College football can be a religion.
A few years ago, I drove from MN to FL and returned a week later. I had to go around Chicago on to the South Bend area and then through Columbus (on a week-end). I never could get a hotel room. Unfortunately, I left FL on the next week-end and not get a room either until TN since it was fall and football season.
Madison, WI was a zoo at times a few years ago because it had 35,000 students and 10,000 politicians/older lobbyists in a small town of 100,000 and was within easy driving (under 5 hours) from Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue and Notre Dame. That was when they served 6% beer in the student union and a 18 year drinking age. Playboy rated the great U.S. towns for parties and Madison was not listed - they do not rank amateurs with professionals. It has been cleaned up, but the traditions seem to survive.
There are many places for great football, but they seem to be too crowded and over-run by alumni. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena is still my favorite because of the location, grounds and situation. I still look for an excuse to go there for the weekend and enjoy everything, no matter who is playing. - Park in the early AM by the stadium, walk up the hill to see the parade, walk back down and grill or eat before the game and jump in the nearby car before the traffic jam starts to miss the problems.