We continue our national roundtable series with a fun look at which school has the best pregame tradition in each Power 5 conference. This topic is sure to inspire debate among fan bases across the country. Here's how our panel voted:
ACC: Clemson’s Howard’s Rock
They call it the most exciting 25 seconds in college football for a reason -- it’s that cool. Clemson players and coaches touch Howard’s Rock before every game and run down the hill into Memorial Stadium, with balloons being released into the sky as the school’s fight song plays. Night games in Death Valley make the tradition all the more entertaining. We’d be remiss, though, to not also give a mention to Virginia Tech, as the Hokies’ “Enter Sandman” entrance is pretty special too. -- Matt Fortuna
Big Ten: Ohio State marching band's dotting the i of script Ohio
The Buckeyes’ marching band isn’t referred to as "The Best Damn Band In The Land" -- TBDBITL, for short -- for nothing. For noon games, band members show up at The Horseshoe at 4:30 a.m. They practice as many as 30 hours per week during the season. The payoff? An incredibly precise pregame routine in which 192 members of the marching band spell out Ohio, with a fourth- or fifth-year sousaphone player taking his or her place as the dot in the i. This season will mark the 80th year of the tradition, which began Oct. 24, 1936, against Indiana. This pregame tradition really has it all; it’s unique, historic and entertaining. What more could you ask for? -- Josh Moyer
Big 12: Kansas State's 'Wabash Cannonball'
If you haven’t been in Bill Snyder Family Stadium when “The Pride of Wildcat” band is playing "Wabash Cannonball" in front of the Kansas State student section, you need to put that on your bucket list. It’s hard to not get in the football mood when watching the Wildcats band get the student section hyped for Big 12 football. Not only is "Wabash Cannonball" a catchy tune, but it also combines with the coordination in the student section to become one of college football’s best pregame traditions. -- Brandon Chatmon
Pac-12: Colorado's Ralphie’s Run
Live buffaloes have been appearing at Colorado football games since the 1940s, but one of the best pregame traditions in sports didn’t start until Oct. 28, 1967. That was the day the original Ralphie, who was donated to the school, first led the team onto Folsom Field before a game against Oklahoma State. Now, each year, tryouts are held for prospective handlers, and from the 15 who are chosen, five run with ropes attached to Ralphie -- currently Ralphie V -- as she runs on and off the field. -- Kyle Bonagura
SEC: Auburn’s War Eagle
From Bear Bryant’s speech before every home game at Alabama to South Carolina’s dizzying playing of the theme song to “2001: A Space Odyssey,” the SEC is full of fun before kickoff. Although a walk through The Grove or running through the Power T are great to watch, I’m going with Auburn’s War Eagle. It’s tough to pull off consistent tricks with live mascots, but Auburn’s golden eagles have a long and illustrious history of soaring around a raucous Jordan-Hare Stadium and landing at midfield before every Auburn home game, which always sends Tigers fans into a frenzy. The current eagle, Nova, is the eighth bird to inspire Auburn’s rabid home crowd. -- Edward Aschoff