1

No. 10: Fargo, North Dakota

• School: North Dakota State University
• Population: 125,990
• Student population: 11,952
• Stadium: Fargodome
• Stadium capacity: 18,700
• Conference: Missouri Valley
• National titles: 10 (FCS)