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There's nothing quite like a college football town. Professional sports teams occupy the country's bigger cities, usually vying for attention in a crowded market. But college football is different.

The link between a football-crazy campus and the town it's located in runs deep. College football games are usually these cities' biggest events year in and year out, with the entire area shutting down on Saturdays when the home team is in town. Few sports experiences on the planet can compare.

As we continue to grind through the offseason and dream of when these locales will be commandeered by a fall Saturday, let's count down the top 15 college football towns in the country. These selections were based on a town's relationship to its college program, passion in terms of fan support, traditions, culture and entertainment options on football weekends.

Some large-city campuses, such as Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State) and Austin, Texas (Texas) are such massive metro areas that they aren't eligible for this list. Instead, this list focuses on the smaller-sized cities and towns that are synonymous with their college football teams.

Of course, this is the opinion of one writer, based on past experiences and reputations from others who have tackled this assignment for other outlets. One could fill up an awesome list of 15 college football towns that didn't make the cut here. So, in the good-natured spirit of college football fandom, feel free to share your own lists and experiences in the comments below.