A beer bong with eight tubes, hoisted from a hangman’s pole on a trailer hitch, operated by a “certified funnel operator” who pulls it up when the DJ finishes the countdown. Luke had never seen anything like the Eight-Man Funnel of Death, and it’s only one piece of what James runs at LSU.

James leads KOCKA Tailgating, which started as separate tailgates (the Crew of Crown in 2001, Crude Awakening in 1999) and merged in 2014. He took over in 2012 and has been “herding cats” ever since, with a five-person board, a DJ named Big B, a 16-team beer pong tournament at every game, and a trophy case that includes a bottle of Crown on top of a Member of the Year award running since 2002.

Luke met James at the Clemson vs LSU game on National Tailgating Day (September 5, 2026). They talk about the heat, the rain delay, and what 79 road games teaches you about tailgating, including the Virginia Tech trip where James was flipped off more times than ever in his life. Plus washers, a washer that balanced on a rock, the best steak James ever had (on a Tom Cruise movie set), and the audible playbook he wears like a quarterback.

What we cover: How the Eight-Man Funnel of Death works, and where it came from · How three tailgates merged into KOCKA · Running a tailgate with a board of five · Beer pong tournaments at every game since 2014 · Member of the Year and Tailgator of the Week trophies · Favorite and least favorite opposing fan bases (Alabama and Auburn) · The 2002 Virginia Tech trip · 79 road games and every SEC stadium but Oklahoma · The tailgate playbook · Advice for building a tailgate that outlasts you

Find tailgate events at LSU → tailgateconnect.com

Jared Gillmore grew up a K-State fan in south central Kansas. He came to Nebraska to run track, graduated in 2008, and never left. Neither did his tailgate. The Big Red Tailgate Crew has been running since 2016 — and in that time has grown into one of the most distinctive setups in Lincoln: a trailer with a roof deck, four TVs, real back patio couches, a wireless mic, and a rotating menu that has included Chicago-style hot dogs for Northwestern, brats for Wisconsin, "badger blood" and "pond water" cocktails, and a chili bar that people genuinely plan their game day around.

Oh, and college football trivia. Full tournament. Five questions per category. Harder as you go.

Jared joins Luke to talk about the origin of the tailgate, why Nebraska fans are different from any fan base he's encountered, the away game adventures, and why two-thirds of his guests watch the game from the trailer rather than going inside.

What we cover: Growing up K-State and converting to Nebraska fandom · The Big Red Tailgate Crew setup — roof deck, 4 TVs, real couches, wireless mic · Rotating menus and game-specific drinks — badger blood, pond water, and more · College football trivia at the tailgate — the format and how it brings strangers together · Two-thirds of guests watch from the trailer rather than going in · Favorite away venue: Camp Randall (Jump Around, twice) · Bucket list: The Grove at Ole Miss, Army Navy, Nebraska in the Rose Bowl · Nebraska 2026 prediction: 8-4 in the regular season

Find tailgate events at Nebraska → tailgateconnect.com

Travis Carver — known on social media as T-Rex — has tailgated more Baylor sports than most people knew existed. Acrobatics and tumbling, tennis, soccer, basketball, baseball. He's the guy in the bear head, gold skull mask, and championship wrestling belt who the TV cameras always find on game day. And this fall he's moving his Road Warrior Tailgate to a new location in the official tailgate area, doubling his space, and starting at 6am no matter what time kickoff is.

Travis joins Luke to tell the full story — growing up in Waco watching Baylor lose to everyone, leaving for Kansas City and driving hours to catch Baylor road games, and coming back home with a baby, a new tailgate spot, and absolutely no plan to slow down. Plus: the viral Utah stadium tweet that got the attention of the Utah Athletic Director, why Sean Oakman would be the best tailgater of any former Baylor player, and the terms under which the championship belt will make its return.

What we cover: Growing up a Baylor fan in Waco through the losing years · The bear head, skull mask, chain, and wrestling belt — the full game day kit · How moving to Kansas City made his Baylor fandom explode · The viral Utah tweet that went hundreds of thousands of views in hours · New location this fall — doubled space, closer to the stadium, new AD "fan first" initiative · Why Baylor's setup on the Brazos River is one of the most underrated tailgate venues in the Big 12 · The belt situation — Baylor has to earn it back

Follow Travis → Instagram: @TRexBU | @Road_Warrior_Tailgate | Twitter/X: @TRex1991
Find tailgate events at Baylor → tailgateconnect.com