As the 2025 college football season nears, fans and short-term rental (STR) operators alike are getting ready for what promises to be a blockbuster opening weekend. From historic matchups to first-time showdowns, the energy surrounding key games is translating directly into record-setting reservation data. 

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Backed by Beyond’s proprietary vacation rental data, we’re seeing early booking trends that underscore just how crucial football weekends are for STR profitability, especially in smaller cities and neutral-site venues.

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Wondering how much your vacation rental property could make for the next big event in your market? Use Beyond’s property analyzer tool to see exactly how much you could earn per listing, occupancy rates and more!

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Here’s a detailed look at how five games are shaping up and what they reveal about 2025 travel trends and Airbnb, Vrbo, and STR market behavior.

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Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Cincinnati Bearcats – Aug 28, 2025

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📍 GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

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This one-off, neutral-site matchup is not just a win for fans, it’s a huge score for Airbnb hosts. Kansas City is already seeing 58% occupancy for game day, a whopping 36 percentage points higher than last year’s occupancy pace at the same time. The average booked rate has surged to $313, which is 52% above the city's annual average of $206.

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Why it matters:
This game’s success shows how hosting college football in NFL venues (especially outside traditional home markets) can spark early demand. It also confirms Kansas City's attractiveness as a central, drive-in destination – especially in late August when summer travel blends with sports tourism.

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Clemson Tigers vs. LSU Tigers – Aug 30, 2025

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📍 Clemson Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC

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This is the first-ever regular season meeting between these two powerhouses, making it arguably the biggest game of Week 1. And STR numbers reflect that buzz.

• 76% of available listings are already booked for game day, which is three times higher than last year’s occupancy pace at this time.
• The average rate for the weekend has soared to $626, more than double the annual average of $294.
  
  

Why it matters:
Major games in smaller cities have an outsized impact on bookings. With less inventory and more demand, prices spike—offering Airbnb hosts and STR operators a prime chance to maximize ROI. It’s also a classic example of how event-based pricing can drive revenue beyond standard seasonal trends.

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Texas Longhorns at Ohio State Buckeyes – Aug 30, 2025

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📍 Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

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A playoff rematch from 2024. Heisman-hopeful Arch Manning. Big Ten vs SEC. Need we say more?

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Occupancy is already at 54%, ahead of last year’s pace, and the average booked rate is $367, which is nearly double the market average of $192.

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Why it matters:
This game proves that even in large college towns with ample inventory, early demand builds fast when narratives matter. Arch Manning’s presence and the revenge storyline have ignited the fanbase, and operators who adjusted pricing early are poised to benefit.

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Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida State Seminoles – Aug 30, 2025

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📍 Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL

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Despite FSU’s rough 2024, the brand name power of both programs is driving huge booking momentum.

• 61% occupancy for game day, more than double last year’s booking pace.
• Weekend rates have climbed to $416, significantly above the annual average of $233.

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Why it matters:
Once again, brand matchups and nostalgia create STR surges even when one team isn’t red-hot. Smaller markets see sharper occupancy spikes, ideal for hosts who prepare listings and pricing in advance.

Michigan Wolverines at Oklahoma Sooners – Sept 6, 2025

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📍 OU Memorial Stadium, Norman, Ohio

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Another blue-blood battle arrives early in the season as Michigan travels to Norman for a high-stakes non-conference clash. While both teams consistently command national attention, this matchup is generating exceptional travel interest.

• Occupancy is already at 71% for game day, nearly twice the pace of last year’s bookings.
• The average booked rate for the Sept 5–7 weekend has hit $485, which is almost double the market's yearly average of $193.

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Why it matters:
This game adds another layer of evidence to the growing pattern: high profile out-of-conference games, especially between major programs in football-first towns, are magnets for STR bookings. Norman, a relatively smaller market compared to Ann Arbor, benefits from fans traveling in from across the country—pushing prices and occupancy sky-high.

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Takeaways for STR Operators: 2025 Travel Trends Rooted in College Football

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Event-Driven Occupancy Spikes: Football weekends are becoming mini-holidays for college towns and nearby metros.

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Rate Surges vs. Annual Averages: All four games are driving 50% to 100%+ rate increases, reinforcing how demand concentration boosts RevPAN (Revenue per Available Night).

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Amenity-Based Differentiation: Listings with proximity to stadiums, parking options, and group-friendly setups (think 3+ beds, backyards, etc.) are seeing stronger conversions in fan-driven searches.

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City vs. Small Town Markets: Big cities see steady builds, while smaller cities experience sharp, early demand spikes, often weeks earlier than urban counterparts.

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How We Gather Our Data

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All insights in this post are powered by Beyond’s proprietary dataset, built from hundreds of thousands of active vacation rental listings across global markets. We analyze:

• Real-time reservation activity
• Historical booking trends
• Forward-looking pacing
• Anonymized performance metrics

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Our goal is to surface actionable intelligence—from guest search habits to market-level RevPAN movement—so that STR operators can confidently make pricing, portfolio, and revenue decisions.

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This post includes year-over-year comparisons and short-term rental (STR) market trends specific to the U.S. through August 2025.

Want Access to These Insights Yourself?

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Beyond’s free Market Insights tool helps you:

• See real-time data for any STR market
• Compare occupancy rates, ADRs, booking lead times, and more
• Use our Airbnb estimator/ROI calculator to optimize listings
• Get smarter about when and how to price around events like college football games

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👉 Check your city here and find out how much you could be making per night.

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FAQs

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1. What is the best tool to predict Airbnb income during football weekends?
Use Beyond’s bnb calculator or Airbnb estimator to see how much more profit your short-term rental can earn. Just copy/paste your Airbnb link!

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2. Why are STR rates so high during college football games?
Games create hyper-local demand surges, especially in smaller cities. Less supply + passionate fans = higher prices.

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3. Which cities will see the most STR demand in 2025?
Smaller college towns like Baton Rouge, Tallahassee, and Columbus are already pacing high for early-season games.

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4. How far in advance do bookings spike?
For big games, booking momentum can begin weeks out and continue up until the last minute. Pricing ahead of the curve and keeping your pricing updated with automatic dynamic pricing ensures higher nightly rates.

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5. How can I prepare my listing for football fans?
Add event-relevant keywords like “walk to stadium,” highlight group-friendly features, and enable flexible check-in.

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