Lebanon, TN – Up until now, we have provided notes and insight of all games we plan to attend for Week Numbers 1-5. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves with insight and predictions for the balance of our regular season. With our first game only one day away to start Week 0 of College Football in 2025, we’d like to just provide some highlights of other games we plan to see. Subject to change of course, but we generally stay on track. Included here, we explain to you where, why, and how come we chose to attend these particular games. Also, we try to pass along some other interesting tidbits.
Don’t forget, to endure this weekly adventure every year, we don’t have enough time nor money (though much more than when we started doing this in 1979) to see the biggest games every time. We leave that up to the TV programmers. For our entertainment and enjoyment, based on those aforementioned fundamental resources, we try to see the most competitive or most interesting match-ups based on time, travel, and money available. We may choose games based on proximity, tradition, a rivalry, a new place to go, old friends to catch up with, a great tailgate venue available, or maybe some side trip of interest.
Our inspiration to do this started in the 60’s!
Read on to enjoy this lifelong adventure with others and myself. Fun times and good football ahead. As the late, great broadcaster for College Football on ABC Sports, Chris Schenkel, always used to say, “College Football: what better way to spend an Autumn afternoon?” Of course, his mantra started long before the NCAA started playing games most weekday nights as well. As you can see, weekdays have provided us with many new opportunities now between Saturdays.
Goals include seeing a game at every major (FBS) venue and at least one game in every state. To date, we’ve attended games in 98 FBS stadiums. Among all NCAA college football divisions, total venues attended currently stand at 193 in all. Among 49 states and Washington, DC, we only need to see games in nine more states (no teams in Alaska if you weren’t aware). We’re making some progress on that this year, but not in a hurry. Just enjoying the adventure as we find new opportunities to consider.
WEEK 6 – Maybe two back EAST
Definitely attending Air Force at Navy at 12 noon on Saturday to start the annual round-robin among the three major academies for the fierce competitions for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. We will see Navy and Air Force battle for this hardware for the eighth time since this tradition started in 1974. The Mids won big last season, 34-7, in Colorado Springs. They return a potent offensive attack laden with seniors this year. Air Force shows up with an inexperienced QB. Air Force leads this series, 34-23. Never know what can happen. In our history, Navy’s record is 44-44. Air Force stands at 7-6 in our book. Great rivalry featuring tremendous flyovers!
Delaware a possible Friday night feature
The Fighting Blue Hens enter ConferenceUSA/FBS play this Year. Delaware Stadium sits a little over an hour’s drive from Annapolis. Meeting USNA alum for Saturday’s game, no plans in place for Friday evening yet. They host Western Kentucky that evening. Look forward to how they fare in their first year of FBS play under fourth-year HC Ryan Carty who played QB for UD back in 2003-06. In our record book, Delaware is 14-7. Of course, all games attended came under their FCS realm. This could be the first time we see them as an FBS competitor. To be honest, we hate to see them leave the FCS.
WEEK 7 serves up three games – Southern fried and New England style
On Wednesday, we’ll stick close to home. Missouri State, like Delaware, starts it inaugural season in ConferenceUSA/FBS against Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro. We know little about the Bears aside moving up from the Missouri Valley Conference with a record of 8-4. Lost to powers Montana, North Dakota State and South Dakota State a year ago. As for their opponent, MTSU, they struggled under new HC Derek Mason to 3-9 last season. Always admired tough QB Nick Vittiato though the last three seasons. Tough, hard runner, good arm, and fights and leads through pressure to the end. Mason calls on many transfers to step up for the Raiders this year. Many did not start regularly at their previous schools.
