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The Herald Scotland
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
College football stadium rankings top 25 starts with LSU
But let's try and tackle this controversial debate: Which Bowl Subdivision stadium is the unfriendliest? With no shortage of options, USA TODAY Sports tracked records, traditions and environments to list the 25 most inhospitable stadiums in the FBS. The list begins with LSU's version of Death Valley and is stocked with the biggest names in the Big Ten, SEC and elsewhere: 1. Tiger Stadium, LSU Former Arkansas running back and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Darren McFadden once said of Death Valley: "The fans are relentless." That's especially true for night games, when "the sun has found its home in the western sky," as the public address announcer says inside Tiger Stadium. After LSU fans spend the day sucking down hooch, they're in no mood to take prisoners. 2. Beaver Stadium, Penn State Few sights are more intimidating to visitors than Penn State's annual "White Out" games, when fans dress up in white tops to provide visitors with an unsettling, eye-popping backdrop. Combined with the deafening roar provided by 100,000-plus fans, this makes Beaver Stadium one of the elite settings in the FBS. 3. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State The Buckeyes have long made the Horseshoe one of the most hostile venues in the FBS. (Unless you're Michigan, which has won two in a row in Columbus.) Since the stadium opened in 1922, OSU has been dominant at home, including a remarkable 55-3 record (94.9%) since 2016. 4. Autzen Stadium, Oregon While Autzen's official capacity of 54,000 makes it cozier than most Power Four stadiums, it became an utter house of horrors for opponents in the late 1990s before reaching a peak during the Chip Kelly era, when the Ducks rolled off a 21-game winning streak. Oregon has lost just once at home since hiring Dan Lanning in 2022 and gone unbeaten the past two years. 5. Memorial Stadium, Clemson To some, this is the "other" Death Valley. That's way underselling how Memorial Stadium can wobble the knees of any visiting opponent. Clemson recently had a 40-game home winning streak, the longest in ACC history, before it was snapped late in the 2022 season. The program also has a memorable tradition of running down The Hill toward the field and rubbing Howard's Rock to gain "the mystical powers it is supposed to give Clemson players," the school says. 6. Neyland Stadium, Tennessee In a conference with no shortage of nasty environments, Tennessee fans are seen as particularly ruthless. Neyland Stadium is "a different type of loud," described former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield. And when "Rocky Top" plays on a loop, it's pure psychological torture. 7. Sanford Stadium, Georgia The environment "Between the Hedges" has made the Bulldogs nearly unbeatable at home under coach Kirby Smart. While the literally barking from Georgia fans doesn't always rattle your eardrums, Sanford Stadium can rumble when challenged. 8. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama Alabama fans don't always roar as fiercely as others listed above. But last season's game against Georgia showed how Tide fans can bring the noise when they feel they must. Alabama is nearly unbeatable at home the past 20 years. 9. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida As former coach Steve Spurrier aptly said, "only Gators get out alive" from The Swamp. Florida has won 71.4% of its home games against SEC opponents the past 10 years, compared to 47.6% on the road in conference games. That's the definition of home-field advantage. 10. Kyle Field, Texas A&M Yeah, there are some odd chants, routines and hand signs from the school's Aggie Yell Leaders. But don't be mistaken: Kyle Field towers like no other and literally shakes when the noise swells (as it often does). The Aggies entering to "POWER" is one of college football's best intros. 11. Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Oklahoma A touch smaller than other SEC colossuses with a capacity of 80,126, the "Palace on the Prairie" still more than holds its own. (Seven national title banners hanging inside help deliver that message.) The Sooner Schooner cruising the field paints a scene fit for one of the nation's premier football conferences. 12. Michigan Stadium, Michigan The largest venue by capacity in college sports? Check. But that's selling Michigan Stadium short: This is the largest stadium by total seating in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world. Though their current digs were completed in 1927, the Wolverines are 662-154-21 at home since 1883. 13. Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn Some say Jordan-Hare uncorks a strange voodoo magic on opponents. (See the "Prayer in Jordan-Hare" and the 2012 Iron Bowl, held just two weeks apart, for one example.) It may also just be that Auburn fans create a tough environment that lends itself to late-game meltdowns or heroics. Find someone who loves you the way Auburn fans love to "Swag Surf." 14. Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame "The House that Rockne Built" is iconic enough to essentially be a pictorial stand-in for college football itself. There's the "Touchdown Jesus" mural. Lines and lines of some of the sport's most memorable coaches and players. National championships galore. While the vibe might be different than that seen at some of the larger SEC fields, no one can deny that Notre Dame Stadium occupies a special place in the NCAA landscape. 15. Husky Stadium, Washington When things are going right for Washington, Husky Stadium easily counts among the loudest spots in the FBS. It also may be the most picturesque venue as well: There may be no more aesthetically pleasing scene in college football than a packed, rocking-and-rolling Husky Stadium with sailboats dotting Lake Washington - what locals call "sailgating." (While in Seattle, former Washington coach Steve Sarkisian named his boat "Noah Sark.") 16. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Texas Admittedly, the Texas fans at DKR (often derided by detractors as a "wine and cheese" crowd) don't always produce a decibel level to match the 100,119-person capacity. But you have to also admit that the Longhorn faithful can turn it up for big games. Texas has won 14 of 15 at home. 17. Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina The Gamecocks peck above their weight at Williams-Brice, long one of the SEC's and broader college football's most underrated venues. The place roars to life when Darude's "Sandstorm" plays and fans wave white towels chanting, "U-S-C! U-S-C!" 18. Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah The beautiful panorama in the background belies the electric game-day atmosphere inside Rice-Eccles. On a pound-for-pound (or decibel-for-decibel) level, RES is tough to beat. Utah won 18 home games in a row before losing to Oregon in 2023 19. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin Don't leave your seat at the end of the third quarter. That's when Wisconsin fans "Jump Around" to the 1992 House of Pain classic of the same name, often causing Camp Randall to shake and vibrate. The tradition started in 1998, took a very brief, highly controversial hiatus in 2003 and became a rallying cry during the Badgers' development into a Big Ten powerhouse under former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema. 20. Doak S. Campbell Stadium, Florida State Doak can be listless, as during last year's dismal 2-10 finish. But it's also been the site of several legendary wins against some of the most high-profile opponents in the country and continues to rank among the unfriendliest venues for visitors when the Seminoles are rolling. Overall, FSU is 322-109-4 at Doak Campbell (74.5%). 21. Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech Start with the best introduction in college football: Virginia Tech takes the field to Metallica's "Enter Sandman," quickly setting the tone for what can often be the scariest place to play in the ACC. While the home-field advantage has taken a hit this decade, the edge provided by Lane Stadium helped put Tech on the map under legendary coach Frank Beamer. 22. LaVell Edwards Stadium, Brigham Young Provo's towering mountaintops gives LaVell Edwards Stadium some of the most beautiful scenery in college football this side of the Rose Bowl. A noisy, intense and intimidating home crowd is supported by the nearly mile-high elevation that can wear down opponents. BYU is 25-6 at home since 2020. 23. Albertsons Stadium, Boise State The bane of opposing coaches and defenders for decades, the program's legendary blue turf is enough to land Boise on this list. But don't forget the Broncos have gone 212-45 at home since installing the turf in 1986, developing the finest home-field advantage in the Group of Five and helping the program establish itself among the most consistently successful in the sport. 24. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa The environment at Kinnick has helped Iowa go 22-6 at home since 2021. It's also home to the best new tradition in the sport: Since 2017, players and fans turn at the end of the first quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital. "The Hawkeye Wave" is already an indelible part of the college football fabric. 25. Boone Pickens Stadium, Oklahoma State The oldest stadium in the Big 12 and one of the few in the country to run in an east-west direction received a major facelift and reboot with Oklahoma State's development into a regional and national player in the 2000s, resulting in all 10 of the most-attended games in program history occurring since 2011. While things ran off the rails last season, Mike Gundy's teams dropped only three home games from 2020-23. (The stadium gets bonus points for having the nicest press-box restroom experience in the Power Four.)
