Sports
Scoggins: College football across America … literally
Tackling what was once considered impossible, college football fanatic Michael Barker has traveled to all 136 FBS stadiums and 104 out of 129 FCS stadiums in the country.
By Chip Scoggins
The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 17, 2025 at 2:00PM
A college football fanatic, Michael Barker will be in Minnesota to watch the Gophers play Nebraska Friday night before heading to New York and New Jersey for two FCS games in his quest to attend a game at every FBS and FCS school in the country. (Provided by Michael Barker)
Michael Barker’s itinerary this weekend calls for him to attend three college football games and one NFL game in four different states.
He decided to take it easy.
He usually attends six college football games in a week.
“I love college football,” he said.
Love might not be a strong enough word to describe Barker’s dedication to a pursuit that has brought him “C-minus celebrity” in the college football universe.
He attended 104 college football games in the 2024 season alone, which sounds humanly and geographically impossible, except Barker provides proof on his X page (@cfbcampustour). His navigation tally: 87,000 miles flown, 16,000 miles driven.
“Every stop pulled out, no expense spared, to try to put up the biggest number possible,” he said by phone last week.
A real estate appraiser in California by trade, he has attended games at all 136 FBS stadiums and 104 FCS stadiums (including St. Thomas in the opener this season).
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As soon as he lands in a city, he searches for a grocery store to stock up on protein bars and beef jerky and a Planet Fitness where he can work out and get a shower any time of the day.
He parked 2½ miles away from Penn State’s Beaver Stadium to avoid a parking fee.
“I love everything about a college campus,” he said, “except parking.”
He also loves stadium architecture and settings.
Ask for his favorite venue and he compares the task to picking a favorite flavor at Baskin-Robbins. But he names a few, starting with the Sun Bowl in El Paso.
“Best environment I’ve ever been in was Texas A&M, 2018, they were playing Clemson,” he said. “I love Kyle Field. Love LSU’s Tiger Stadium. When you go to smaller stadiums, I like App State, Boone, N.C. That place is 3,333 feet above sea level. It’s like a Field of Dreams.”