Colorado Buffaloes

Folsom Field in Boulder sits in one of the most spectacular settings in all of college football. The Flatirons - those massive sandstone rock formations - rise directly behind the stadium, and on a fall afternoon with the aspens turning gold, there is no prettier place to watch a football game. Period. Mother Nature designed the backdrop and Boulder just built a stadium in front of it.

Before kickoff, Ralphie the Buffalo charges across the field led by a team of handlers barely keeping up with her. It is chaotic, exhilarating, and uniquely Colorado - one of the most distinctive traditions in the entire sport.

Buffs fans got a massive shot of energy with Deion Sanders taking over as head coach. Coach Prime brought national attention, recruits, and a swagger that transformed the atmosphere at Folsom Field overnight. The stadium sells out now, the student section is loud and fired up, and game days in Boulder have become must-attend events again. Sko Buffs.

Game day on The Hill - the neighborhood right next to campus - is where the action starts. The bars on University Hill fill up early with students and alumni, and Pearl Street Mall downtown has upscale restaurants if you want a proper pregame meal. The Sink is a Boulder institution - a dive bar that's been serving burgers and beers to CU students since 1923. Start there.

The tailgate in the lots around Folsom is growing as the program grows. Expect craft beer from Boulder's incredible brewery scene - Avery, Upslope, Mountain Sun are all local favorites. After the game, Pearl Street is the move - live music, great food, and mountain-town vibes that make Boulder one of the best college towns in America. If you haven't been to a game at Folsom Field, the Flatirons alone are worth the trip. The football is just a bonus.