UNITED STATES—Good riddance summer, hello fall! I will be the first to tell you all I am glad summer is behind us. I have never been a fan of the hot summer months. I hate when the weather is muggy, excessive heat, and the fact that I’m a natural sweater does not help the situation. I’m not a fan of fall simply because it allows me to change up my wardrobe, but I love the fact that we have the holidays. There is something even more enticing for me about fall: football season!

Yes, football is back in force America and I know there are those of you who adore the NFL or professional football, but I am the polar opposite. I am someone who loves college football. I feel like plenty of NFL games just go thru the motions; the players sometimes don’t feel as engaged in what is taking place around them. Why? Perhaps it’s the fact that they get paid millions, and millions of dollars to get out there on the field. Win or lose they’re still getting a paycheck at the end of the week.

When you look at college football, there seems to be more of a sense of urgency. These players have something to prove, they are angling for something and the excitement, and I just cannot explain it in words. I feel an energy watching a college football game that I just don’t get with a professional football game.

Could it be the fact that I get the opportunity to wear my favorite collegiate gear? Perhaps it’s the ability to tailgate? Cheer my alma mater? Or it’s just being in the company of people who enjoy one of this country’s most invigorating sports? I would argue it’s all of the above.

Football is just fun and you don’t have to be a full-blown football fanatic to enjoy the sport. You might be someone who likes the idea of a tailgate party, attending a collegiate football game at an elite university or a beloved football stadium. The one thing I would argue that is interesting about college football over professional football is the level of competition.

You see more competition in the college arena than you do in the NFL. I cannot recall too many NFL games that left me on the edge of my seat. You might be lucky to get one during the entire season if you’re lucky, but it is not that common. Some of you might not be football fanatics, and that is fine, all I’m saying is give the sport a shot. It’s a lot more entertaining than many of the sports we have out there.

Above anything, football is that sport in my personal opinion that brings EVERYONE together. I mean we have the Super Bowl, which is the most watched event every single year in the United States, if not the world. That cannot be a fluke people. Enjoy football while it is here, it’s a short four months.

Written By Zoe Mitchell