Wembley welcomes 'rabid' college football fans

Fans of the Kansas Jayhawks and Arizona State Sun Devils gathered at a pre-game party in Waterloo on Friday.

Kansas fans shouted their rallying cry "Rock Chalk, Jayhawk", while their rivals replied with "ASU, ASU".

After hosting 42 NFL games since 2007, this was London's introduction to a different kind of American football and a different kind of fandom.

Wembley hosted its first American college football game on Saturday, with 46,523 fans attending the inaugural Union Jack Classic (UJC).

UJC organisers vowed to create an authentic college gameday in London, and they began with tailgate parties.

Fans enjoy food, drink and music for hours before the game, and they are far bigger for college games than in the NFL. One American fan told BBC Sport she prefers the tailgate to the game itself.

The main tailgate at Wembley opened at 10am - seven hours before kick-off - with Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne helping to entertain the crowd.

Arizona State alumni held their own party, with nearly 2,000 fans packed in, while ASU's marching band and cheerleaders performed on stage.

But the wildest party was on Wembley Way, where Fox Sports had an outdoor studio for its live pre-game show.

It was surrounded by fans and the Fox crew kept trying to stoke the rivalry, while the Kansas and ASU bands battled it out on Wembley Way and on the pitch before kick-off.

The pageantry and passion of college football is what makes it different. NFL fans often choose their team, whereas college teams tend to be passed down through families.

"You feel a loyalty to your lineage," said Kansas fan Hannah, who added that college football fans are not just fanatical but "rabid".

BBC Sport spoke to families at Wembley who have had multiple generations attend the same school and alumni who now live all over the US but travel thousands of miles to watch their alma mater.

Current ASU student Sophie said her family "bleeds maroon and gold". Her friend Amelia has ASU merchandise all over the house. She just got a car that's maroon too.