Lists and Rankings

Best College Marching Bands

"What do you mean you're here for the game?! We all came to hear the marching band's rendition of Living Like a Refugee! Killer tuba solo." These bands were chosen based on factors such as marching tradition, reputation, excitement, fan support, intensity, exposure, marching style, musicality, and enthusiasm by band members and staff. Used with permission from CollegeSports-Fans.com.

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• 1. Ohio University (Athens, OH): Ohio University Marching 110 "The Most Exciting Band in the Land!" is a perfect moniker for the Ohio University band that ranks as the best band in college football. With their physically demanding marching style, high-energy performances, halftime dances, and strong support of a football team that, until 2006, was mediocre at best, it doesn't get any better than Ohio University's band. A fast-improving football program could help vault the Marching 110 into the spotlight in the future.
• 2. Ohio State University — Columbus (Columbus, OH): Ohio State University Marching Band "The Best Damn Band in the Land" is indeed one of the top precision marching bands in the nation, if not the best. But while Ohio State always has a very good band, their Top 10 football program has handed them a lot of attention and publicity that other bands at schools like Florida A&M, Jackson State, and Southern haven't been blessed with.
• 3. University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA): USC Trojan Marching Band The Spirit of Troy also refers to themselves as "The Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe." Not the most humble, but that's okay. Exposure and tradition are two of the strengths of the Trojan Marching Band, as they have made several appearances on Jeopardy! and they have performed with countless celebrities.
• 4. Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (Tallahassee, FL): Florida A&M Marching 100 The FAMU Marching "100" is probably the most famed of all of the HBCU bands, receiving numerous honors, including having been referred to as "the most imitated band in America." Labeled "the best marching band in the nation" by Sports Illustrated in 1992, the Marching 100 also won the 1985 Sudler Marching Band Trophy.
• 5. Texas A&M University — College Station (College Station, TX): Fightin' Texas Aggie Band The largest military marching band in the world, the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band at Texas A&M has over 400 members. The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band has a very strong tradition with a rich history as the band members not only eat together but also lives together as a military unit.
• 6. University of Tennessee at Knoxville (Knoxville, TN): Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band The University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Marching Band is one of the nation's oldest bands, having formed in 1869. Like many bands on this list, the Pride of the Southland has benefited greatly from their football team's success, but "Rocky Top" and the "Power T" formation make up one of the most fabled traditions of any college marching band.
• 7. Jackson State University (Jackson, MS): Jackson State University Marching Band "The Sonic Boom of the South" features tremendous intensity and has performed at several big-name TV events. Known for their fast-paced "Tiger Run-On," this nearly 300-member marching band has an impressive reputation from their fans and rivals alike.
• 8. Stanford University (Stanford, CA): Stanford University Marching Band The Stanford band is known as "The World's Largest Rock and Roll Band" and is a student-led "scatter band" that is known for controversial shows, from playing outside the OJ Simpson courthouse to making fun of nuns at Notre Dame. You may not be a fan of the antics, but you have to respect the creativity.
• 9. Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, LA): Southern University Human Jukebox One of the most well-known marching bands in the nation, the Southern University Human Jukebox is featured on national TV in the annual Grambling vs. Southern football game.
• 10. University of Michigan — Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI): Michigan Marching Band This is a group that is rich in tradition with one of the most recognizable fight songs in the history of college athletics. Ironically, it was the MMB who performed the first "Script Ohio," which their rivals at Ohio State are well-known for.

Source: The Best College Marching Bands, 2007. CollegeSports-Fans.com. Used with permission.