D-3 Weekend puts us in our 43rd state
As mentioned, a primary goal of ours calls for us to attend a game in every state where NCAA college football exists. In Vermont, only three college football programs exist. All compete at the D-3 level. So, we decided to finally take our shot this season to finally attend a game in the Green Mountain State. Funny thing, we settled on the Castleton State Spartans (3-7, 2-7) a year ago who were axed from the Massachusetts Athletic Conference. The New Jersey Athletic Conference welcomed them this season as an Associate member to play football. On October 11, we will attend this contest game at noon when they host the Chrisopher Newport Captains (7-3, 9-1) visiting from Newport News, Virginia. They are also a member of the NJAC.
A Saturday D-3 Double-Header
Our Guest game analyst this weekend is David Headden. Dave is a D-3 maven. He loves attending the small school games religiously. In 2013, he accompanied me to the Norwich-RPI game. His father and brothers graduated from RPI. He attended Ohio Wesleyan – true D-3 pedigree.
After the game at Castleton concludes, Dave and I follow up to observe a D-3 bonus. We’re catching another D-3 game 7 pm that evening. Amazingly, most schools in New England have bye weeks that Saturday. However, we found a game in Medford, Massachusetts featuring two New England Small College Athletic Conference teams. The Bates Bobcats of Lewiston, Maine visit the Tufts Jumbos. Don’t know much about either, though Bates comes off a 2-7 season. Tufts played to a 7-2 mark last season. In 2026, the champion of this conference will qualify for the D-3 playoffs for the first time.
More than just D-3 football this weekend
In addition to a D-3 double header, as mentioned, we seek other opportunities when we travel to games. We have two other side trips planned this weekend. On Friday afternoon after arriving in Albany, NY, we will visit the Lake George area. That evening, we venture to nearby Troy for a D-1 ice hockey game with Miami of Ohio visiting RPI. On Sunday, most likely I’ll visit my sister Mary Kay who hosted my first game of this journey at her alma mater, the University of Rhode Island. She and her husband, Gunther, still reside in the Ocean State.
WEEK 8: Alabama Week – Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday
No, we’re not seeing Alabama play at all this week. Or even at all during the regular season. It just so happens the TV programmers selected two games of interest to us on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a third is one that keeps a friendship going that started over 45 years ago. Of course, all three hosts play football in Alabama. On Monday, Arkansas State goes to Mobile to take on South Alabama in a Sun Belt clash. The ASU Red Wolves are 1-1 in our history. We saw them play in our first game ever in Arkansas last season (A razorback game is still a must-see, of course). They defeated Tulsa, 28-24, in Jonesboro on their way to a record of 8-5. Along the way, they also defeated South Alabama there, 18-16. The Jaguars finished 7-6. Respectively, the two programs have records of 1-1 and 1-2 when we attend.
Then there is the USS Alabama
A big driver for us to see a game again in Mobile is to visit the USS Alabama Memorial. Our late, great friend Tom Ables, the greatest fan ever of San Diego State sports served aboard the battleship during WWII. For those hearing about him for the first time, Tom became a great friend who shared many stories attending 788 Aztec football games since he decommissioned from the US Navy. We desired to visit Battleship Memorial Park when we had a chance to see another South Alabama game. They honored Tom at a halftime game there several years ago when his Aztecs played the Jaguars. We look forward to paying him tribute once again.
Delaware – first or second time?
Not sure if we will see Delaware host Western Kentucky on October 3 as previously mentioned. However, if we don’t get to add them then as our 135th FBS team, we’ll add them this evening as our 136th. We just won’t be able to record Delaware Stadium as a new FBS venue as all games we’ve attended there thus far, they played as an FCS program. Last season, we watched the JSU Gamecocks annihilate Western Kentucky, 52-12, here at JSU Stadium for the CUSA Championship. Jacksonville lost HC Rich Rodriguez back to WVU with a lot of transfers who followed him from last season’s 9-5 championship squad. Only four starters return from last year’s team. UD may have shot at this one. JSU stands 4-0 among their games we’ve attended
Celebrating 47 years with our Auburn connection
War Eagle! We attended our first Auburn game before this avocation turned into this crazy, lifelong adventure. I met my long-time friend Charlie Murren in 1978 working out at The Lakeland Hills YMCA in Mountain Lakes, NJ while at home from college – Charlie at Auburn, me at Juniata. In 1978, while on a fall, trimester break at JC, I got down to Auburn for a fun time down “on the Plain” for a football weekend.
