A JOHNNIE-O GUIDE TO GAME DAY

College football season, debatably the best time of the year, is right around the corner. Here at johnnie-O, we’ve rounded up the 5 best games of the season that just can’t be missed. Whether you’re visiting your alma mater from out of town, or just walking to the tailgates from your dorm, let this serve as your official guide to game day, the johnnie-O way.

FSU @ LSU 9/4 in New Orleans

We’re kicking off college football season with a trip to the Big Easy. We’re checking into an Airbnb in the historic Garden District for its old world southern charm and easy access to Caesars Superdome. A Sunday game day gives us plenty of time to explore the city. Spend Saturday admiring the city’s rich history and architecture with a stroll through Jackson Square, or the French Quarter if you’re feeling like a party. Bonus points if you can get your hands on some crawfish boil. While this game may be far away from Tiger Stadium, there’s still plenty of opportunity for tailgates. You can set up camp at one of the Caesars Superdome tailgating lots along Loyola Ave for the perfect place to grill your brats and sip your brews. If that’s not your style, you can head to Fat Harry’s in the historic Uptown district for a quick beer before kick off. Come game time, head to the Superdome to watch the Seminoles take on the Tigers in the biggest game on the bayou.

A long weekend in Louisiana’s heat calls for our breezy cotton Tyler T-Shirt, available in team colors with a left chest logo to show your school spirit. A pair of our PREP-FORMANCE shorts are a must… moisture wicking and wrinkle resistant, you’ll stay cool and comfortable even as the game heats up. Top it off with one of our classic belts and a pair of our Range Runner sneakers or Dockside Sandals, both feature a cushioned footbed perfect for getting up on your feet for a touchdown. Last but certainly not least, stow your brews in our Insulated Backpack Cooler and you’re ready for the tailgates!

FSU Outfit Guide

Tyler T, Cross Country Short, Range Runner Sneaker, Brentwood Belt

LSU Outfit Guide

Tyler T, Calcutta Short, Dockside Sandal, Brentwood Belt, Insulated Backpack Cooler

Alabama @ Texas 9/10

Everything’s bigger in Texas, especially when it comes to football. So when we heard the Crimson Tide was paying a visit to the Longhorns, we knew we had to be in attendance. With a growing population of young professionals, Austin boasts a plethora of great restaurants and unique bars to enjoy upon arrival. Kick off is at noon, but considering it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, that’s not stopping us from a morning tailgate. We’re slipping into our boots and heading to Scholz Beer Garten for the largest and oldest tailgate in Austin before game time. Being the largest stadium in the Big 12, and the 7th largest stadium in the country, Texas Memorial Stadium is an impressive place to watch the Longhorns take on the Crimson Tide.

These two football powerhouses are not the only thing bringing the heat, with Texas temperatures expected to be in the high 80’s. Lucky for you we are ready with plenty of collegiate styles in our signature PREP-FORMANCE material that will keep you cool, dry, and comfortable all weekend. Our Lyndon Polo is lightweight and moisture wicking, and features subtle stripes in a plethora of team colors and logos. For the ‘bama fan, pair a crimson Lyndon with our team logo’d Cross Country shorts, they’re moisture and wrinkle resistant to keep you looking and feeling great all day. Finish the look with a pair of our Range Runner Sneakers and the Braidly Belt for an added hint of crimson in the look. Rooting for the Longhorns? Pair a Lyndon Polo with a pair of our Calcutta Shorts. Lightweight, stretchy, and moisture wicking, this outfit will have you feeling like you're ready to join the boys on the field. You could finish the look with a cowboy hat and boots, but you’d be much more comfortable in our Varsity Trucker and Sneakformance Sneakers.

Alabama Outfit Guide

Lyndon Polo, Cross Country Short, Braidly Belt, Range Runner Sneaker

Texas Outfit Guide

Lyndon Polo, Calcutta Short, Varsity Trucker Hat, Sneakformance Sneakers

Auburn @ UGA 10/8

One hour east of Atlanta is the quaint, southern college town of Athens. Home to reigning college football champions, the Georgia Bulldogs, we couldn’t let the season pass by without a visit to Athens. After punching the clock on Friday, kick off the weekend with a stroll through historic downtown Athens, just steps from campus. Enjoy dinner at Last Resort Grill, then head to the rooftop of the historic Georgia Theater for a drink. Saturday is game day, where you can tailgate at one of the 4 designated lots across campus. If that’s not your style, you can grab a drink before kick off at the famous Creature Comforts Brewery. Consistently ranked as one of the top 10 stadiums for college football, Sanford Stadium serves as the perfect place to watch the Tigers and Bulldogs battle it out. After the game, when late night hunger strikes, a quick walk to The Blind Pig Tavern will yield the best wings and cheese fries this side of the Mississippi. Sunday morning hangover? Nothing a little retail therapy can’t fix. On the way home, be sure to make a stop at one of our local vendors, Empire South or the Elephant Trunk, to check out the selection of johnnie-O.

Early October in the South is the perfect time to layer a polo with one of our classic ¼ zips or jackets. For the Georgia fan, our iconic Tailgater Polo will look great on its own, or layered underneath our fan favorite Sully ¼ Zip as the temperature drops in the evening. Top it off with our PREP-FORMANCE Pants and a pair of our Chill Chelsea Boots. Made for the tailgates, the Chill Chelsea is water resistant and can withstand a muddy tailgate or spilled beer. For the Auburn fan, layer our soft, burn-out washed Local Polo under our weather resistant Corsair Bomber, both feature a left chest logo to show your team spirit. Finish the look with our cotton stretch Hugo Pants, Brentwood Belt, and a pair of our tailgate ready Chill Chelsea Boots.

