2025 BYU football road tailgates: Parties with a purpose

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 four seasons, prior to each road football game, the BYU Alumni Association with local alumni chapters have 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.

In the past two seasons, 20,000+ BYU alums, fans, friends and members of local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have attended the road tailgates. In 2023, they donated more than 1,800 books, 1,200 toys, thousands of pounds of food, as well as pillows, blankets and mattresses over the span of six tailgates. In 2024, a total of 5,800 items were collected and 5,000 pounds of food donated. 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.

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 @ East Carolina; Sept. 20, Game time TBA
Tailgate time: TBA (begins 3 hours prior to kickoff)
Location: 2296 Charles Blvd, Greenville, NC 27858

Fans heading to Greenville are encouraged to bring nonperishable food and hygiene items for the ECU Williams-Ross Purple Pantry, a resource that directly supports East Carolina University students facing food insecurity. Fans can donate at the tailgate or online through this Amazon Wish List.

Game: BYU @ Colorado; Sept. 27, 8:15 PM MDT
Tailgate time: 5-7 PM MDT
Location: Norlin Quad (1600 Pleasant St)

In Boulder, BYU fans will rally behind the Family Learning Center of Boulder, an early childhood education hub that supports low-income families. Fans can donate at the tailgate or online through this Amazon Wish List.

Game: BYU @ Arizona; Oct. 11, Game time TBA
Tailgate time: TBA (begins 3 hours prior to kickoff)
Location: Jimenez Field, East Enke Drive, Tucson 85719

Dubbed “Operation Sunnyside Read and Feed,” the Tucson project invites fans to donate new or gently used children’s books and nonperishable food items for The Sunnyside Foundation, benefiting Sunnyside Elementary Schools and the Sunnyside Community Food Pantry.

Game: BYU @ Iowa State; Oct. 25, Game time TBA
Tailgate time: TBA (begins 3 hours prior to kickoff)
Location: Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd., Ames, 50011

Tailgaters in Ames will honor pioneer legacy by helping today’s displaced families. Fans can donate via this Amazon Wishlist, or donate cash, new/gently used coats, shoes and blankets to help the Johnston Partnership—inspired by the legacy of Charles Good, who famously donated new boots to pioneer children crossing the plains in Iowa in 1856.

Game: BYU @ Texas Tech; Nov. 8, Game time TBA
Tailgate time: TBA (begins 3 hours prior to kickoff)
Location: McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center, 2521 17^th Street, Lubbock, 79409

Tailgaters coming to Lubbock are gathering to support Literacy Lubbock, a non-profit focused on early childhood and family literacy, as well as adult education programs and ESL education. Fans can bring new or gently used books or donate cash to help support literacy.

Game: BYU @ Cincinnati; Nov. 22 Game time TBA
Tailgate time: TBA (begins 3 hours prior to kickoff)
Location: Schneider Quad, University of Cincinnati campus

Tailgaters in Cincinnati will have two opportunities to show support for the community. On November 11, a food truck from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Welfare and Self Reliance department will deliver a full load of food to the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Food Pantry. Fans can participate by helping unload the truck and stock shelves at the pantry with the delivered goods. A second project at the pre-game tailgate invites fans to donate coats or funds to purchases coats to support the Cincinnati NAACP coat drive to provide local elementary school children winter coats. Collection of coats will take place at the tailgate and other chapels in the area.