2024 BYU football road tailgates: Parties with a purpose

In an environment that can easily be divisive, BYU is using tailgates to build unity in serving God's children

Author Jon McBride
BYU Tailgate at ArkansasBYU Tailgate at Arkansas
Brigham Young University
23FTB at Kansas 4455
23FTB vs Arkansas 6757
23FTB vs Arkansas 7215
23FTB at Kansas 5000
23FTB at Kansas 4991

BYU’s unofficial motto that’s found on the sign that greets visitors to campus states “enter to learn, go forth to serve.”

Those words inspire much of what happens at BYU, with the desire to help, lift and serve going well beyond the footprint of the Provo campus.

For the past three seasons, prior to each road football game, the BYU Alumni Association has spearheaded Cougs Care tailgates outside of road stadiums that have been branded as parties with a purpose. Those specific purposes have included food drives, book drives, clothing drives and more, all to benefit the local communities of BYU opponents. The broader purpose is to serve God’s children and bring a measure of unity in an environment and society that can so easily be divisive.

“For years we’ve seen BYU alumni around the globe making an impact wherever they live. Cougs Care projects allow our alumni, fans and friends to support the team on the road and come together to make a lasting impact in local communities.”

Michael JohansonBYU Alumni Association executive director

Last season, nearly 10,000 BYU alums, fans, friends and members of local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attended the six road tailgates, donating more than 1,800 books, 1,200 toys, thousands of pounds of food, as well as pillows, blankets and mattresses. In addition, The Church donated more than 40,000 pounds of food to local food banks in three of the host cities. The Church’s unique connection to BYU is integral to the Cougs Care efforts and also explains why BYU fans travel so well, with built-in BYU fanbases throughout Big 12 country and the broader United States.

A Closer Look at BYU's National Fanbase

You might notice more fans wearing royal blue in a road venue than you’d expect. While surely a percentage of those BYU fans that you’ll see in opponents’ stadiums made the trip from Provo, others will be friends and family of the players and staff, but the majority of BYU fans you’ll see at the game live within an immediate radius of that university.

The major reason for this is that BYU’s sponsoring institution is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This close affiliation builds strong affinity from many Church members, and with the Church’s far-reaching membership brings built-in BYU alumni and fans throughout the United States and the world. This creates a truly unique fan base that does, yes, travel well, but the majority are traveling a much shorter distance to the event than you might think.

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Below are the tailgates planned for this coming season. For those unable to attend the games in person, a link to support the projects digitally may also be available.

Visit alumni.byu.edu to see updated info through the season

Game: BYU @ SMU; Sept. 6, 6:00 PM CDT
Tailgate time: 3-5 PM CDT
Location: 5800 Bush Avenue, Dallas, TX

Fans are invited to bring various art supplies to be donated to Caring Pathways of Carrollton; a nonprofit organization offering a daily integrated program for underserved adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Click here for a complete list of items in need.

Game: BYU @ Wyoming; Sept. 14, 7:00 MDT
Tailgate time: 4-6 PM MDT
Location: 1065 North 15th Street, Laramie, WY 

Bring non-perishable food and hygiene items to the tailgate. Donations will benefit the UW Food Share Pantry, an on-campus organization ensuring every student is nourished. Specific items that have been requested include: dried food, canned food, soap, deodorant, baby diapers and wipes, baby formula.

Game: BYU @ Baylor; Sept. 28, Time TBA
Tailgate time: TBA
Location: University High School, 3201 S New Rd, Waco, TX
Fans can bring canned or boxed food to donate at the tailgate. All donations will benefit Caritas of Waco, an organization fighting against food insecurity and poverty in the Waco area.

Game: BYU @ UCF, Oct. 26, Time TBA
Tailgate time: TBA
Location: 3200 Lockwood Blvd, Oviedo, FL

Fans are invited to donate non-perishable goods at the tailgate. Donations will benefit the Knight’s Pantry, an organization serving UCF students by providing basic needs. Click here to view a list of items of most demand.

Game: BYU @ Utah, Nov. 9, Time TBA
Tailgate time: TBA
Location: Stilwell Field, Salt Lake City, UT

Fans can donate non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Utah Food Bank and distributed statewide.

Game: BYU @ Arizona State, Nov. 23, Time TBA
Tailgate time: TBA
Location: ASU Institute Building, 1000 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ

A joint collaboration between the BYU Alumni Association chapters in Arizona, Just Serve of Arizona, LDSSA of ASU, the McKay School of Education at BYU and the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at ASU to support the ASU America Reads Program and local food pantries. Fans are invited to bring books and non-perishable food goods to the tailgate.