UCLA Football: Trip-Worthy Away Games

Are you debating which UCLA Football away games to go to? Here are some suggestions on what trips you should make this fall season.

As we get closer to September, you must be worrying incessantly about the upcoming football season and wondering which away games you will be able to attend.

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Let’s face it; chances are that unless you have the best job in the world, you will not be able to attend all of the non-Rose Bowl games. No need to panic about which games to pick though because we bring you the away games you must definitely add to your itinerary this fall.

Texas A&M

The Location: The Bruins will be visiting the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field in College Station, TX. Kyle Field, the “Home of the 12th Man,” is the largest college football stadium in the SEC. Some have called the stadium to be an intimidating venue, but the Bruins have a knack for defeating Texas teams at home.

The college town is located in East-Central Texas, in the heart of the Brazos Valley. Just under two hours away from either Austin or Houston, Aggieland is home to the George Bush Presidential Library & Museum and the Brazos Valley African American Museum. And if you’re feeling a little adventurous, there are also more than a couple of wineries offering tastings nearby.

The Food: If you’re into chicken fingers and college traditions, then you must try Layne’s Chicken Fingers. Dixie Chicken would be the best spot to go for a burger and beer to celebrate the Bruins’ victory. Or if you’re into the show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, you could check out Guy Fieri’s pick: Hullabaloo’s Diner. Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t suggest a BBQ spot: C&J Barbeque would be the go-to place,which has been the locals’ favorite since 1981.

The Game: Here’s why this game is an easy pick: it’s the season opener. What better way to celebrate the return of the Bruin Revolution than by living it?! Plus, Texas A&M has a rich football history which includes losing recruits due to careless tweets and being openly offensive to women. Last, but not least, why would you want to miss the look on Noel Mazzone’s face when the Bruins show him what a real offense is supposed to play like? Truly, this will be a game you won’t want to miss.

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Colorado

The Location: The Bruins will travel North in November to play the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field in Boulder, CO. Although the Rose Bowl boasts the best views in college football, I will admit that the views from Folsom are not too shabby.

The stadium is also the third highest in major college football, sitting more than a mile high. If you need to be high somewhere, I can’t think of a better (or more legal) place than Colorado. And, according to the school, the weather should be perfect in November—but I will let you all be the judge of that. 

If you will only be there for a few days after the Thursday game, then make sure to check out the city’s visitor guide of what to do in Boulder in 48 hours.

The Food: As you might imagine, Boulder has a long list of good restaurants to try. You could start by going to the Pearl Street Mall to take a stroll and browse the eateries nearby. But if you’re in Colorado, why worry about the food when you should be worrying about the drinks? If you haven’t heard by now, the state is filled with microbreweries and distilleries. Here’s a list of all the places to responsibly try before or after the game.

The Game: If you have had a moment to check out the UCLA Football schedule, you would know that it ain’t an easy one. You’d think that Colorado would be the game the Bruins would use to take a breather before facing USC just a couple of weeks later. After all, the Buffs have ended at the bottom of the Pac-12 South every single year since joining the conference.

And yet, the past two years the Bruins have looked rather shaky when facing the Buffs. In 2014, the Bruins barely made it out of Folsom with a win after defeating Colorado in double overtime. And last year, the Bruins had to scramble to come back and defeat the Buffs after Colorado had taken a 31-28 lead with only 14:37 to play. If history can teach us something, it’s that the Bruins will need all the good energy that fans can provide. So make sure you add this game to your schedule!

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California

The Location: To close what should be a National Championship worthy season, the Bruins will play at the California Memorial Stadium, home of the California Golden Bears in Berkeley, CA. The stadium, a registered historic place, has been open since 1923 and provides some spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay.

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Berkeley is a small but bustling city, just a short trip away from San Francisco. Close to the Bay, this college town offers a lot of opportunities for the outdoorsy type. After all, we can be sure that the California weather will be more than generous in late November.

The Food: If you are craving some delicious hot dogs, be sure to try Top Dog, which has been around since 1966. Or if meat is not your thing, you might want to try the locals’ vegan favorite Smart Alec’s. But if you really know what life is truly about, make sure you visit Eureka Burger. If they have their bone marrow burger, do yourself a favor and try it—worth every penny! Finally, make sure to check out The Cheese Board Collective for some delicious pizza.

The Game: It is at Cal that the Bruins will end their regular season this year. If you asked me, this is a crime because UCLA should always play USC to close the regular season. But since I don’t make the rules, we will be stuck in Berkeley to bid the regular season goodbye. This alone should be a good reason to head to this game. But if you need more, a trip to the Bay Area is always fun, why not do it to support the Bruins?

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You should now be armed with all the information you need to plan your next football trips. Make sure to make some noise from the stands and to enjoy every bit of good ol’ UCLA football.

Go Bruins!