When you’re a college football fan, it’s hard not to get a little restless in the spring and summer months waiting for a new season to arrive. Regardless of which team or conference you root for, college football is revered as a cultural institution rooted in tradition, nostalgia and irrational hatred for anyone even remotely associated with the other team (which is part of its charm!).
We spent some time going through the USA TODAY photo archives and stumbled upon hundreds of incredible historical photos of college football teams, players and coaches from over the years.
Here are some of our favorites.