Baylor’s signature pregame scene is in the national spotlight again.
The Baylor Line has been nominated for Best Walk-Out Tradition in USA Today Sports’ 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, landing among the top 20 traditions in the country after being selected by an expert panel. The recognition puts one of college football’s most recognizable student rituals up for a fan vote.
At McLane Stadium, the tradition starts with all incoming first-year students rushing the field to form a human tunnel for the football team’s entrance. The setup has been a Baylor staple for more than five decades. Each student wears a gold jersey with a graduation year and chosen nickname on the back, then, once the Bears have made their entrance, the Line moves into an exclusive section behind the opponent’s bench to cheer from there.
Voting is open once per day and runs through Monday, August 17. The winners - 10 of the 20 nominees - will be announced on Wednesday, August 26.
The Baylor Line is one of 20 nominees for the award, alongside traditions such as Auburn’s Tiger Walk/War Eagle Flight, Clemson’s Howard’s Rock, Colorado’s Running Ralphie, Florida State’s Planting the Spear, Nebraska’s “Sirius” Tunnel Walk, Penn State’s The Whiteout Walkout, Tennessee’s Running Through the T, Texas A&M’s Power and Virginia Tech’s Enter Sandman.
The full nominee list also includes East Carolina’s Purple Haze, Georgia Tech’s Ramblin’ Wreck, Iowa’s Swarm, Miami (FL)’s The Smoke, Michigan’s Touch the Banner, Notre Dame’s Play Like A Champion Today, Oregon’s Duck on the Motorcycle, South Carolina’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, UCF’s Knight Walk and USC’s Sword Plunge.
To keep up with Baylor football, the team is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @BUFootball.
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