Georgia’s Bulldogs came calling and left for the only tie-score ever attended at the FBS (Division 1) level, 22-22. Our friendship continues since going to games and meeting up outside the season as well. Charlie met his wife Lynda at AU, and two of his four kids graduated from there as well. Over the years, Charlie’s been able to invite me to some memorable games. I’m also in contact often with one of his AU roommates, Rick Selak. He, living in Memphis, and I have gone to several games together the last few years as well.
Once again, we will get together for another Auburn game and tailgate when the Tigers host Missouri on October 18. Of course, this will be a great tailgate party with Charlie and all his fellow Auburn classmates who try to get together now most years, even at road games. This event is so good, even my wife “Saint Laurie” attends as she and Lynda have become good friends. The Auburn Tigers started the season ranked, but they have already dropped out. Missouri, too. Just shows not every SEC team can get ranked. In our history, Auburn is 6-9-1. The Missouri Tigers come in at 4-2. Last season, the teams respectively finished 5-7, 3-6 and 10-3, 7-3. Missouri defeated Auburn in Columbia, 21-17. This game should be good, but the tailgate should be even better!
WEEK 9: Two games, two new venues
A Thursday/Saturday combo features South Alabama in another Sun Belt battle on a weekday night. This time, we catch them at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium. Who spells “Park” with a c instead of a k? Georgia State, for one. The only time we saw these Panthers play came up against Appalachian State. Not only do they stand 0-1 in our annals, they also haven’t scored yet. ASU trounced them, 44-0, in 2013, the year both programs joined the FBS. Most memorable, laughable play ever recorded was witnessed that day. Click here to buy my book Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly to read all about it.
Back to the FCS
For Saturday’s entertainment, we head east about 50 miles to Cookeville the see the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles play at home for the first time. We saw them play briefly in and rain-delayed, late-night game at Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro where they fell, 32-25. They’ll host the SE Missouri State Red Hawks in the last season Tech will compete in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference. Effective next July, the Golden Eagles join the Southern Conference where they can play in-state rivals Chattanooga and East Tennessee State. Last season the Red Hawks (9-4, 6-2) defeated the Eagles (7-5, 6-2), 34-3. The AFCA Coaches Poll selected Tennessee Tech as Preseason No. 23 for 2025.
WEEK 10 – maybe two, but definitely one for a road trip
On Wednesday evening. Middle Tennessee hosts Jacksonville State in a CUSA contest. As mentioned previously, the atmosphere at MTSU’s Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium doesn’t stir the senses. If the MTSU team shows little improvement over last season’s 3-9 record, little interest persists. Jacksonville dominated them the last two years. Under new, first-time HC Charlie Kelly, the JSU Gamecocks may be rebuilding. Not sure after the rigorous travel schedule of the last two weeks if we’ll want to go to this one. We’ll wait and see.
As for Saturday, we’ll be heading west to Arkansas. For the first time, we will visit the hostile confines of Ronald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The Razorbacks will host Mississippi State, not your top-of-the-line SEC game, but we’re due to get out there to see the Razorbacks at home. Also, last time we saw these two meet, it turned out to be great game! This reciprocates our first and only visit to Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium in November 2004. On that overcast day, the Bulldogs fell to the Razorbacks, 24-21. MSU attempted a short field goal late in the third to tie only for Arkansas to block it into the hands of DB Pierre Brown. With his over the shoulder catch, he raced 76 yards to give his Razorbacks a 10-point lead to clinch the victory. Hopefully, this game turns out to be as exciting.
Another hot time for Pittman at home?
