As College Football Playoffs Expand, 4 Host Cities Embrace Game Day Traditions

Brisket BBQ Nachos: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Clemson at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX

For the just over 100,100 fans descending on Austin, there’s plenty to look forward to amidst the sea of burnt orange-clad fans. Within the stadium, with concessions run by Sodexo Live!, the most popular items sold this past season don’t stray too far from a Texas tradition: brisket. 

The Brisket BBQ Nachos were a fan favorite in the main seating bowl, and the sliced brisket was a popular choice in the premium spaces. The brand-new Fletchers Corny Dogs, a local vendor making its first appearance, has a rapidly increasing following. For those wanting a bit of alcohol to go with their brisket, the Burnt Orange Paloma Draft Cocktail was a major success. 

The Sodexo Live! team tells Food & Wine they won’t unveil any new items for the playoff game. Instead, they will focus on “what makes Texas special from a culinary perspective” by showcasing the flavors and traditions that resonate with Longhorns fans while representing the “rich food culture of Texas.” 

While Texas is plenty known for barbecue, the city of Austin may have a slightly more eclectic approach to cuisine. Sure, there’s plenty of barbecue to be had — LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue is a top choice — but don’t overlook the city’s other options, from high-level Tex-Mex to brunch. 

If you’re wanting to try your hand at some Texas-inspired dishes at home, get smoking or grilling with brisket — and these 20 recipes will get you plenty far.

Chicken Tenders: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 SMU at Beaver Stadium, State College, PA

With over 106,500 fans that fill Beaver Stadium in central Pennsylvania, the first to ever bring the white-out tradition — where fans dress fully in white — to college football, you can expect plenty of dedication when the Nittany Lions host the College Football Playoffs. And plenty of hungry mouths to feed. 

New this season, Oak View Group’s OVG Hospitality took over the concessions at one of the nation’s largest venues, telling Food & Wine the most popular items throughout the year are the chicken tenders and fries basket, a brand-new Bavarian pretzel with cheese, Pittsburgh’s Caliente Pizza and the adored Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab Fries from Philadelphia. 

A handful of unique items finding their way into Beaver Stadium delight aplenty, such as Oak View Group’s State Smash Burger or a local “The Fans — Hazy IPA” specifically brewed for the stadium by Rusty Rail Brewery. The addition of local wineries Happy Valley Wineries and Seven Mount Wineries have also been a popular choice in Beaver Stadium’s premium spaces. Of course, the on-campus Penn State Berkey Creamery, the largest university creamery in the nation, is a fan favorite, especially with the ice cream available inside the stadium. 

The food in State College, Pennsylvania, certainly caters to the locals and many a student will find what they’re searching for, from waffles to breweries. The creamery is always a trendy stop, especially after a burger or pizza, while the chicken tender basket — Penn State fans devour chicken baskets like no other fan base in the country — will reign supreme. 

Chocolate Bread Pudding with Bailey’s Sauce: No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN

Touchdown Jesus — the “Word of Life” mural of Jesus with his arms outstretched — overlooks the 80,700-seat Notre Dame Stadium outside South Bend, Indiana, so it comes as no surprise that the Touchdown Burger is one of the most popular dishes inside the venue. 

Levy, the venue’s concessionaire, crafted an Angus beef burger topped with bacon, onion jam, cheddar cheese, and Comeback Sauce, which has become one of the most popular concession items for Fighting Irish fans. 

But if you fancy a bit of the unexpected at Notre Dame, the signature bread pudding has been a hit on the menu since Levy introduced it in 2023. Cups of chocolate bread pudding topped with Bailey’s sauce routinely sell out before halftime even hits. Levy tells Food & Wine that fans attending the first-round playoff game will enjoy a special “shamrock-shaped limited-edition version of the fan favorite.” These offerings mix a blend of cinnamon-sugar, white chocolate, and raisins topped with green and gold sugar and sprinkles. They come served with a Fighting Irish Caramel Sauce infused with Baileys Irish Cream. Only 50 are available at each of the two stands in sections 10 and 25. 

While still nearly 100 miles from Chicago, many fans making their way to Notre Dame, Indiana, will travel through the Windy City. And it’s there that the world of pizza and hot dogs takes on new life. Football fans have plenty to clamor over, whether testing out some of the aforementioned eats by hitting a steakhouse, a taproom, or sampling some famed popcorn. For a more direct taste of Notre Dame, Irish whiskey brand Teeling partnered with the school’s athletic department for a special-edition single malt. 

Buckeye Smashburgers: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

Even if you can’t join the band at halftime spelling out “O-H-I-O” as the special guest dotting the “I” at midfield, you can still be one of over 102,700 fans inside The Horseshoe during the College Football Playoffs. 

In a tradition popular with fans, the Taste of the Competition grill carts get going well before the start of the game, and the popular Buckeye Smashburger is arguably the most popular item of the day, Levy, the official concessionaire, tells Food & Wine. 

For the first-ever on-campus College Football Playoffs games, Levy plans a celebratory Buckeye CFP Smashburger (recipe below) featuring a smashed Angus beef patty, melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, bread-and-butter pickles, and a new “Scarlet Secret Sauce.” 

Other must-get items in the stadium include the Block O Bavarian-style soft pretzel, which is shaped like the team’s logo. New for the playoff game, the Buckeye Block O pretzel will include a peanut butter and chocolate drizzle, a nod to the famous Buckeye candy, which is also found throughout the venue. 

Candy is a popular pastime in Columbus, which features a new Buckeye Treat Trail with 17 different stops to try everything from the famed Buckeye candy to other confections.