There is nothing quite like a great college football road trip.
With the 2025 regular season wrapped up, it is the perfect time to start planning next year’s adventures. And with the way game times are now staggered, it is easier than ever to pull off the holy grail of Saturdays: two games, two stadiums, one unforgettable day.
Here are a few of the best places to make the doubleheader happen.
Oregon Trail: Oregon and Oregon State
If you want contrast, this trip has it. Oregon and Oregon State sit only 47 miles apart, but they currently live in different worlds.
Oregon has become one of the sport’s giants, buoyed by Big Ten money, elite facilities, and one of the loudest home-field environments anywhere. Dan Lanning has the Ducks winning big and often, and Autzen Stadium feels like it shakes on every third down.
Oregon State, meanwhile, was left behind in the Pac-12 collapse. Reser Stadium is still a fun venue and the Beaver fan base is loyal, but this year’s 2-10 season showed just how steep the climb has become. Seeing these two programs on the same day reminds you what realignment has done to the “haves” and “have-nots.”
Big Ten Bluebloods: Ohio State and Michigan
The Horseshoe and the Big House are two of the most iconic stadiums in college football. Combined, they have hosted more than two centuries of football and some of the most passionate fan bases in the country.
The two cities sit roughly 193 miles apart, which makes this one of the more challenging road trips, but the payoff is massive. You get two premier programs, incredible atmospheres, and a full dose of Big Ten history. If the schedule breaks right, this is a bucket list day.
Texas Two Step: Texas and Texas A&M
Nothing captures the spirit of Texas football like spending a day in College Station and a night in Austin.
Ideally, A&M plays first, because the 12th Man during the day is an experience by itself. Then you drive the two hours to Austin, grab some barbecue on the way, and finish the night under the lights with the Longhorns. If the order flips, spend the night before in Austin and enjoy the city. Either way, you get two great environments and two of the SEC’s most energized fan bases.
Lesser-Known History: Rutgers and Army
For pure pageantry, tradition, and scenery, this is a perfect fall road trip.
Army’s Michie Stadium is stunning during peak foliage, and the experience feels like stepping back in time. Then there is Rutgers, which brings its own unique history as the birthplace of college football. The 83-mile drive is very manageable, and the whole day feels like celebrating the roots of the sport.
If you really want to push it, Franklin Field at Penn is only about an hour south of Rutgers. It is the oldest continuously operating stadium in the country. With a Friday night game, you could hit all three.
The Grove and the Cowbell: Ole Miss and Mississippi State
If you want a true southern football experience, this is the trip.
Start the day in Oxford at the Grove, one of the most famous tailgating scenes in America. Then head inside Vaught-Hemingway, where Ole Miss has become a legitimate SEC contender.
After that, drive the 103 miles to Starkville for a completely different vibe. The Junction is Mississippi State’s answer to the Grove, and inside Davis Wade Stadium the sound of thousands of cowbells fills the air. Both places offer unique traditions, passionate fans, and a whole lot of atmosphere.
Want more Sandman? Come connect with us here at sandmansports.com/staging/8269/onestopshop
