10 Best College Marching Bands In The Country

Ohio State University Marching Band is one of the best university marching bands in the US. They call themselves the Best Damn Band in the Land.

The ensemble was founded in 1878. They consist of 228 members that include:

• 192 pregame marchers
• 195 halftime marchers
• 36 alternate members

One of the signatures of the ensemble is Script Ohio. Other notable activities are skull session, ramp entrance, back bend, and neutron man.

Some of the performances for which the group was admired are:

• The Sudler Trophy for Outstanding College Band
• Seven Inaugural Parades
• The band member's Individual moonwalks and creating an image of Michael Jackson
• Movie-themed halftime show
• Created images of soldiers marching with flag
• Performed tribute to classic television shows
• Represented the State of Ohio in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Florida State University Marching Chiefs is one of the top college marching bands. Their band members are 423 in total.

The group is located in Tallahassee, Florida. It was founded in 1939 and performed at the Odds and Evens intramural football game.

The aspiring members go through Preseason training. In this training, members are taught about music auditions, marching styles, playing auditions, and field positions.

People who wish to be a member of this group should give an audition each year. They have a pregame tradition that includes:

• Skull Session
• Come On and Go
• The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
• Flushing' The Field
• Roamin' The Stadium
• The Hymn To The Garnet & Gold

They were finalists in the Best College Marching Band contest which made them one of the best marching bands. These band members also achieved world-renowned title after performance iat International Trade Fair in 1974.

The University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band is one of the best college bands in California. They are known as the Spirit of Troy.

The group represents the University of Southern California. They have performed for presidents, Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Summer Olympics, and more.

The ensemble was seen on multiple movies and television shows. Few are as follows:

• America's Got Talent
• The Croods
• America's Funniest Home Videos
• Forrest Gump, as the Alabama Band
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Their uniforms were military style and changed to Trojan-style helmets and uniforms in 1950. They again made a few changes in Trojan helmets and used brushes, visors, and ear flaps in 1972.

The Spirit of Troy was announced the best marching band by USA Today's College Football Fan Index.

Pennsylvania State University Marching Blue Band is another best college marching bands in America. They are known as the Blue Band which was founded in 1899.

The group is representative of The Pennsylvania State University. There are 313 members including instrumentalists, color guards, majorettes, uniform managers, student operation assistants, drum majors, and baton twirlers.

All students can be part of this ensemble by performing well in competitive auditions. Those who became members should give huge time commitments and long hours of rehearsals.

Their gameday traditions are as follows:

• Team Walk and President's Tailgate
• Parade order
• High-step Marching
• Pregame
• Big Ten Salute
• Halftime Shows

The ensemble's first film was a made-for-TV movie named Something for Joey. They also earned the Sudler Trophy in 2005 which is considered as highest accolade for collegiate groups.

The best marching bands in the country comprise The University of Texas at Austin Longhorn Band. They are also known as the Showband of the Southwest.

The group was founded in 1900 in Austin, Texas by Dr. Eugene P. Schoch. There are 375 students who must be registered for year-round courses.

Students have to go through a multi-step audition to be part of the ensemble. Firstly, they should submit a video playing audition, then attend band week to learn marching styles and attend music rehearsals for the final marching and playing audition.

The final audition decides membership in the group. Their special features are Big Bertha, Cowbells, and Travel Band.

Some of the exciting traditions of this ensemble are:

• Shake the Fringe
• Home on the Range
• Hup...hup...hup
• In The Stands
• New Member Beanie
• Spring Banquet
• President's Ring
• Drum Major's belt buckle

They also performed in two inaugurations of George W. Bush and other presidents too. In 1986, they won the Louis Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy.

Purdue University All-American Marching Band (AAMB) is among the best college marching bands in America. They represent Purdue University.

The special features of this group are:

• Purdue Big Bass Drum
• Purdue Golden Girl featured twirler
• Block P

The AAMB was the first group to form "The Block P" in 1907. They include woodwind, brass, percussion, and auxiliary members.

Some of the achievements of the ensemble are:

• In 1919, carried Big Ten colors
• In 1920, played the school fight song
• In 1963, performed at Radio City Music Hall
• In 2008, received an official performance invitation from China

These achievements proves that the group is one of the best marching group in the United States.

The University of Michigan Marching Band is one of the best marching bands founded in 1896. They are known as MMB or Michigan Marching Band.

The ensemble performs at concerts, pep rallies, and parades whereas special attention is given to Michigan Wolverines football home games and select away games. They are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

This 400-member group represents the University of Michigan. They won the Sudler Trophy in 1982 which is also known as the Heisman of the marching band world.

Some of their albums are:

• The Yellow And Blue / The Victors-March
• Hurrah for the Yellow and Blue
• Gameday Faves: Michigan Wolverines Classics
• 2008 Season Highlights
• Touchdown (2023)

The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band represents the University of Oklahoma. They are also known as 'The Pride'.

The band was founded as a pep band in 1904 in Norman, Oklahoma. This 333-member group was awarded the Sudler Trophy in 1987.

They also played their fight song ' Boomer Sooner" roughly 300 times while supporting the Sooners. They also have other traditional songs as follows:

• Oklahoma
• El Toro
• Sweet Caroline
• Go Big Red
• William Tell
• OU Chant
• We Will Rock You
• Another One Bites the Dust
• Mortal Kombat
• Industry Baby

The Louisiana State University Tiger Marching Band is also known as Tiger Band or Golden Band from Tigerland. They are 130 years old.

Founded in 1893 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the group represents the Louisiana State University. Their highlighted traditions include the following:

• Victory Hill
• Pregame
• Tigerama
• LSU Salutes
• Golden Girls and Colorguard
• Uniforms

Mostly, the 325 band members perform in all football home games, pregames, celebrations, bowl games, and away games. They are musical highlights in football season.

The University of Nebraska Cornhusker Marching Band is one of the historic and well-known groups. They are also known as Marching Red.

Red was founded in 1879 in Lincoln, Nebraska representing the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. There are 300 students consisting of 60 different academics across the college.

Students who passed the music audition or attended a mini-camp for percussion can be members of the group. 

The ensemble performed in multiple post-season bowl games which makes them the most traveled marching band. Some of the bowl games are :

• Rose
• Fiesta
• Orange
• Sugar
• Bluebonnet
• Liberty
• Independence

In 1996, they achieved the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Trophy.