25 Reasons College Football Is Better Than The NFL

Next week begins easily the best sports campaign in any year - college football season. The 2013 edition will be the final year of the BCS postseason system before we're treated to a four-team playoff - a move that should excite most fans. But even with the sport's current shortcomings, it far surpasses its main pigskin competitor - the NFL. We've got 25 reasons why:

25. True upsets

Sure, the NFL is known for parity, as "any team can win on any given Sunday". But there is nothing like seeing true underdogs knock off nationally ranked programs - just ask Appalachian State.

24. Johnny Manziel

No one knows what the fate of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will be, but when he's out on the field, he's a special talent.

23. Tearing down goal posts

Sure, it's a rather dangerous tradition. But it's one that doesn't exist in the NFL.

22. Jadeveon Clowney

Yeah, he'll be in the NFL a year from now. But he's college football's until then.

21. Les Miles tasting grass

The Mad Hatter is just one of the many interesting personalities in the SEC. One of his quirky habits? Tasting grass.

20. Samantha (Steele) Ponder

ESPN's College GameDay did a nice job replacing Erin Andrews, to say the least.

19. College GameDay signs

It's always fun to turn on the TV on Saturday morning and see what signs crazy college football fans have snuck in behind the ESPN set.

18. Texas A&M's "Midnight Yell"

Among the best traditions in college football.

17. Touchdown Jesus

One of Notre Dame's most iconic landmarks. Even Dickie V knows it.

16. Wisconsin's "Jump Around"

80,000 people all jumping up and down at the same time? It's a modern day architectural miracle that Camp Randall doesn't collapse.

15. The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party

The Florida vs. Georgia rivalry, renewed annually in Jacksonville, has its own nickname. GameDayr did a video feature that sums up the environment best.

14. Army vs. Navy

While the game itself doesn't hold the national implications it once did, it's a tradition unparalleled in college athletics. Navy, for the record, has won the last 11 meetings. Last year, both teams had awesome uniforms for the affair.

13. The Game

Ohio State vs. Michigan is so big a rivalry that it's simply known as "The Game". While Michigan leads the overall series by a decent margin, it's hard to argue that the Buckeyes haven't had the upper hand the last decade. 

12. The Red River Rivalry

Oklahoma and Texas, which are separated by the Red River (as you might have guessed), play in one of the fiercest rivalry games every season. Both schools are usually ranked, making each meeting even more important.

11. Notre Dame vs. USC

Easily the most important college football rivalry that isn't based on geography. Anyone else remember the infamous "Bush Push"?

10. The Iron Bowl

Alabama vs. Auburn, which is probably the SEC's best rivalry, has seen its fair share of amazing finishes over the years. Remember when Cam Newton led the Tigers back from a 21-0 deficit in 2010

9. Brent Musburger

The legendary announcer isn't just known for his calling of the action on the field, but the action in the stands as well.

8. Will Muschamp's face

Florida coach Will Muschamp is one of the most terrifying men in history. 

7. Ole Miss' "The Grove"

Tailgating, by and large, is better at college football games than the NFL. There is no better example than Ole Miss' 10-acre area known as "The Grove". 

6. Alma Mater singing

Win or lose, students and fans support their school. Anyone else have goosebumps?

5. Oregon's uniforms

Oregon alum Phil Knight, a co-founder of Nike, has turned the Ducks' program into a powerhouse on the lure of flashy uniforms. The school has gone from PAC-12 mediocrity to annual BCS contender.

4. The reception rule

In college, players only need to get one foot down inbounds for it to count as a completed catch. Obviously, it leads to more spectacular catches that actually count as catches.

3. Locker room traditions

Notre Dame's "Play Like A Champion Today" sign and Clemson's Howard's Rock are just two examples.

 2. The initial BCS Standings

Sure, everyone loves to hate the BCS. But when those first standings come out in mid-October, it becomes obvious what each team needs to do to reach the National Championship Game. The implications are huge.

1. Katherine Webb

You knew she'd be on here, you were just wondering how long it would take you to scroll and find her.

Let us know what we missed by tweeting @CollegeSpun!