2 Brothers Attempt the Ultimate Stadium Tour

The Plan Takes Shape

The Rais were born and raised in northern Colorado and they still reside there today. They also root for the Denver Nuggets, and both are musicians. Connor plays guitar while Evan plays drums. Connor works in a warehouse and Evan repairs communication equipment for public safety departments.

The idea to visit every FBS stadium started after Connor met someone who had attended the Florida State vs. Florida rivalry game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

“He was telling me about the atmosphere, what he learned there, and what Florida football meant to the school,” Connor said. “It got me thinking about how every school means something to somebody. I started learning about traditions and game days across the country, and I realized the best way to understand it all was to experience it in person while documenting the journey for anyone with the same curiosity.”

Connor knew he could not do it alone.

“My brother Evan and I grew up loving the game,” he said. “So I pitched him the idea, and now here we are.”

Their rules for every stop are simple. Stay for the entire game. Take a photo inside the stadium.

The planning is just as intense as the travel. They try to buy tickets in the spring or summer, and if a game is within a 10-hour drive, they will drive overnight to save money. Whenever possible, they target “regional clusters” to keep costs down, but future ticket offers might alter that initial plan.

The Running Tally

They have now completed their second season and have already attended games at 14 FBS stadiums, plus one College Football Playoff game at the 2025 Cotton Bowl.

Stadiums visited so far (in order): Wisconsin, Air Force, BYU, Wyoming, Colorado State, Delaware, Maryland, Nebraska, Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico. They also attended the 2025 Cotton Bowl as a neutral-site playoff experience.

When asked to name their top three stadiums so far, Connor did not hesitate. BYU took the top spot, with Wisconsin and Nebraska rounding out the list.

“Provo is a beautiful town with a great mountain town vibe,” Connor said. “LaVell Edwards Stadium is easy to navigate, the views are incredible, the fourth-quarter show is awesome and the fanbase was so welcoming.”

Wisconsin holds a special place for a different reason.

“Not only was it the first stop on our chase, but the tailgating was everywhere,” Connor said. “The stadium is historic, it was a sold-out crowd and our seats were super cool.”

Nebraska delivered the loudest environment they have experienced.

“Lincoln on game day is probably the most electric atmosphere we’ve seen so far,” Connor said. “Our home opener against Akron had the same energy as the top 25 SEC matchup we went to.”

Game Day Adventures

Connor and Evan did not hesitate when asked about their favorite moments so far. Picking just one was the hard part.

“This one took a discussion, but we settled on Wisconsin when they played ‘Build Me Up Buttercup,’” Connor said. “More than 85,000 people were singing in sync, and when the DJ cut the music, the crowd finished the song in unison. An honorable mention is Jack Sawyer’s scoop-and-score in the Cotton Bowl Classic.”

As someone who grew up in Madison, Wis., and held season tickets for more than 25 years, I was not surprised that Camp Randall rose to the top. While “Jump Around” rightfully gets most of the national attention, the full game-day experience in Madison should be a must on every college football fan’s bucket list.

On the flip side, the most chaotic moment of their journey came on the way to the 2025 Cotton Bowl between Ohio State and Texas. Their father grew up in Ohio and still has family there, so the Buckeyes have always been their first love. Missing that game was never an option, no matter what weather or ticket problems stood in their way.

“We drove 18 hours through a blizzard with a couple of friends to watch Ohio State advance to the national title,” Connor said. “Our original tickets didn’t come in, so we had to spend way too much at the gate. I think we spent less than 18 hours total in Arlington (Texas). We slept one night in a rundown motel after the game. It was a mess, but it worked out in the end, so we can laugh about it now.”

What’s Next?

As lifelong Ohio State fans, seeing the Buckeyes in person at Ohio Stadium in Columbus sits at the top of their list. Lane Stadium is next for Connor, mostly because of Virginia Tech’s entrance to “Enter Sandman” is one of college football’s iconic traditions. Metallica is also Connor’s favorite band, which makes that atmosphere a must.

For Evan, the next dream stop is either Army or Navy. They have already been to Air Force and found it especially memorable, thanks to the museums and memorials on base.

Closing Thoughts

Memories are what we hold onto long after the final whistle. The Rais brothers have found the perfect mix of brotherhood, road trips and college football, and they are building a lifetime of stories one stadium at a time.

When asked what advice they would give to anyone hoping to chase a similar journey, Connor kept it simple.

“Do your research, plan your trip, and go,” he said. “Once you get the ball rolling, you start to figure out what works for you.”

I’ll admit it, I’m jealous. Until I can start checking off stadiums myself, I’ll be living vicariously through them as they work their way toward more than 100 remaining stops. If you also want to follow along, check out their social media accounts below.

Connor and Evan’s Social Media

• Reddit: u/collegeculturesports
• Instagram: CollegeCultureSports
• YouTube: CollegeCultureSports