25 college football programs with the most tradition

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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OXFORD, MS – NOVEMBER 01: Fans attend pregame parties in The Grove as the Auburn Tigers face the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 1, 2014 in Oxford, Mississippi. Auburn defeated Mississippi 35-31. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

18. Ole Miss Rebels

There’s just something special about a school that refers to itself as Ole Miss rather than the University of Mississippi. The Rebels aren’t exactly on this list for all their football prowess over the years. They are a second-tier team in the SEC and haven’t won a conference title since 1963.

So, if it’s not the football that has Ole Miss on this list, what is it?

The Grove — it’s gotta be The Grove.

The Grove is a 10-acre plot of magnolia trees that sits on the edge of campus and is filled with thousands of revelers before every game. The Grove is southern sporting culture in a nutshell — seersucker suits and pants, Sperrys, women in cocktail dresses and of course … plenty of booze. Every major sporting publication, ranging from ESPN to the Sporting News, to the New York Times, rates Ole Miss as one of the top tailgating spots in the country.

And then, there’s the chant, Hotty Toddy.

There may not be many reasons for most Americans to ever set foot in the state of Mississippi, but The Grove at least provides a semi-convincing argument.

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