Auburn Outfit Guide

Local Polo, Corsair Bomber Jacket, Hugo Pant, Brentwood Belt, Chill Chelsea

UGA Outfit Guide

Tailgater Polo, Sully Pullover, Cross Country Pant, Chill Chelsea

NC State @ UNC 11/25

While we are based in LA, one thing you might not know about johnnie-O is that we have a design office in Raleigh, North Carolina where we employ several NC State and UNC alumni. With that being said, we couldn’t let the season pass by without highlighting this intense in-house rivalry. After the Thanksgiving festivities have concluded, it’s time to head to Chapel Hill where we’ll check in to The Carolina Inn just steps from campus. In the downtime before kick off, check out the Old Well on UNC’s beautiful campus, then walk to The Carolina Coffee Shop to warm up before the big game. Ready to tailgate? Head to campus and park at one of the designated lots to get the party started. Otherwise, head to He’s Not Here, the legendary Chapel Hill bar known for its famous 32-ounce Carolina blue souvenir cup. Can’t make it to Chapel Hill? There’s plenty of festivities in Raleigh for the NC State fan to enjoy. During the daytime, pay campus a visit and don’t forget to stop at Wolfpack stadium to check out the famous “Wolves Ears,” two uniquely engineered sculptures that allow you to have a conversation with a friend across the field. Need a place to watch the game? Head over to Player’s Retreat, a local favorite for football and drinks, and just steps away from the famous bell tower. In the case of a NC State win, head over to the bell tower to celebrate the victory with chants and cheers…the famous campus monument will be lit up red, signifying a win.

Part of the Wolfpack? Layer our fan favorite team logo’d Sully ¼ Zip over our PREP-FORMANCE Colter Polo in the perfect shade of Wolfpack red. Pair it with our soft and stretchy Atlas Jeans, Suedehead Belt, and a pair of our Mox Loafers for a look that says “Go Pack!”. If you’re routing for the Tar Heels, grab our Swing Long Sleeve Polo. It’s light as a feather and easy to layer under your favorite jacket, ¼ zip, or vest, like our new team logo’d Crosswind Quilted Vest. Finish off the look with our classic PREP-FORMANCE Cross Country Pant and a pair of Malibu Chukka Boots for a look that’s ready for wherever the weekend may take you.

NC State Outfit Guide

Sully 1/4 Zip Pullover, Colter Polo, Atlas 5 Pocket Jean, Suedehead Belt, Mox Loafer

UNC Outfit Gude

Swing Longsleeve Polo, Crosswind Quilted Vest, Cross Country Pant, Malibu Chukka

ND @ USC 11/26

For our folks on the west coast, we’re highlighting one of the fiercest rivalries in college football: Notre Dame vs. Southern California. Whether you’re a fan of the Fighting Irish or the Trojans, there’s plenty of fun to be had at this iconic Thanksgiving weekend game. LA is certainly no small college town, and it goes without saying that there is plenty to keep you entertained before game time. For easy access to the tailgates, we’re staying 10 minutes up the road from LA Memorial Stadium at one of the many hotels in the LA Live entertainment district. Looking to venture away from campus? Spend Friday afternoon strolling the beach in Santa Monica or taking in the sights and scenes of Hollywood. Saturday is game day, and we’re fueling up for the tailgates with a bite to eat in USC village just steps away from campus. Ready to get in on the action? USC is a wet campus, meaning you can tailgate just about anywhere you please. Whether you head to Greek Row to relive your glory days, set up your own tailgate on the campus lots, or grab a wristband to USC’s Trojan Family Tailgate, there’s no shortage of fun. For a cold beer and a slice of pizza, head to 901 Bar and Grill, a favorite for students and fans alike. When it’s time for kick off, we’ll head into LA Memorial Stadium (the biggest in the Pac-12) to watch the Trojans and the Fighting Irish do what they do best.

If you traveled to LA from the great state of Indiana, this is your last chance to wear shorts before the long winter sets in. Enjoy the California climate with a pair of our Tailgater Shorts, they feature a Notre Dame leprechaun logo and even have a bottle opener in the leg that’s sure to make you the fan favorite at the tailgate. Pair them with our striped Newton Polo and Sneakformance 2.0 Sneakers, and when the evening chill hits, throw on the Diaz ¼ Zip for an added layer. For the USC fan, start off with our Lyndon Polo, it’s soft and stretchy for all day comfort and will layer perfectly under our Brady Microfleece ¼ Zip. Pair with our Hugo 5-Pocket Pant, and finish the look with one of our premium full-grain leather belts and a pair of timeless leather Getaway Drivers. See you ate the tailgates!

ND Outfit Guide

Newton Polo, Tailgater Short, Diaz 1/4 Zip, Sneakformance 2.0

USC Outfit Guide

Lyndon Polo, Brady Fleece 1/4 Zip, Hugo Pant, Getaway Driver, Grain Belt

Now that you’re in the know on the best games this season, gear up by shopping our Tailgater Collection HERE, and our full range of NCAA styles HERE. Wearing johnnie-O to the tailgate? Snap a photo of you and your crew, then head over to Instagram to enter our monthly giveaway from now until December 4th! Be sure to tag us in your photo @johnnieobrand and use #JOTailgater.