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Who has the best college football stadium? We ranked our top 25
Talent and coaching will take you places in college football, but only so far. The best programs in the Bowl Subdivision play for conference and national championships in part because of mesmerizing home-field advantages that have etched many Power Four and Group of Five venues into the very fabric of the sport. While home teams have won about 60% of games during the past 20 years, some programs are nearly unbeatable on their home field. As examples, think of the reception visitors receive at Death Valley (LSU or Clemson), or the intimidation factor at Big Ten icons such as Ohio Stadium and Beaver Stadium. But let's try and tackle this controversial debate: Which Bowl Subdivision stadium is the unfriendliest? With no shortage of options, USA TODAY Sports tracked records, traditions and environments to list the 25 most inhospitable stadiums in the FBS. The list begins with LSU's version of Death Valley and is stocked with the biggest names in the Big Ten, SEC and elsewhere: 1. Tiger Stadium, LSU Former Arkansas running back and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Darren McFadden once said of Death Valley: "The fans are relentless.' That's especially true for night games, when "the sun has found its home in the western sky," as the public address announcer says inside Tiger Stadium. After LSU fans spend the day sucking down hooch, they're in no mood to take prisoners. 2. Beaver Stadium, Penn State Few sights are more intimidating to visitors than Penn State's annual "White Out" games, when fans dress up in white tops to provide visitors with an unsettling, eye-popping backdrop. Combined with the deafening roar provided by 100,000-plus fans, this makes Beaver Stadium one of the elite settings in the FBS. 3. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State The Buckeyes have long made the Horseshoe one of the most hostile venues in the FBS. (Unless you're Michigan, which has won two in a row in Columbus.) Since the stadium opened in 1922, OSU has been dominant at home, including a remarkable 55-3 record (94.9%) since 2016. 4. Autzen Stadium, Oregon While Autzen's official capacity of 54,000 makes it cozier than most Power Four stadiums, it became an utter house of horrors for opponents in the late 1990s before reaching a peak during the Chip Kelly era, when the Ducks rolled off a 21-game winning streak. Oregon has lost just once at home since hiring Dan Lanning in 2022 and gone unbeaten the past two years. 5. Memorial Stadium, Clemson To some, this is the "other" Death Valley. That's way underselling how Memorial Stadium can wobble the knees of any visiting opponent. Clemson recently had a 40-game home winning streak, the longest in ACC history, before it was snapped late in the 2022 season. The program also has a memorable tradition of running down The Hill toward the field and rubbing Howard's Rock to gain "the mystical powers it is supposed to give Clemson players," the school says. 6. Neyland Stadium, Tennessee In a conference with no shortage of nasty environments, Tennessee fans are seen as particularly ruthless. Neyland Stadium is "a different type of loud," described former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield. And when 'Rocky Top' plays on a loop, it's pure psychological torture. 7. Sanford Stadium, Georgia The environment "Between the Hedges" has made the Bulldogs nearly unbeatable at home under coach Kirby Smart. While the literally barking from Georgia fans doesn't always rattle your eardrums, Sanford Stadium can rumble when challenged. 8. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama Alabama fans don't always roar as fiercely as others listed above. But last season's game against Georgia showed how Tide fans can bring the noise when they feel they must. Alabama is nearly unbeatable at home the past 20 years. 9. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida As former coach Steve Spurrier aptly said, 'only Gators get out alive' from The Swamp. Florida has won 71.4% of its home games against SEC opponents the past 10 years, compared to 47.6% on the road in conference games. That's the definition of home-field advantage. 10. Kyle Field, Texas A&M Yeah, there are some odd chants, routines and hand signs from the school's Aggie Yell Leaders. But don't be mistaken: Kyle Field towers like no other and literally shakes when the noise swells (as it often does). The Aggies entering to 'POWER' is one of college football's best intros. 11. Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Oklahoma A touch smaller than other SEC colossuses with a capacity of 80,126, the "Palace on the Prairie" still more than holds its own. (Seven national title banners hanging inside help deliver that message.) The Sooner Schooner cruising the field paints a scene fit for one of the nation's premier football conferences. 12. Michigan Stadium, Michigan The largest venue by capacity in college sports? Check. But that's selling Michigan Stadium short: This is the largest stadium by total seating in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world. Though their current digs were completed in 1927, the Wolverines are 662-154-21 at home since 1883. 13. Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn Some say Jordan-Hare uncorks a strange voodoo magic on opponents. (See the "Prayer in Jordan-Hare" and the 2012 Iron Bowl, held just two weeks apart, for one example.) It may also just be that Auburn fans create a tough environment that lends itself to late-game meltdowns or heroics. Find someone who loves you the way Auburn fans love to 'Swag Surf.' 14. Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame "The House that Rockne Built" is iconic enough to essentially be a pictorial stand-in for college football itself. There's the "Touchdown Jesus" mural. Lines and lines of some of the sport's most memorable coaches and players. National championships galore. While the vibe might be different than that seen at some of the larger SEC fields, no one can deny that Notre Dame Stadium occupies a special place in the NCAA landscape. 15. Husky Stadium, Washington When things are going right for Washington, Husky Stadium easily counts among the loudest spots in the FBS. It also may be the most picturesque venue as well: There may be no more aesthetically pleasing scene in college football than a packed, rocking-and-rolling Husky Stadium with sailboats dotting Lake Washington – what locals call 'sailgating.' (While in Seattle, former Washington coach Steve Sarkisian named his boat "Noah Sark.") 16. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Texas Admittedly, the Texas fans at DKR (often derided by detractors as a "wine and cheese" crowd) don't always produce a decibel level to match the 100,119-person capacity. But you have to also admit that the Longhorn faithful can turn it up for big games. Texas has won 14 of 15 at home. 17. Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina The Gamecocks peck above their weight at Williams-Brice, long one of the SEC's and broader college football's most underrated venues. The place roars to life when Darude's 'Sandstorm' plays and fans wave white towels chanting, 'U-S-C! U-S-C!' 18. Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah The beautiful panorama in the background belies the electric game-day atmosphere inside Rice-Eccles. On a pound-for-pound (or decibel-for-decibel) level, RES is tough to beat. Utah won 18 home games in a row before losing to Oregon in 2023 19. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin Don't leave your seat at the end of the third quarter. That's when Wisconsin fans "Jump Around' to the 1992 House of Pain classic of the same name, often causing Camp Randall to shake and vibrate. The tradition started in 1998, took a very brief, highly controversial hiatus in 2003 and became a rallying cry during the Badgers' development into a Big Ten powerhouse under former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema. 20. Doak S. Campbell Stadium, Florida State Doak can be listless, as during last year's dismal 2-10 finish. But it's also been the site of several legendary wins against some of the most high-profile opponents in the country and continues to rank among the unfriendliest venues for visitors when the Seminoles are rolling. Overall, FSU is 322-109-4 at Doak Campbell (74.5%). 21. Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech Start with the best introduction in college football: Virginia Tech takes the field to Metallica's "Enter Sandman," quickly setting the tone for what can often be the scariest place to play in the ACC. While the home-field advantage has taken a hit this decade, the edge provided by Lane Stadium helped put Tech on the map under legendary coach Frank Beamer. 22. LaVell Edwards Stadium, Brigham Young Provo's towering mountaintops gives LaVell Edwards Stadium some of the most beautiful scenery in college football this side of the Rose Bowl. A noisy, intense and intimidating home crowd is supported by the nearly mile-high elevation that can wear down opponents. BYU is 25-6 at home since 2020. 23. Albertsons Stadium, Boise State The bane of opposing coaches and defenders for decades, the program's legendary blue turf is enough to land Boise on this list. But don't forget the Broncos have gone 212-45 at home since installing the turf in 1986, developing the finest home-field advantage in the Group of Five and helping the program establish itself among the most consistently successful in the sport. 24. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa The environment at Kinnick has helped Iowa go 22-6 at home since 2021. It's also home to the best new tradition in the sport: Since 2017, players and fans turn at the end of the first quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital. 'The Hawkeye Wave' is already an indelible part of the college football fabric. 25. Boone Pickens Stadium, Oklahoma State The oldest stadium in the Big 12 and one of the few in the country to run in an east-west direction received a major facelift and reboot with Oklahoma State's development into a regional and national player in the 2000s, resulting in all 10 of the most-attended games in program history occurring since 2011. While things ran off the rails last season, Mike Gundy's teams dropped only three home games from 2020-23. (The stadium gets bonus points for having the nicest press-box restroom experience in the Power Four.)
