One of the things that separates college football from professional football are the college fight songs. Even though many pro football teams have a fight song, they don’t stir up the same level of emotions that the college fight songs do.
This is naturally a subjective list and some may disagree. We will also provide a list of honorable mentions at the end. Now let’s take a look at the best of the best.
Best Fight Songs in College Football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish-Victory March
If you were lucky enough to watch the replays on Sunday of the Notre Dame games announced by Lindsay Graham and Paul Hornung in the 60s and 70s then you grew up listening to Victory March. The song was played for the first time in 1908 in all places in a church.
This is clearly the most iconic and recognizable of all college fight songs in part because it has such a catchy and rememberable sound to it. It really makes no difference whether or not you’re a fan of the Fighting Irish this is the number one college fight song of all time.
University of Michigan-Hail To The Victors
This one comes in at a close second to Victory March. While the tune is certainly catchy it’s really the lyrics that make it great. Anytime the team wins a big game there are videos of the team singing it as loud as they possibly can. They also usually sing it more than once because the lyrics emphasize leadership and of course, victory.
If you ever get the chance to go to Ann Arbor to the Big House, watching the Michigan band come onto the field playing Hail To The Victors followed by the team running onto the field and touching the M Go Blue banner is something you will never forget.
It’s not a stretch to say that every Michigan fan in attendance knows all the words to “Hail To The Victors”.
Ohio State-Buckeye Battle Cry
Ohio State is the only school mentioned here that actually has two fight songs. We’re talking about the newer one “Buckeye Battle Cry”.
What makes this one special is that it gives the listener so much energy. When listening to it you get the feeling that you’re moving and moving quickly. Also unique about this song is that it references Ohio and not Ohio State. The biggest tradition associated with it is when the Ohio State Marching Band is playing the song and it’s often a mystery but always a privilege and an honor to be the one who gets to dot the “I” at the end of the song when the band finishes spelling out the word “Ohio “.
Oklahoma-Boomer Sooner
The Oklahoma fight song Boomer Sooner is even older than the Notre Dame fight song. Boomer Sooner originated in 1905 where as Victory March made it’s debut in 1908.
Boomer Sooner is unique in that during football and basketball games one side of the crowd will chant “Boomer “ to be followed by the other side of the crowd chanting “Sooner”. The song itself is played when teams take the field or the court and after each score during a football game.
Unlike most other schools fight songs there is also “Boomer Schooner “ which takes the field before games and after a score. Boomer Schooner is a wagon that’s pulled by two white ponies aptly named Boomer and Sooner.
Alabama Crimson Tide-Yea Alabama
A lot of people mistakenly believe the name of the Alabama Crimson Tide fight song is “Roll Tide “ but it’s really called “Yea Alabama “. Roll Tide is more of a rallying cry for the faithful.
Roll Tide is of course referenced in the fight song and it’s the only one on our list that makes mention of other teams, most specifically Georgia and Georgia Tech.
The song also has a nice rhythm to it and has a good southern feel to it.
There’s really nothing bigger in the state of Alabama than college football so much so that legend has it that babies have to declare their allegiance to either Alabama or Auburn at birth. The song “Yea Alabama “ is clearly one of the best fight songs ever and some people not from the north might say the best ever.
Honorable Mention
Tennessee Volunteers-Rocky Top
Auburn Tigers-War Eagle
USC Trojans-Fight On
Army Black Knights-Anchors Aweigh
There you have the greatest college football fight songs and some runners up that many will believe should have made our top five. Of course you can be the judge.
Main Image: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