Arkansas split their four games we’ve attended. The last was another exciting finish in their 55-53 overtime, Liberty Bowl win over Kansas in 2022. Mississippi State still seeks a win with us in attendance at 0-3. Arkansas HC Sam Pittman always seems to be on the hot seat and will be again trying to climb up in the SEC standings. He relies on QB Taylen Green returning and playing under former Arkansas HC, now OC, Bobby Petrino. Six starters return on defense and like many other programs, they hope for big things from transfers. They finished 7-6 last season with another Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech. They destroyed Mississippi State in 2024, 58-25
State went 2-10 last season under first-year HC Jeff Lebby who came to Starkville from Oklahoma as OC. Blake Shapen returns at QB after suffering an injury after four games that sidelined him the rest of the year. Lebby looks to fill in with more talent through the transfer portal, but who knows how effective that will be? With wins last year only against FCS Eastern Kentucky and everybody’s patsy, UMASS, they probably have a long way to go to catch up with the rest of the SEC. We just hope they step it up at Arkansas this late in the season. With our trip to Arkansas, that leaves only Oklahoma and Texas A&M as our two remaining SEC venues to visit.
WEEK 11 – Hopefully better than last year
For our 700th game tailgate last season, our celebration at The NJ Meadowlands turned out to be letdown as far as the game result. Notre Dame belted Navy, 52-14. Not so much the final score, but the Fighting Irish didn’t so much dominate the Midshipman. Instead, Navy mistakes gave the Irish plenty of easy opportunities to score. Misplays and mental mistakes by USNA turned into turnovers and poor field position on the big stage coming in undefeated as did the Irish. The Navy football team did not play up to its standards despite being a lesser team talent-wise. Of course, Notre Dame went on to fall in the CFP championship game to Ohio State, 34-23. Afterward, Navy floundered at Rice (some controversy regarding a new field surface and shoes at that one) and Tulane. However, they finished strong defeating archrival Army and then Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl.
This year for the first time, we will see this series continue in South Bend. Notre Dame will not have an experienced QB returning this season. CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey will both get their chances to see action this season. However, the running attack remains strong and stable with Jerimiyah Love back after 1,125 yards and 17 scores a year ago. Their Oline totals 54 starts together. Defensively, seven starters return and even more experience beyond them. MLB Drayk Bowen led the returnees in tackles with 68. SS Adon Shuler made 49 stops and picked off three passes.
Strength in Navy veterans
As for Navy, they come into this game with chips on their shoulders with a solid group of offensive starters from that 10-3 team from a year ago. QB Blake Horvath provides more passing capability than many of his predecessor past decades. He threw for 1,353 yards and 13 TDs in 2024 while leading in rushing yards of 1,246 and 17 scores. FB Alex Tecza ran for 576 yards and eight TDs. Slotback Eric Heidenreich ran for 444 and three TDs while catching 39 passes for 671 yards and six scores. Young, but big, linemen fill in three spots upfront. Landon Robinson returns at NT and Luke Parris at DE led up front with 68 tackles.
Naval History
We will see this – longest intersectional rivalry in college football – for the ninth time. Notre Dame won eight of the nine. They dominate the series overall, but they continue to play as a tribute to the US Navy who invested money into the school to keep it running financially during WWII. For Navy, it’s the biggest pay day every year after Army, and the “rivalry” helps the football recruiting at USNA. Navy’s only win in our experience came at The Meadowland in 2010, 35-17.
Saw some other close ones including our first in 1974. Navy led heading into the final period, 6-0. Irish pulled out the win late, 14-6. Led late, great Irish HC Ara Parseghian in his decision to eventually retire and end his coaching career. We don’t expect Navy to win this year either, but along with 12 friends from all walks of life joining us, we expect to see the Mids play a much better game this season in South Bend.
