Collegiate Sports in Atlanta

Atlanta has proven itself a big-time sports town with an impact not just on the national but also the global sporting landscape. With that being said, sports fans in Atlanta still have plenty of passion and admiration for their local teams – especially when it comes to their favorite college teams. Walk down one city block, and you’re sure to see at least a couple of people decked out in their team colors and gear, and it doesn’t even have to be on a game day.

Discover in Atlanta places to enjoy the big game, celebrate after a win and everything in between.

Big College Sporting Events in Atlanta

Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff Game

Atlanta is the college football capital of America. This city has an insatiable appetite for collegiate gridiron action, and Atlanta wastes no time helping to get the college football season started on the right track. The season gets off to a start with the annual Week 0 MEAC/SWAC Challenge that features teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The event is held at Center Parc Stadium, serving as a bookend to the annual Cricket Celebration Bowl in December.

When: August
Where: Center Parc Stadium at Georgia State University

Aflac Kickoff Game

SEC schools are pitted against the top talent in the ACC and beyond with the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Past contenders have included powerhouses such as Alabama, Tennessee, Clemson, Georgia and Boise State. These games fall over Labor Day weekend each year, giving spectators even more of a reason to make a weekend getaway out of it to celebrate the annual Week 1 kickoff extravaganza.

When: Labor Day Weekend
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

SEC Championship Game

The SEC returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium every December, as downtown Atlanta hosts the annual SEC Championship football game. This is a game that has historically had massive ramifications on the race for the national championship – the winner usually instantly becomes a favorite to win it all, and even the loser is still in the conversation to make the 12-team College Football Playoff. This is one of the hottest tickets in town for any sporting event and is certainly a hub for the most passionate college football fans from across the South and the country.

When: December
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Cricket Celebration Bowl

Even after the confetti falls on the field following the SEC Championship game, college football fans still have plenty of reason to head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium once bowl season gets underway. The Cricket Celebration Bowl pits the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference, two conferences of historically black colleges and universities in NCAA Division I. The HBCU National Championship has provided plenty of thrills in the past, and it serves as the perfect way to kick off the jam-packed bowl season during the holidays.

When: December
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Don’t miss the action at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, one of the largest sporting events of the year in Atlanta. The bowl features two of the country’s top-four teams with a spot in the National Championships on the line. As one of the New Year’s Six bowl games, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl offers an unmatched Bowl Week experience for players and fans alike. 

When: December
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

College Football Playoff National Championship and NCAA Final Four

On top of all the intense college football action throughout the season, Atlanta has also played host to the biggest college football game of the year, the National Championship Game. Also, there’s more to Atlanta than football. Georgia’s capital city has hosted numerous NCAA Men’s Final Fours, including the 75th Anniversary edition in 2013.

Check the Discover Atlanta calendar for more sporting events taking place throughout the city. Or explore our sports guides featuring major sporting events taking place during spring, summer, fall and winter.

Pride for Atlanta’s College Teams

While Atlanta has collegiate sports fans of teams from all over the South and the country, this city still has plenty of love for the local schools as well. Every day is a day to show your team spirit.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech’s campus is located in Midtown, and fans can catch a football game at Bobby Dodd Stadium or take in some hoops at McCamish Pavilion. With Tech fielding teams in all big collegiate sports in the major Atlantic Coast Conference, you can rest assured that there are Yellow Jacket events happening year-round.

Georgia State University Panthers

Georgia State University keeps downtown teeming with excitement during major sports seasons, with Sun Belt Conference action. From football and basketball to baseball and golf, the GSU Panthers will bring you to your feet.

Atlanta’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Atlanta’s historically black colleges & universities field teams year-round in major sports as well. Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College all show their school spirit on and off the court around Atlanta.

Where to Watch College Sports Games in Atlanta

Are you coming to Atlanta, but don’t want to miss a minute of your favorite team’s game? Look for an alumni association in our city. Many alumni associations have active Atlanta chapters, and several of them host watch parties for their games. Find your alma mater’s group and make your vacation feel like a home game.

You can also head to one of these popular sports bars and restaurants to watch your favorite team’s game with the added extras of excellent service, good food and drinks and Southern hospitality. Get your team jersey and see you out there.