For the second consecutive year, Iowa football's "Hawkeye Wave" was named the best college sports tradition by the USA TODAY'S 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards.

With Week 1 of the 2025-26 college football season kicking off on Aug. 28 with a slate of 17 FBS games, USA TODAY'S 10BEST set out to find the best rituals and traditions across the entire sport.

Here's what the awards said about the Hawkeye Wave.

What is the Hawkeye Wave?

The Hawkeye Wave occurs after the first quarter, when players and fans from both teams turn their attention from the field to the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, overlooking Kinnick Stadium, and wave to pediatric patients and their families watching the game. The tradition began in 2017 and has since become one of the most beloved college sports tradit

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