In our history, Navy stands 44-44. After Penn State, they’re number two in the total amount of games seen. Since relocating to Tennessee, we try to get to Annapolis once a year. We also caught games in recent years at Memphis, Charlotte and at UAB. Notre Dame’s record is 17-7. Last season, we saw them as mentioned against Navy and in the win over Penne State in the CFP Orange Bowl. Last time in South Bend, we saw them fall to Stanford, 17-10, in 2016. We look forward to going to the Linebacker Inn again and to tailgating all day at South Bend for what will be a 7: 00 pm EST kickoff.
WEEK 12 Oh! Our Wake Forest tradition continues
Since I befriended Jim Harton, a Wake Forest grad and fellow employee at our company gym before retirement, I’m basically invited to see his Deacs play to uphold a tradition which I’ve fallen down on recent years. When we first met, our conversation fell on the fact that I’d seen his alma mater, Wake Forest, play six football games and win them all! “Dang! Nobody’s ever seen Wake play that many games and win them all!” In 2016, I got invited down to Winston-Salem where given the honorary nickname among his fellow alum of “Six and Oh Koreivo!” In the win over Louisville that day, my WFU nickname became “Seven and Oh Koreivo.” I got up to “Eight” with a win over Texas A&M in the Belk Bowl. The following year, however, my streak came to a difficult ending with 62-59 down-to-the-wire loss against Louisville.
No regrets or loss of respect from my Demon Deacon friends. They revised my nickname to “Eight and Almost Oh. ‘” Well, a bad loss to Florida State in 2023 and a win over FCS North Carolina A&T with a12-2 mark since still has me referred to as “Almost Oh.” I now try to make it to 13 wins this season in Winston-Salem. North Carolina comes to town with new HC Bill Belichick and his pretty, young girlfriend. I welcome the challenge.
Wake’s new HC Jake Dickert takes over after success at Washington State. Transfers followed him, of course. Looking forward to the tradition of wining with the Deacs no matter who they play. A win here over Belichick and his Tar Heels and would be wonderful achievement for both Dickert and “13 and Almost Oh” to say the least. UNC comes in at 4-2 under our watch. “Oh, here’s to Wake Forest” – Almost once again!
WEEK 13 Staying local
Moving to the Nashville area, I initially wrote off going to Vanderbilt games nearby. Suddenly, QB Diego Paiva arrived through the portal from New Mexico State of all places, and the Commodores under fourth-year HC Clark Lea became more interesting. Hell, Vanderbilt beat Alabama last year! We’ll probably be catching Paiva’s final game in Nashville. It should be an interesting one. They host Kentucky. Neither one should overwhelm the other. In our book Vandy is 1-6. The only win ever came in 2008 with my 12-year-old son, Eric, to attend the Music City Bowl – my future town of retirement. They clipped Boston College, 16-14. Lost five straight on my watch since. Maybe local comedian Nate Bargatze will MC this one as he did at last year’s homecoming when South Carolina came to town. He can add some laughs.
Kentucky hasn’t fared much better at 2-5 over our visits. Vandy comes into this year after a 7-6 season. Kentucky posted a record of 4-8. In preseason SEC coaches’ polls, both are only ahead of Mississippi State in the SEC. Maybe they will be both better, but even if not, they should be competitive against one another. Like Vandy, the Wildcats QB Zach Calzada transferred in from FCS Incarnate Word after stints at Texas A&M and Auburn. HC Mark Stoops enters his 13th season with the Wildcats. Bad luck for him? Last season, Vanderbilt prevailed against UK, 20-13. The Wildcats have defeated the Commodores the last four times they visited Nashville. Not as easy to win with Paiva under center for the ‘Dores. Whether Bargatze shows up or not, this could be an entertaining event. For both, a win could be a bowl invitation.
WEEK 14 – Up in the air for now
Our Thanksgiving Family traditions have changed the last few years. Instead of New England festivities, visitations and finding BC or NCAA playoff games in the colder climes, there seems to be fewer choices. The past few years with children moving to warmer climates, Texas and Texas State games fell conveniently on to our slates after Thursday. Now for the time being, we look to be heading to Florida.
