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25 college football programs with the most tradition

By Joshua Sadlock

Sep 26, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Isaac Rochell (90) is congratulated by cornerback Cole Luke (36) after making a tackle against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame defeats Massachusetts 62-27. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Isaac Rochell (90) is congratulated by cornerback Cole Luke (36) after making a tackle against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame defeats Massachusetts 62-27. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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From tailgates to bowl games, iconic coaches to Heisman Trophy winners, national titles to rivalries, college football is a sport unlike any other when it comes to tradition.

College football is a uniquely American tradition. No other nation makes as big a fuss about college athletics, and football is king of the NCAA. College football has been around much longer than its professional version, with the earliest games being played shortly after the Civil War wrapped up.

With well over 150 years of action, college football has built up its own set of uniquely personal traditions. Every program has them, even the smallest, most obscure. With so many crazy traditions and fervent fanbases, creating a comprehensive ranking is an extremely difficult task, but we’re going to give it the ol’ college try.

ALLSTON, MA – OCTOBER 19: Harvard Crimson tight end Cameron Brate, center, scores a touchdown as Lafayette Leopards defensive back Alex Merriman, left, defends on the play while Leopards Matt Smalley runs in, right, during the fourth quarter. The Lafayette Leopards play the Harvard Crimson in Allston, Mass., Oct. 19, 2013. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi for The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
ALLSTON, MA – OCTOBER 19: Harvard Crimson tight end Cameron Brate, center, scores a touchdown as Lafayette Leopards defensive back Alex Merriman, left, defends on the play while Leopards Matt Smalley runs in, right, during the fourth quarter. The Lafayette Leopards play the Harvard Crimson in Allston, Mass., Oct. 19, 2013. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi for The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

25. Lafayette Leopards

This list starts off with a program most of you have probably never heard of, but I went to Lafayette and this is my list, so bear with me.

The Leopards currently play football at the FCS level and have been playing college football at some level since 1882. Lafayette has won three national titles (1896, 1921 and 1926), seven conference titles, and has posted six undefeated seasons. The Leopards rank 44th in all-time NCAA wins with 670.

Lafayette is best known for its long-standing rivalry with Lehigh University. The Leopards and Mountain Hawks have played 151 times, and their rivalry is the most-played matchup in college football history. The two teams have played every single year since 1897, which is the most consecutive years a rivalry game has been played. While the game may not draw 100,000 fans, it’s a fiercely contested game, with fans from both sides hurling insults back and forth the entire time. Lafayette currently leads the all-time series 78-68-5.

Lafayette is also part of several other interesting pieces of football lore. Former coach George Barclay is credited with inventing the football helmet, and Lafayette is also believed to be the first team to use the huddle formation, when they tried to prevent the University of Pennsylvania from stealing their hand signals. Lafayette is also famous for being denied a bid to the 1949 Sun Bowl after requesting that an African-American player, David Showell, be allowed to play in the white-only stadium.

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