2026 Planning process
We know where we aren’t going:
When I got about halfway through the hundred plus stadiums, it occurred to me that the last venue should be special. Unfortunately, I had already hit a number of legendary stadiums – Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas A&M, Michigan were all already done. It needed to be a Power Five (now Four) conference. Additionally, we were looking to make the final game a party, inviting everyone who had gone to a game with me. With a list of over a hundred names, we knew getting that many seats for a marquee Big 10, SEC or Big 12 game would be both costly and problematic.
Lastly, we felt a location that delivered something beyond football might strengthen the incentive to join us for the finale. Given the website’s tradition of picking games and our penchant for having a good time, UNLV was briefly given some consideration despite lacking a football pedigree. Ultimately, the Rebels were rejected. I had visions of most of our crew skipping a mediocre game in favor of gambling in air conditioning – if they were even awake by kickoff. It was on to other options. U of Washington had some appeal because the stadium had a reputation as one of the most scenic in the country. However, Seattle is not exactly central to the United States.
The pickings were getting slim when I realized that Vanderbilt was still not checked. While not exactly a traditional power, the Commodores have improved over the years. Plus, Vandy is in Nashville, which is a travel destination in itself. Finishing in the SEC on a very comfortable late fall afternoon makes Vanderbilt our final spot, just not this year.
For further consideration:
As we look to the other nine stadiums, there are a few factors worth noting:
- The FBS welcomes two new teams, North Dakota State and Sacramento State. Seeing the Hornets (don’t worry – I had to google that one too) is a relatively easy west coast trip that offers a lot of other things to do – seeing the Bison in Fargo, not so much.
- This is not going to be cheap. At this point, there’s nothing “local” for me. Thankfully, getting around could not be cheaper in 2026 (Hah!).
- Another overseas game for the Steelers further complicates the schedule. We had such a great time in Dublin last year that a trip to Paris this year to see Pittsburgh play New Orleans immediately comes up for consideration. This is especially true when my wife greets this proposal with a smile rather than a frown.
Comprehending some of my other seasonal traditions – catching a Va Tech night game, tailgating with my students at CNU, and a fall trip back home – and the scheduling is going to take some work. It is, however, fun “work” to do. More to come…
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