A recent survey indicates that over a third of college football fans would choose to attend their team’s biggest rivalry game over a friend’s wedding if both occurred on the same day.
The surprising finding comes from a study involving 2,000 fans of American college football, evenly divided among NCAA Division I Conferences. The survey revealed that 35% of fans would prioritize the game over the wedding.
When it comes to overall game viewership, fans from the SEC are the most dedicated, with 37% planning to watch every game of their team during the season.
This research was conducted by Holiday Inn Express in collaboration with Talker Research, highlighting the extremes fans will go to support their teams, including long drives and game day rituals shared with fellow fans.
Interestingly, the survey found that 47% of Conference USA fans would rather be at the game than at a wedding. One fan recounted a three-day ride from California to Indiana just to see their team play, while another described catching a last-minute flight after a business trip was unexpectedly delayed.
Some fans even shared stories about quitting their jobs or calling into radio stations repeatedly for a chance to win tickets.
On average, college football fans attend nearly four games each season, with fans from specific conferences attending even more frequently. For instance, supporters of the Conference USA attend an average of 5.3 games a year, while American Athletic Conference fans go to about five games.
Typically, college football fans travel nearly 1,000 miles annually to watch their teams play.
While the Conference USA fans are among the most invested in terms of game attendance, the fans from the American Athletic Conference travel the farthest, averaging 1,125 miles each season.
“Fans are at the heart of college football,” noted Justin Alexander, a representative from Holiday Inn Express. “They put immense effort into being part of the action, whether that means long travels or navigating busy schedules. Keeping their energy up is crucial.”
Many of these traveling fans stay overnight during game weekends, with 57% reporting they typically do so. Game day routines vary, but the average fan starts their day around 7:42 a.m., while SEC and Big Ten fans wake up even earlier, around 7:06 a.m.
Breakfast seems to be important, with 55% feeling they need a substantial meal on game days. Most admit to relying on coffee, too; 81% say it’s essential for them to keep going throughout the day. The average fan drinks two cups before heading out.
Superstitions also play a significant role in fans’ game day rituals. More than half indicated they have certain beliefs to boost their team’s chances, with 46% confessing to specific routines. While some are simple, like wearing team colors, others go a bit further, with one fan mentioning they sleep in their jersey the night before.
Interestingly, despite the strong connection to winning, nearly all respondents—92%—consider themselves loyal to their teams, regardless of the season’s outcomes.
Holiday Inn Express boasts over 2,300 locations across the country, with many situated near universities. They emphasize their commitment to welcoming fans traveling distances to cheer on their teams. “From overcoming severe weather to finding rides, fans go to incredible lengths just to show up,” they noted, acknowledging the passion that enhances the college football experience.
Participation in College Football Games by Conference
● Conference USA – 5.3
● American Athletic Conference – 5.0
● Central American Conference – 4.5
● Mountain West Conference – 4.4
● Sun Belt Conference – 3.9
● Pac-12 Conference – 3.8
● Big 12 – 3.5
● Big Ten – 2.5
● Southeastern Conference – 2.5
● Atlantic Coast Conference – 2.4
Extreme Measures Taken to Attend College Football Games
● “I hitchhiked from California to Indiana… it took me three days.”
● “I quit my job to attend.”
● “I called radio stations 100 times in a row to win tickets.”
● “When my car broke down, I begged a coworker to drive me, buying him treats for weeks.”
● “I drove 14 hours straight through a snowstorm to see my team, even sleeping in my truck.”
● “I feigned a family emergency to skip a wedding and drove through a snowstorm to make it to the game.”
● “We sold a bike to get tickets.”
● “I attended a game right after dental surgery.”
Research Method: The Talker survey sampled 2,000 American college football fans, distributed evenly across 10 NCAA Division I Conferences. Conducted online by Talker Research from July 29th to August 8th, 2025, this study was commissioned by Holiday Inn Express.
