When people think of college football, the pageantry and passion of the fans might be the first thing that comes to mind. Nowhere is that better encapsulated than in the Southeastern Conference. 

The SEC is widely regarded as the top college football conference in the land, and it begins with the fandom that surrounds every team. Sure, the teams are competitive – it’s typically considered the best conference in the nation for the spot. It also features spots for some of the wildest and best pregame experiences. 

For the third year in a row, Bookies.com has compiled a comprehensive list of the top SEC pregame destinations. The list is borne from an algorithm based on multiple factors. Among them: 

• Location: Close to the action, accessible to fans
• Tailgating: The ability to park and enjoy a crisp fall day with a beverage and grill
• Entertainment Around Stadium: A vibrant bar and restaurant scene within walking distance of your seat
• Family Sentiment: Is the area safe and entertaining for kids and those with kids?

The competition and the pregame revelry only go up after the league welcomes the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners into the mix. On the field, both are national contenders. Off it, they ranked 1-2 in our 2023 pregame experience rankings for the Big 12 Conference. 

2024 SEC Football Pregame Destination Rankings

16. Vanderbilt Commodores

Nashville has become the nation’s go-to weekend party destination east of Las Vegas. But the excitement doesn’t seem to extend to Vanderbilt’s campus, which is 2.5 miles away from the hub of tourist action. The Commodores ranked last in the SEC in three of the four major categories. As bad as it sounds, keep in mind, the SEC is a deep and prideful group when it comes to pregame entertainment and traditions. (2022 ranking: 14th)

15. Arkansas Razorbacks

Games in Fayetteville are considered some of the more raucous in the SEC. Fans don’t spend as much time on the outside distractions, though Victory Village is a treat. Parking and accessibility were an issue, and Arkansas also ranked 15th in family sentiment. It probably didn’t help that the team went winless at home in SEC play, with the last two defeats by 34 and 38 points. (2023 ranking: 13th)

14. Kentucky Wildcats

Kroger Field is accessible and close enough to have something for everyone. But in terms of other SEC locales, it fell short across the board in most other dynamics. A competitive team can only help, and it appears the administration is working to improve the score and prove the UK isn’t just a basketball school. (2023 ranking: T-12th)

13. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Starkville is known for its cowbells, but that’s more to annoy the opposition during games. MSU’s highest ranking for pregame came for its friendliness to families and kids. Those who want to hit the bar scene, however, might be less enthralled, and tailgating is not easy for everyone. (2023 ranking: T-12th)

12. Missouri Tigers

Missouri fills the space with things to do, but the location and ease of getting to the action ranked among the toughest in SEC Country. Once there, fans can take part in the Tiger Walk with the team to the stadium, and the Tiger Deck is a great place to hang on gameday. The bar scene is 1.5 miles from Faurot Field. (2023 ranking: 10th)

RELATED: 2024 Big 12 Pregame Destination Rankings: Kansas State Takes The Lead

11. Florida Gators

Florida ranked lower than most expected, mainly due to the inconvenience of location and limited tailgating. Gators games ranked high in entertainment, there are ample places to partake, and it’s about average in terms of safety. The Gators aren’t as soaked in traditions as other places might be; it’s about having fun in the now. (2023 ranking: 9th)

10. South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina is one of the premier tailgating destinations in the SEC. Few places can make the ambiance surrounding Williams-Brice Stadium on game day. Families also ranked high for games in Columbia. The overall score was held back by those who weren’t tailgaters, though Gamecock Village, a destination for fans of all interests, keeps it up. (2023 ranking: 8th)

9. Ole Miss Rebels

The Grove is an iconic tailgating spot for Ole Miss home games. The on-campus tailgate extravaganza ranks No. 2 among all SEC tailgate options, though many would contend it should be No. 1. The Circle is another nearby hanging spot before games. The main bar scene isn’t nearby, keeping the total score down. (2023 ranking: 6th)

8. Auburn Tigers

If you’re all about tailgating, there might be some disappointment in games at Auburn, unless you’re well-connected. But for everyone else, there’s something to do. Small-town Auburn is a big part of it, and traditions run deep. The bar scene, for those interested, is close enough. (2023 ranking: 7th)

7. Texas A&M Aggies

The pregame action in College Station begins the night before games with the Midnight Yell, and it keeps going to kickoff. To no surprise, A&M ranks Top 5 in entertainment options and in overall location, with all the action near Kyle Field. Scores were above the average for families, too. (2023 ranking: 5th)

6. Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma ranked No. 1 among Big 12 pregame destinations in 2023. While the Sooners aren’t No. 1 in the SEC, and a sixth-place spot may feel low, the score was just a few points from being No. 2. The SooneRVillage is a spectacle, but fans will be content with a vibrant, nearby bar scene. Families have as many options in Norman as anywhere in the region, including the buzzing Party At The Palace. (2023 ranking: 1st Big 12)

RELATED: Big Ten Football 2024 Team-By-Team Miles Traveled

5. Tennessee Volunteers

Rocky Top blaring with the Pride of Southland marching around ranks near the top of most SEC traditions and is certainly memorable for fans of all ages. But Tennessee has something for everyone, with the bars just 15 minutes away and tailgating and family options all around Neyland Stadium. (2023 ranking: 3rd)

4. LSU Tigers

LSU takes its pregaming seriously, and its unique Bayou culture offers a unique flavor and feel to the environment. No surprise, then, that Tigers games ranked No. 1 in both overall entertainment and tailgating, an amazing feat in the ultra-competitive SEC. Its overall ranking dips due to a low score from families, and getting close to the stadium isn’t easy. (2023 ranking: 4th)

3. Texas Longhorns

Austin is a party on gamedays, and it’s spread wide and large. Texas ranked No. 2 in overall location and in entertainment options in the SEC; last year, it was No. 1 in both for the Big 12. The scores dip from families despite a huge kid-friendly area adjacent to Memorial Stadium, and myriad traditions that are memorable for young and old. (2023 ranking: 2nd Big 12)

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Tide fans may not be considered as huge into the true party scene as some other SEC spots. Perhaps that is why only one other spot in SEC Country ranked higher in family sentiment as Tuscaloosa. It also features The Quad, a must-top on gamedays. Those who wanted to hit the establishments were a cherry on top, as Alabama was one of just two schools to rank Top 5 in all four major categories. (2023 ranking: 2nd)

1. Georgia Bulldogs

There are so many sights and sounds to encounter in Athens, that tailgating is almost secondary. Georgia ranked No. 1 in overall area, in family sentiment, and third in tailgating and entertainment. Sanford Stadium rests in the center of campus, close to the bar and entertainment scenes. When it comes to pleasing everyone, nobody does it better than Georgia. (2023 ranking: 1st)