The Herald Scotland
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Big Ten college football stadiums ranked from best to worst
There's the annual "White Out" game at Penn State. Michigan's record-setting capacity. The beauty of Pasadena at dusk. The unforgettable atmospheres at schools such as Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and more. From top to bottom, it's hard to top the history and tradition found at these Big Ten venues. In terms of pure intimidation, though, there's a very clear group at the top (and bottom). Here's how USA TODAY Sports ranks Big Ten home fields from nastiest to kindest for visitors: 1. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State Trips to the Horseshoe are basically a guaranteed loss for teams in and out of the Big Ten, unless you're Michigan. (The Wolverines have taken two in a row at home in the series.) Since the stadium opened in 1922, Ohio State has posted a mark of 478-115-20, including a remarkable 55-3 record (94.9%) since 2016. The Buckeyes have turned the 'Shoe into maybe the most hostile locale in the sport. 2. Beaver Stadium, Penn State "White Out" games are among the most unique home-field sights in college football: Nittany Lions faithful across the board dress up in white tops to provide visitors with an unsettling, eye-popping backdrop. Combined with the deafening roar provided by 100,000-plus fans, this makes Beaver Stadium one of the elite settings in the Bowl Subdivision. PART OF PLAN?: NCAA settlement for college sports already faces challenges PLAYOFF PROBLEM?: Why committee could be tested by two SEC teams 3. Autzen Stadium, Oregon Autzen became a house of horrors for opponents in the late 1990s before reaching a peak during the Chip Kelly era, when the Ducks rolled off a 21-game winning streak before an epic loss to Southern California in 2011. Oregon has lost just once at home since hiring Dan Lanning in 2022 and gone unbeaten the past two years. 4. Michigan Stadium, Michigan The largest venue by capacity in college sports? Check. But that's selling Michigan Stadium short: This is the largest stadium by total seating in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world. It may not be the loudest in the conference, but it might be the most iconic. 5. Husky Stadium, Washington There are few scenes in college football more aesthetically pleasing than a packed, rocking-and-rolling Husky Stadium with sailboats dotting Lake Washington - what locals call "sailgating." Historically, Husky Stadium has been seen as maybe the loudest spot in the FBS when things are going right for Washington. 6. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa In addition to goosing Iowa's Big Ten chances - the Hawkeyes are 22-6 at home since 2021 - Kinnick is home to the best new tradition in the sport: Since 2017, players and fans turn at the end of the first quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital. "The Hawkeye Wave" is already an indelible part of the college football fabric. SPECIAL PLACE: Inside the unique Iowa wave tradition 7. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin At the end of the third quarter, Wisconsin fans will "Jump Around" to the 1992 House of Pain classic of the same name. The tradition started in 1998, took a very brief, highly controversial, one-game hiatus in 2003 and became a rallying cry during the Badgers' development into a Big Ten powerhouse under former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema. 8. Memorial Stadium, Nebraska A decided lack of success at home in recent years dunks the Cornhuskers down this list. But when Nebraska is playing well, Memorial Stadium provides one of the best home-field advantages in college football. And even when the program is struggling, Memorial Stadium's deep wealth of history captures your attention and is sure to be sold out. 9. L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Southern California The Coliseum's art-deco-influenced design speaks to the venue's extensive history as the host not just for USC football but also multiple Olympic Games, the Super Bowl, NFL regular-season games and more. While it can be hit or miss, the Coliseum ratches up the intensity for opponents such as Notre Dame or rival UCLA. 10. Spartan Stadium, Michigan State Spartan Stadium hosted one of the defining matchups of the 20th century during the famous (or infamous) 10-10 tie against Notre Dame in 1966. More recently, Michigan Stadkum turned in a dominant run at home under former coach Mark Dantonio, though that edge has diminished this decade with the program's downturn. 11. Huntington Bank Stadium, Minnesota The newest stadium in the Big Ten (for now, as we'll see), Huntington Bank Stadium's capacity of just over 50,000 makes it one of the coziest venues in the conference. The open-air site will also turn frigid and occasionally snowy later in the year, though that doesn't stop locals from enjoying a Dilly Bar in the cold temps. 12. Memorial Stadium, Illinois After suffering a major dip in attendance during the woebegone days of the late 2010s, Illinois has reestablished a home-field advantage since Bielema was hired in 2021. The Illini averaged almost 55,000 fans per home game last year, the program's most since 2009. Illinois won six home games last season for the first time since 2001. 13. Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue We won't penalize Purdue for incorrectly calling its oversize bass drum the "World's Largest Drum." (There's nothing wrong with a little hyperbole.) Ross-Ade has been inhospitable at times throughout its history: in the 1930s, the 1960s, the late 1970s and most recently during the Joe Tiller era (1997-2008). 14. Memorial Stadium, Indiana The home-field edge was alive in 2024, at least, when IU sold out its final four home games in Curt Cignetti's debut and drew a record single-season total of 386,992 fans. While not the case historically, the Hoosiers showed that Memorial Stadium can bring the noise when the team is competitive. 15. SECU Stadium, Maryland As a men's and women's lacrosse venue, SECU Stadium can be hard to beat. Football? There's a national title banner hanging inside (1953), and SECU (long known as Byrd Stadium) also hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip for an upset of North Carolina in 1957. But the stadium doesn't wobble the knees of Big Ten opponents. 16. SHI Stadium, Rutgers The environment can be intimidating, as Washington found out last September. Back in the program's Big East days, then-and-now coach Greg Schiano helped Rutgers turn SHI Stadium (then called Rutgers Stadium) into a surprisingly unfriendly host. That hasn't always been the case in the Big Ten, though. 17. Rose Bowl, UCLA There's the Rose Bowl game - one that has long defined college football's postseason - and there's the Rose Bowl itself, which shares an address with the bowl game but little of the pageantry and hoopla (or fans). UCLA's home stadium is at least 30 minutes or so from campus, longer depending on traffic, and while the crowd will show up for rivals such as USC there is little in the way of an obvious home-field advantage. 18. Ryan Field, Northwestern The Wildcats will play their games in 2025 at Northwestern's soccer and lacrosse stadium while extensive renovations are completed at Ryan Field. When done, Ryan will be a slightly cozier, much more 21st-century venue "engineered to create a powerful homefield sound advantage at games," the school said. We'll have to wait and see where it ranks when complete.
