For college football fans, there’s nothing like game day. Whether the season opener or a heated rivalry, every game is another chance to cheer on the team and savor every touchdown. That’s especially true for those who can be in the stadium, where the roars of the crowd and video board replays make it feel like a combination of football and a rock concert.
This fall, United Airlines heeds the call of devoted gridiron fans, with the addition of 24 round-trip direct flights to some of this year’s hottest games. The trips emphasize a historic college football power and include some of the season’s most anticipated matchups.
United’s new CFB routes: Old school rivalries and big-time matchups
United’s 24 new flights will add nearly 3,500 seats to some of 2025’s biggest games. There’s a particular emphasis on Notre Dame, with almost half of the new routes following the Fighting Irish. Some trips even include a special flight number, 1887, an homage to the year of Notre Dame’s first football season.
The schedule includes the historic Notre Dame vs. USC tilt on October 18 and significant matchups like the University of Texas at Austin vs. Ohio State on August 30, Penn State vs. Ohio State on November 1, and USC against Nebraska on November 1.
“From historic touchdowns to once-in-a-lifetime plays, these are the moments fans never forget and there’s nothing like being there to witness it live,” said James Starnes, Director of Domestic Scheduling at United. “We’ve added flights across the country to some of the biggest college football matchups, giving fans more options to get in on the action and follow their team on the road this season.”
United’s new college football season flights consist of:
| Flight Date | Matchup | Fly From | To | Flight # |
| New Direct Flights | ||||
| August 29 | Texas @ Ohio State | Austin, TX (AUS) | Columbus, OH (CMH) | 2232 |
| September 12 | Texas A&M @ Notre Dame | Houston, TX (IAH) or New York/Newark (EWR) | South Bend, IN (SBN) | IAH-SBN: 5637 EWR-SBN: 1887 |
| September 12 | Wisconsin @ Alabama | Madison, WI (MSN) | Birmingham, AL (BHM) | 5626 |
| September 19 | Purdue @ Notre Dame | New York/ Newark (EWR) | South Bend, IN (SBN) | 1887 |
| September 19 | Michigan @ Nebraska | Detroit, MI (DTW) | Lincoln, NE (LNK) | 5615 |
| September 26 | Notre Dame @ Arkansas | New York/ Newark (EWR) | Bentonville, AR (XNA) | 3670 |
| September 26 | Ohio State @ Washington | Columbus, OH (CMH) | Seattle, WA (SEA) | 1012 |
| October 3 | Boise State @ Notre Dame | Boise, ID (BOI) or New York/Newark (EWR) | South Bend, IN (SBN) | BOI-SBN: 5252 EWR-SBN: 1887 |
| October 10 | NC State @ Notre Dame | New York/ Newark (EWR) | South Bend, IN (SBN) | 1887 |
| October 17 | USC @ Notre Dame | Los Angeles, CAA (LAX) or New York/Newark (EWR) | South Bend, IN (SBN) | LAX-SBN: 1055 EWR-SBN: 1887 |
| October 17 | Tennessee @ Alabama | Knoxville, TN (TYS) | Birmingham, AL (BHM) | 5607 |
| October 17 | Ohio State @ Wisconsin | Columbus, OH (CMH) | Madison, WI (MSN) | 2228 |
| October 24 | Wisconsin @ Oregon | Madison, WI (MSN) | Eugene, OR (EUG) | 1282 |
| October 31 | Oklahoma @ Tennessee | Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) | Knoxville, TN (TYS) | 5765 |
| October 31 | Penn State @ Ohio State | State College, PA (SCE) | Columbus, OH (CMH) | 4566 |
| October 31 | USC @ Nebraska | Lincoln, NE (LNK) | Los Angeles, CA (LAX) | 5467 |
| November 7 | LSU @ Alabama | Baton Rouge, LA (BTR) | Birmingham, AL (BHM) | 6289 |
| November 7 | Navy @ Notre Dame | New York/ Newark (EWR) | South Bend, IN (SBN) | 1887 |
| November 14 | Arkansas @ LSU | Bentonville, AR (XNA) | Baton Rouge, LA (BTR) | 6315 |
| November 21 | Syracuse @ Notre Dame | South Bend, IN (SBN) | Syracuse, NY (SYR) | 1887 |
| November 21 | Arkansas @ Texas | Bentonville, AR (XNA) | Austin, TX (AUS) | 5994 |
| Flying Bigger Planes on Existing Flights | ||||
| October 17 | Texas A&M @ University of Arkansas | Houston, TX (IAH) | Bentonville, AR (XNA) | 1485 1640 |
| October 31 | Notre Dame @ Boston College | New York/ Newark (EWR) | Boston, MA (BOS) | 593 577 2630 |
| November 14 | Notre Dame @ University of Pittsburgh | New York/ Newark (EWR) | Pittsburgh, PA (PIT) | 1268 283 773 |