As grandparents now, someday we’ll be hosting in Tennessee, but I somehow doubt it. They have excused now like work, kids, travel, money, etc. Someday based on family ties, we may get to see Florida vs. Florida State in the Sunshine State. For this year, however, it looks like our only option comes Rice at South Florida. Last season, we ventured to Utah at Central Florida in Orlando. Been to Raymond James Stadium for Outback Bowls in the past, but not as a South Florida home game.
Only seen Rice once at home in Houston to see them and Hawaii both play for the first time in 2002. The visiting Rainbow Warriors triumphed, 33-28. Rice, another 0-1 team in our history, will play the USF Bulls, who’ve struggled in our games at 1-5. Their lone victory came at Syracuse in 2011, 37-17. All other losses came in venues in the northeast – at UConn, Rutgers (2), Temple, and Navy. Now both members of the American Athletic, this regular season finale could be a dud. Last year, with a record of 7-6, USF defeated no teams with a winning record except for San Jose State, also 7-6, in a bowl (or “consolation game” as we like to call post-season games like these between mediocre teams). One of USF’s six losses came against Rice (4-8) in their season finale 35-28.
The Owls play this year under their new HC Scott Abell who comes from FCS Davidson College. He favors running the option. We saw his team in action last season when we watched his Wildcats blast the Stetson Hatters, 70-48. We’ll keep an eye on Scott to see if this game’s possibly worth attending. If anything, at least we’ll hopefully get out of the house savor the sunny weather as cold November sets in north of us.
WEEK 15 Conference Championships or FCS playoffs
Regular season with one exception is over and conference division winners or first place against second place foes pair up to play for better bowl bids this weekend. On Friday night, we go back to Jacksonville, Alabama for the CUSA championship. On Saturday, we will have no idea where the Sun Belt nor American Athletic title games will be played. That’s because the home field advantage goes to the first-place team. If not too far from Jacksonville, we will drive there. If not achievable, we’ll be looking for a playoff among FCS, D-2 and D-3 options if they fall within a few hours’ drive of our Friday night venue. Good luck to us!
WEEK 16 Greatest rivalry in all of College Football+
We’re back in the saddle with our Navy contribution for this season since we’re no longer in range to opt for season tickets in Annapolis. We will be at our 19th Army Navy game. In our games, Navy leads this series 10-8. This year, the rivals play at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. You know who we’re rooting for. This season, we will see Navy vs. Air Force and at Notre Dame as mentioned. Last season, 10-3 Navy defeated 12-2 Army at Landover, MD, 31-13. Both teams will be competitive in the American Athletic once again this season. There is even a chance that they may meet the week before in the title game for the AAC. If so, the question is where and if so, can we get there wherever it may be?
A win in that one for either team can actually offer a bid into the CFP as the Group of Five representative. The original and possibly second game between the two in December will be played for Pride, Tradition and REVENGE. That would be different and awfully appealing to millions of Americans. That would also be amazing to attend. If the first game becomes reality, there is still no way that this meeting will be insignificant to either. What a game this would be. Greatest rivalry!
When these two teams both have losing records, they still draw one of the Top Ten TV college football audiences each year. If these two meet back-to-back weekends, both could eclipse Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Auburn, Texas-Oklahoma, USC-UCLA or any other game. People sometimes tell us; this is the one game they watch every year. Many have family ties to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. USNA grads serve in the Marines as well as the US Navy. For our sake, we look forward to attending another great game in this historic rivalry. Heading into the 126th edition, Navy leads the series 63–55–7.
If you’ve enjoyed stories about our football adventures above, read more below
Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Read the reviews on the page and get your copy today! If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Also, based on what you read above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having seen every FBS team play over the years!
Edited by and photos taken by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.
