College Football Fans Go To Great Lengths To See Games, Even Over A Friends Wedding

For some college football fans, the passion for their team runs so deep that even lifes biggest milestones cant compete.

In a new survey of 2,000 American college football enthusiasts, evenly split by NCAA Division I conference, more than a third say they would choose to attend their teams rivalry game instead of their friends wedding if the two fell on the same day. The survey, commissioned by Holiday Inn Express by IHG Hotels and Resorts and conducted by Talker Research, showed that 35% of respondents would pick the rivalry game over the nuptials, with Conference USA fans leading the way at 47%.

When it comes to watching every single matchup in a season, fans of the Southeastern Conference stood out. Thirty-seven percent of SEC fans said they watch every one of their teams games, either in person or streaming, making them the most consistent viewers.

The survey explored the extremes fans go to in order to support their favorite teams, with some responses sounding more like adventure stories than game-day traditions. One fan recalled, “I hitched a ride from California to Indiana … It took me three days to get there.” Another said, “[I] chartered a private jet last-minute to make [it to] kickoff after a business trip ran late.” One even admitted to quitting their job for a game, while another confessed, “[I] called the radio station 100 times in a row to win tickets.”

On average, college football fans who attend games in person manage nearly four games per season. Conference USA fans top the list with 5.3 games a year, followed by American Athletic Conference fans at five and Mid-American Conference fans at 4.5. The Mountain West averaged 4.4, the Sun Belt 3.9, the Pac-12 3.8, the Big 12 3.5, the Big Ten 2.5, the SEC 2.5, and the Atlantic Coast Conference 2.4.

Travel is also a major part of fandom. The average fan who attends at least one game a year racks up nearly 1,000 miles of travel — 991 miles per season. While Conference USA fans attend the most games, fans of the American Athletic Conference were found to travel the farthest, averaging 1,125 miles per year to follow their teams.

“At the heart of college football are the fans,” said Justin Alexander, vice president of global brand management for Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites & Candlewood Suites. “They put in a lot of effort to be part of the action — whether its traveling long distances or navigating a packed weekend schedule — so staying energized is key. Thats where a good breakfast and a cup of coffee or two can really make a difference on game day.”

The survey also looked at game-day habits. Fifty-seven percent of fans who travel to games said they spend at least one night away during the weekend. The average fan wakes up at 7:42 a.m. on game day, with SEC and Big Ten fans starting even earlier at about 7:06 a.m. More than half said a full breakfast is essential (55%), nearly half rely on morning coffee (49%), and most include tailgating as part of the tradition (52%). Caffeine plays a central role, with 81% of fans saying they need it to stay energized, and most reporting they drink about two cups of coffee on game days.

Superstitions and rituals also define the culture. More than half of fans (52%) admitted they are superstitious, and 46% said they follow a ritual to boost their teams chances of winning. Some of these traditions are simple, like wearing team gear, but others are more extreme. One fan said they sleep in their jersey the night before games, while another claimed to “bathe in hot sauce” before kickoff.

Loyalty remains the constant thread. Ninety-two percent of fans said they would remain committed to their team even if it lost every single game in a season, with Atlantic Coast Conference fans (95%) and Big Ten fans (94%) most likely to stay loyal.

“Holiday Inn Express has over 2,300 locations across the country, many of which sit in or near college towns. Each season, we look forward to welcoming guests who travel near and far to cheer on their favorite team, and just in time for the kickoff of college football season, we wanted to spotlight all the ways fans contribute to the sport,” said Alexander. “From braving extreme weather conditions to hitchhiking and finding any way possible to make the trip, fans go to incredible lengths just to be there in person. Their passion and presence are a vital part of what makes college football so special.”

Fans also shared some of the wildest things they have done to see their teams play. One drove 14 hours through a blizzard, called in “sick” to work, and slept in a truck just to watch from the nosebleeds. Another lied about a family emergency to skip a wedding and drove six hours through a snowstorm to a rivalry game, sleeping in their car afterward. One fan sold a motorcycle for tickets, and another went to a game immediately after dental surgery.

Whether through loyalty, superstition, or sheer determination, the survey suggests that college football fans will continue to go to remarkable lengths to be part of the action, no matter the cost.