College Football Rankings: Best & Worst SEC Towns

From the thriving food scene to catching live music on Sixth Street, it is hard to go wrong in Austin. Barbecue lovers have plenty of great options including Terry Black's and Franklin.

For the more active fans, check out the trail along Lady Bird Lake. Those willing to drive can stay at some epic Airbnbs on Lake Travis.

On the field, Steve Sarkisian has helped make Texas relevant again. The chance to see Arch Manning in person does not hurt either.

No. 3 Nashville (Vanderbilt University)

With or without Lane Kiffin, Oxford is still one of the best college towns in America. Tailgating at "The Grove" should be high on anyone's bucket list. City Grocery is on my personal bucket list to eat at sooner rather than later.

No. 5 Auburn

From grabbing a lemonade at Toomer's Drugs to checking out Toomer's Corner, there are no shortage of options at Auburn. The gameday experience is worth the trip to Auburn itself, but there are also plenty of great places to eat and drink to keep you in the city long after the game is over.

No. 6 Baton Rouge (LSU)

LSU tops the list when it comes to the gameday experience. Baton Rouge's famous food scene and tailgating environment is hard to top.

Seeing LSU play at home is always a good idea, but hearing Garth Brooks' "Callin' Baton Rouge" during a night game just hits different.

No. 7 Knoxville (University of Tennessee)

Any time you can sailgate before a game, the city is going to be high on my list. The rankings factor in the entire town, not just the gameday experience.

Regardless, a trip to Tennessee in the fall is tough to top, especially with Neyland Stadium serving as the grand finale.

No. 8 College Station (Texas A&M University)

All Kyle Field does is go up with an estimated capacity of more than 102,000 fans. If the stadium was not enough to entice you, the Midnight Yell itself is a bucket list item.

No. 9 Norman (University of Oklahoma)

Alabama is not used to being ranked this low, but Tuscaloosa is still a must-visit for any college football fan. Eating a biscuit at Rama Jama's with a view of Bryant-Denny Stadium is a 10 out of 10. So is eating barbecue and checking out the pit at Archibald.

No. 11 Lexington (University of Kentucky)

It pains me that Lexington is this low, because few things are better than tailgating at a horse racing track. You can do just that at Keeneland.

From bourbon to horses, Lexington has you covered. The only challenge is Kentucky's football team has left a lot to be desired in recent years. If this were a ranking of college basketball cities, Lexington would be near the top.

There is a reason to be optimistic about Kentucky football with Will Stein now leading the program.

12. Columbia (University of South Carolina)

Check out one of the Cockabooses, grab some local barbecue, but whatever you do, don't miss the lead-up to kickoff. Make sure to check out South Carolina's traditional opening festivities with "Sandstorm" blaring.

No. 13 Gainesville (University of Florida)

Missouri continues to be an odd fit in the SEC. Columbia itself seems like a good city, especially for those who love being in nature.

No. 15 Fayetteville (University of Arkansas)

This one pains me because I'm currently the Arkansas coach in a nerdy NCAA dynasty with old college friends. The SEC was a big step up from my previous gig at San Diego State, but no one wants to hear about my video game resume.

Fayetteville looks like a lovely place and the Hogs boast a good gameday environment. Competing in the SEC city power rankings is not an easy task.

No. 16 Starkville (Mississippi State)

Thanks to the cow bells, Starkville won't sneak up on anyone. After three straight losing seasons, things have been bleak at Mississippi State. The good news is the program has one of the best mascots in the country.