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Top College Fight Songs

  • University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY): "On, On, U of K"
  • University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN): "Notre Dame Victory March" ("the best-known and perhaps the most-borrowed")
  • University of Michigan—Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI): "The Victors" ("most rousing and stunning; a very proud song")
  • University of Wisconsin—Madison (Madison, WI): "On Wisconsin" ("smooth and much-borrowed old classic")
  • University of Maine (Orono, ME): "The Maine Stein Song" ("great melody, but it's a drinking song")
  • University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA): "Fight on, USC" ("brilliant, sparkling, and innovative")
  • Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA): "Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech" ("fine tune; great sense of humor")
  • The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX): "The Eyes of Texas" ("tune borrowed from 'I've been working on the railroad,' but has a lot of sweep and energy")
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN): "Minnesota Rouser" ("dynamic and rousing, as the title suggests")
  • Indiana University Bloomington (Bloomington, IN): "Indiana, Our Indiana" ("tugs at the heart while causing foot-tapping")
  • Washington and Lee University (Lexington, VA): "Washington & Lee Swing" ("very catchy and likable; well-named")
  • University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA): "Fight on, Pennsylvania" ("creative and different from the rest of the pack")
  • University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK): "Boomer Sooner" ("borrowed from 'Yale Boola,' but rocks the stadium")
  • University of Georgia (Athens, GA): "Glory, Glory to Old Georgia" ("uses the rouser 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' as a tune; a passing mention to the University of Colorado, which also uses the tune for its 'Glory, Glory, Colorado' ")
  • United States Air Force Academy (USAF Academy, CO): "U.S. Air Force Song" ("excellent uplifting march; also used as the Air Force's song")
  • United States Coast Guard Academy (New London, CT): "Semper Paratus" ("lesser-known but quite stirring march; also used as the Coast Guard's song")
  • Clemson University (Clemson, SC): "Clemson Fight Song" ("uses the delightful 'Tiger Rag' as its tune")
  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville (Knoxville, TN): "Down the Field" ("uses the exact same title and tune as Yale's 'Down the Field': F for originality, but A+ for taste")
  • United States Military Academy (West Point, NY): "On, Brave Old Army Team" ("We don't want to forget the Army; a good song with one terrific passage"); "Anchors Aweigh" ("very dynamic and uplifting")
  • Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL): "Huskie Fight Song" ("lively and distinctive")
  • Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): "Far Above the Cayuga's Wasters" ("This is really an alma mater rather than a fight song, but is such a collegiate classic, how can one overlook it? If played with a lively enough tempo, it becomes a pretty good fight song")
  • Furman University (Greenville, SC): "Our Director March" ("These three universities all use this excellent tune, but not always as a fight song; if the melody had a clearer institutional identify, it would be in the top fifteen. Many other schools also use the tune, including the University of Southern California, for its 'Victory Song'"
  • Harvard University (Cambridge, MA): "Our Director March" ("These three universities all use this excellent tune, but not always as a fight song; if the melody had a clearer institutional identify, it would be in the top fifteen. Many other schools also use the tune, including the University of Southern California, for its 'Victory Song'"
  • Rice University (Houston, TX): "Our Director March" ("These three universities all use this excellent tune, but not always as a fight song; if the melody had a clearer institutional identify, it would be in the top fifteen. Many other schools also use the tune, including the University of Southern California, for its 'Victory Song'"
  • University of Oregon (Eugene, OR): "Mighty Oregon" ("a very smooth song")

Honorable Mentions

Notable or Exceptional Songs in Order of Superiority

Source: "College Fight Songs II: A Supplementary Anthology," Binghamton, The Haworth Press, Inc.

The Best College Fight Songs & School Anthems

There's a special kind of energy that permeates a college campus on game day, and it’s often fueled by a powerful tradition: the fight song. These iconic anthems are more than just tunes; they are the heartbeats of university pride, rallying fans and athletes alike with a shared sense of identity and purpose. A great fight song captures the spirit of a school, embodies its history, and creates a soundscape of collective passion that resonates through generations of students and alumni.

The best fight songs, as rated by experts in the field, have transcended their athletic origins to become integral parts of university tradition. Take the iconic "Notre Dame Victory March," which is celebrated far beyond the stands of a football stadium. The same can be said for "The Victors," a powerful and rousing anthem that has long been synonymous with the University of Michigan. The list also includes the timeless "On Wisconsin" from the University of Wisconsin—Madison and "Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech," each a testament to the unique spirit of its institution. These songs serve as powerful rallying cries, echoing the unwavering loyalty of a school's community.

The diversity of these anthems is a reflection of the colleges themselves. From the stirring melody of the "U.S. Air Force Song" to the proud declarations in The University of Texas at Austin's "The Eyes of Texas," each song tells a unique story. The list also highlights classics like "Fight on, USC" from the University of Southern California and the "Clemson Fight Song" from Clemson University. These songs are often steeped in history, with origins that trace back to student traditions, military marches, or even simple melodies that were embraced by the student body. Whether played by a marching band or sung in unison by a sea of fans, the top college fight songs are an unforgettable part of the college experience, connecting past, present, and future in a single, powerful tune.

List produced by the Experts . Want more information on how this list was compiled? Find out more about where our Lists & Rankings come from.

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