College Football: Economical Travel Tips for Catching the Big Game

Everyone is watching his or her wallet. Travel, especially for a college football game, is considered more of a luxury than a want in recent years. However, Nicole Hockin, Travel Expert at Hotels.com's blog, www.TravelSmartBlog.com has some economical recommendations for those on a budget. With these tips, financially strapped college football fans who want to get away – even for a long weekend – can do so without breaking the bank.

1. September and October are great months to catch a game in the Northeast in cities such as Boston. With Boston and UMASS nearby, take some time to take in the autumnal display of foliage.

2. If you've never experienced college football in the South, I encourage you to find a weekend and immerse yourself in the tradition and celebration that is (predominantly) the SEC. Consider Oxford, MS. (Ole Miss), Athens, GA. (UGA), Baton Rouge, LA. (LSU) and Huntsville, AL. (the University of Alabama is ranked #1 pre-season).

Expert tip: Airlines will typically have NCAA fares in and out of cities near to top football towns. Sign-up for the deal emails and act quickly when you see the flight you want. Seats and fares are limited.

3. The crispness of fall is a bit more tolerable out west in places such as Tempe, Arizona. Consider Sun Devil Stadium to watch Arizona State where you can still wear shorts instead of that snowsuit you've been eyeing.

4. If you want to join 103,000 fans in the world’s largest sing-along then head to Knoxville, TN for a few hundred rounds of Rocky Top in the University of Tennessee's Neyland Stadium located on the banks of the Tennessee River. Gatlinburg is another nearby city and worth a night's stay for a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

5. Home of the College Football Hall of Fame, South Bend, Indiana is a great spot to pay homage to the legends of NCAA football and where a walk around the Notre Dame campus is a lesson in football history itself. 

Expert tip: Chicago is an easy drive from South Bend so consider accommodations there and drive over for the game.

6. The Cotton Bowl is home to the annual Red River Shootout rivalry game played between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners. Played on neutral territory in Dallas, TX, it also coincides with the largest state fair in the U.S., the State Fair of Texas. And take it from someone who has been there; they can fry just about anything so get ready for some fun fair food and entertainment!