Why Alabama has one of the nation’s best football Saturdays
· Yahoo Sports
If football is a religion in the South, Saturday is the weekly service.
And according to College Weekly, Alabama has one of the best places in the country to worship, ranking No. 2 on its list of the 10 states with the best football Saturdays.
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With the 2026 college football season nearly here, those Saturdays are just around the corner. Alabama opens its season Sept. 5 against East Carolina at 11 a.m., while Auburn hosts Baylor at 2:30 p.m.
That might be tough news for the other 49 states, but anyone who has experienced a fall Saturday in Tuscaloosa or Auburn probably won’t be surprised.
In Alabama, the game is only part of the experience. The real show starts hours before kickoff, and sometimes doesn’t end until long after the final whistle.
Alabama football game traditions in Tuscaloosa
An Alabama football Saturday starts on the Quad.
The green space in the heart of campus becomes a sea of crimson, with fans gathering under tents, firing up grills and welcoming anyone who happens to wander by. It’s worth taking a walk through the quad before heading to Bryant-Denny Stadium to soak it all in.
Then comes the Walk of Champions, when Alabama fans line the route to welcome the team into Bryant-Denny. The walk passes statues. Honoring some of the most successful coaches in Crimson Tide history, including Bear Bryant and Nick Saban.
Once inside the stadium, the traditions keep coming.
Fans know exactly what to do when “Sweet Home Alabama” starts playing. They answer the chorus with a familiar “Roll Tide Roll.” When Alabama picks up a first down, the public-address announcement of “First down, Alabama!” gets an equally familiar response from the crowd.
And then there’s the Million Dollar Band, which supplies the soundtrack throughout the game before taking the field for its halftime performance.
Late in the game, “Dixieland Delight” gets the Bryant-Denny crowd going, followed by one of the best postgame traditions in college football: “Rammer Jammer” after an Alabama victory.
Auburn football game day traditions are unlike any other
Auburn has its own recipe for a memorable Saturday.
Tailgating takes over the area around campus and Jordan-Hare Stadium, with elaborate setups, big spreads and fans settling in well before kickoff.
One of the biggest traditions is Tiger Walk, when thousands of Auburn fans line Donahue Drive to welcome the team as it makes its way toward Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Then comes the moment every Auburn fan knows.
The crowd rises for the War Eagle flight, when Auburn’s eagle soars around Jordan-Hare before landing on the field. It’s a spectacle that has become synonymous with Auburn football.
Aubie’s there, too, bringing plenty of personality to the festivities. Auburn’s beloved tiger mascot has been entertaining fans for decades and is practically impossible to miss on game day.
Toomer’s Corner: Auburn’s wildest football tradition
If Auburn wins, the celebration doesn’t necessarily end at Jordan-Hare.
Fans head toward Toomer’s Corner, where toilet paper is tossed into the trees in one of the strangest traditions in college football.
The tradition has roots dating to the 1890s, when Toomer’s Drugs had the town’s only telegraph. News of an Auburn victory would be celebrated by throwing ticker tape over the power lines.
Today, it’s toilet paper instead.
And yes, seeing Toomer’s Corner covered in white after an Auburn victory is every bit as fun as it sounds.
Why Alabama has one of the best college football Saturdays
That’s ultimately what makes football in Alabama different.
The game is just one part of the day.
In Tuscaloosa, it’s tailgating on the Quad, the Walk of Champions, the Million Dollar Band and 100,000-plus fans turning familiar songs and chants into stadium-wide traditions.
In Auburn, it’s Tiger Walk, the War Eagle and a post-game trip to Toomer’s Corner.
Call it football. Call it a religion. Either way, Alabama has a pretty convincing case for No. 2.
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College Weekly's top 10 states with the best football Saturdays
- Texas
- Alabama
- Louisiana
- Georgia
- Florida
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Michigan
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Why Alabama has one of the nation’s best football Saturdays