Dakich: College Football Will Be Worse Without Sanders, Hunter | Don’t @ Me w/ Dan Dakich
“I’m sad about this because I think college football was more interesting when Colorado had Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter and Deion was fresh, but they crashed last year. Three and nine, five game losing streak they’re currently on. Seems like there’s a lot of things. Dion’s health, that kind of thing. I don’t know, man. This seems to be headed in a bad direction. And as importantly, I guess it’s not interesting anymore.”
College football is officially in full swing, and that means it’s time for the ultimate playlist to get fired up.
Thursday night features several games to wet the whistle before a packed Saturday of action and games Sunday and Monday.
If you’re not excited, then I have to wonder if you’re a patriotic American.
Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs speaks during a press conference at the 2025 SEC Football Media Days at Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park on July 15, 2025, in Atlanta, Ga. (Getty Images)
Of course, we all know you can’t have college football season without the tailgates and parties that are mandatory.
Top priority:
14 TAILGATING ESSENTIALS FOR GRILLING, WATCHING THE GAME AND STAYING WARM
A fire playlist.
Carter Smith #5 of the Wisconsin Badgers throws a pass against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Bloomington, Indiana. ((Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images))
What are the best college football tailgate songs?
Well, you’re all in luck because I have you all taken care of to make sure you don’t miss a single hit for your tailgate/pregame playlist.
Now, we’d be here for days if I listed every song that needs to be included. What I’m going to do is give you a surefire top-10 hit list.
Let’s roll.
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti walks onto the field before a college football game between the Michigan State Spartans and Indiana Hoosiers on Oct. 18, 2025, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
1) John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads
Easiest choice ever. No hesitation. No thought about it. If you’re not a fan of this song, then you’re not a fan of America. It’s an all-time classic and perfectly captures the feeling of fall weather and good vibes.
2) Toby Keith – Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue
Toby Keith (RIP) made several monster hits during his career, but this one stands out as the most iconic. It will have you ready to run through a wall.
3) AC/DC – Hells Bells
Is there a song with a more recognizable opening few seconds than “Hells Bells”? I think the answer is no, and it only takes off from there. It’s pure adrenaline start to finish.
4) AC/DC – Thunderstruck
Speaking of AC/DC, I can’t include one of their songs without also including “Thunderstruck.” Another all-time classic that is great for football season and any and all tailgates and pregames.
5) Alice In Chains – Man in the Box
Sticking with some rock music, there is no chance “Man in the Box” by Alice in Chains isn’t making my tailgate playlist. There are probably six other Alice in Chains songs that I will have as well, but “Man in the Box” is another example of pure adrenaline. “Rooster” is also in high consideration.
6) Metallica – Enter Sandman
Where are all my Virginia Tech fans at? It might be Virginia Tech’s entrance song, but this song fits in perfectly in just about any sports setting. You simply can’t go wrong with “Enter Sandman.”
7) Alabama – Song of the South
Switching gears, “Song of the South” is an anthem for people in the South, and it’s not hard to see why. The song is an absolute classic from Alabama. Is there a single fan above the age of 40 at a Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU, Alabama or Auburn tailgate who doesn’t have this on their playlist? I think the answer is no.
8) House of Pain – Jump Around
As a Wisconsin man, this song is about as on-brand as it gets. It’s played between the third and fourth quarters at Camp Randall, and the stadium shakes to the point you can feel it outside and water inside the stadium literally vibrates.
9) Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
Another all-time rock classic that you simply can’t go wrong with by blasting it under a tent as the sun beats down ahead of kickoff.
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10) Gordon Lightfoot – Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
This might seem like it’s totally out of left field, but what you have to understand is that people in the Midwest love “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” The Mighty Fitz went down in 1975, and has lived on in Midwestern legend ever since. If there’s one song that unites people across all backgrounds and ages in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest, it’s this classic from Gordon Lightfoot.
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Do you have a favorite song you always smash the play button on during football season? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
