Tennessee named a top 10 college for sports fans by USA TODAY

Knoxville will soon turn into a sea of orange as the Tennessee Volunteers prepare to take on Furman University at the University of Tennessee's home opener on Sept. 5.

It's no secret that Vols fans love their Scruffy City, but now its place as one of the best colleges for sports fans has once again been cemented by USA TODAY's 2026 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.

Tennessee just made the list this year, taking spot No. 10 on the 10BEST list. It fell six spots from last year, having earned the No. 4 spot on the 2025 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards.

The Vols also took a top 10 spot in Best College Sports Traditions, landing at No. 9 for the Vol Navy, ahead of the University of Alabama and behind the Ohio State University.

Football fans dominate Tennessee's campus, downtown and even the Tennessee River during Saturday games. It's no surprise Knoxville is one of the best cities for college sports. Here are some traditions, including the Vol Navy, that help it earn the title.

Checker Neyland

First occurring in 2014, Checker Neyland is the practice of using the seating sections in Neyland to create an alternating orange and white checkerboard in the stands, mirroring the pattern in the field's end zones that has become an icon of Tennessee football.

The tradition took a four-year hiatus between 2017 and 2021, but since its return four years ago, it has quickly become a fan favorite practice for football season.

The 2026 Checker Neyland game is scheduled for Sept. 26 as the Vols take on the Texas Longhorns. Fans who want to participate in the checkering can find out if they need to wear orange or white by going to CheckerNeyland.com.

Running through the 'T'

Just before kickoff, the Pride of the Southland Band forms Tennessee's legendary "Power T" for the Vols to run through, all while the crowd in Neyland erupts in cheers and shouts.

The 'T' is made on the field as the band's final formation of its pre-game show. Once the shape is formed, the football team runs through it.

The Vols have been completing this tradition for over 60 years, having first begun in 1965, according to the NCAA. The team took a break in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Singing 'Rocky Top'

Written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryan in 1967 and recorded by The Osborne Brothers later that year, "Rocky Top" became a fixture of Tennessee football and eventually a nickname for the university.

It debuted on campus in 1972 and was first played by the Pride of the Southland Band at a game against Alabama on Oct. 21. It has become one of the most recognizable songs in college football.

The song is played by the band and sung by fans every time the Vols get a touchdown during the game, becoming more popular than Tennessee's actual fight song, "Down the Field."

Vol Navy

Neyland Stadium sits just beside the Tennessee River, creating the perfect environment for this unique gameday experience: tailgating on the water, otherwise known as sailgating.

It is guaranteed that while some fans congregate in Circle Park and others fill up G10 Parking Garage, all getting ready to watch the Vols take on whichever team they're set to play that day, thousands of others are boarding their boats and partying on the water.

The Vol Navy is a collection of boats that dock just by Neyland Drive and the stadium, hosting tailgates on the back of boats instead of the back of cars.

The unofficial tradition will enter its 64th year at the start of this football season.

Vol Walk

The Vol Walk is really what kicks off the start of the game. Before fans enter Neyland, before kickoff, before the Vols run through the 'T', fans gather just outside the stadium to watch the Vols walk into the stadium.

The tradition takes place a little over two hours before game time. First, the Pride of the Southland Band and then the football team walk through crowds of fans lining the street, high-fiving, shaking hands and hugging as they go.

What are the best colleges for sports fans?

• 10. University of Tennessee (Knoxville, Tennessee)
• 9. University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California)
• 8. University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California)
• 7. University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
• 6. Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
• 5. University of Miami (Miami, Florida)
• 4. University of Louisville (Louisville, Kentucky)
• 3. University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland)
• 2. West Virginia University (Morgantown, West Virginia)
• 1. Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama)

What colleges have the best sports traditions?

• 10. Dixieland Delight (University of Alabama)
• 9. Vol Navy (University of Tennessee)
• 8. Script Ohio (Ohio State University)
• 7. Singing Second (Army-Navy game)
• 6. "Jump Around" (University of Wisconsin, Madison)
• 5. Singing "Country Roads" (West Virginia University)
• 4. Sooner Schooner (University of Oklahoma)
• 3. Hawkeye wave (University of Iowa)
• 2. White Out (Pennsylvania State University)
• 1. Rolling Toomer's Corner (Auburn University)

Afton Pratt covers trending news for The Knoxville News Sentinel and Tennessee. She can be reached at ampratt@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee named a top 10 college for sports fans by USA TODAY