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Big Ten stadiums rankings: Which college football stadiums finished first?
From the Horseshoe through Beaver Stadium, jumbo-size Michigan Stadium, the Rose Bowl and three different Memorial Stadiums, Big Ten football venues rank among the most iconic in the Bowl Subdivision. But none are as uninviting as Ohio State's Ohio Stadium. For decades, the Horseshoe has hosted memorable national champions and helped maintain the Buckeyes' place among the sport's most dominant programs. There's the annual 'White Out' game at Penn State. Michigan's record-setting capacity. The beauty of Pasadena at dusk. The unforgettable atmospheres at schools such as Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and more. From top to bottom, it's hard to top the history and tradition found at these Big Ten venues. In terms of pure intimidation, though, there's a very clear group at the top (and bottom). Here's how USA TODAY Sports ranks Big Ten home fields from nastiest to kindest for visitors: 1. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State Trips to the Horseshoe are basically a guaranteed loss for teams in and out of the Big Ten, unless you're Michigan. (The Wolverines have taken two in a row at home in the series.) Since the stadium opened in 1922, Ohio State has posted a mark of 478-115-20, including a remarkable 55-3 record (94.9%) since 2016. The Buckeyes have turned the 'Shoe into maybe the most hostile locale in the sport. 2. Beaver Stadium, Penn State 'White Out' games are among the most unique home-field sights in college football: Nittany Lions faithful across the board dress up in white tops to provide visitors with an unsettling, eye-popping backdrop. Combined with the deafening roar provided by 100,000-plus fans, this makes Beaver Stadium one of the elite settings in the Bowl Subdivision. PART OF PLAN?: NCAA settlement for college sports already faces challenges PLAYOFF PROBLEM?: Why committee could be tested by two SEC teams 3. Autzen Stadium, Oregon Autzen became a house of horrors for opponents in the late 1990s before reaching a peak during the Chip Kelly era, when the Ducks rolled off a 21-game winning streak before an epic loss to Southern California in 2011. Oregon has lost just once at home since hiring Dan Lanning in 2022 and gone unbeaten the past two years. 4. Michigan Stadium, Michigan The largest venue by capacity in college sports? Check. But that's selling Michigan Stadium short: This is the largest stadium by total seating in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world. It may not be the loudest in the conference, but it might be the most iconic. 5. Husky Stadium, Washington There are few scenes in college football more aesthetically pleasing than a packed, rocking-and-rolling Husky Stadium with sailboats dotting Lake Washington – what locals call 'sailgating.' Historically, Husky Stadium has been seen as maybe the loudest spot in the FBS when things are going right for Washington. 6. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa In addition to goosing Iowa's Big Ten chances – the Hawkeyes are 22-6 at home since 2021 – Kinnick is home to the best new tradition in the sport: Since 2017, players and fans turn at the end of the first quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital. 'The Hawkeye Wave' is already an indelible part of the college football fabric. SPECIAL PLACE: Inside the unique Iowa wave tradition 7. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin At the end of the third quarter, Wisconsin fans will 'Jump Around' to the 1992 House of Pain classic of the same name. The tradition started in 1998, took a very brief, highly controversial, one-game hiatus in 2003 and became a rallying cry during the Badgers' development into a Big Ten powerhouse under former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema. 8. Memorial Stadium, Nebraska A decided lack of success at home in recent years dunks the Cornhuskers down this list. But when Nebraska is playing well, Memorial Stadium provides one of the best home-field advantages in college football. And even when the program is struggling, Memorial Stadium's deep wealth of history captures your attention and is sure to be sold out. 9. L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Southern California The Coliseum's art-deco-influenced design speaks to the venue's extensive history as the host not just for USC football but also multiple Olympic Games, the Super Bowl, NFL regular-season games and more. While it can be hit or miss, the Coliseum ratches up the intensity for opponents such as Notre Dame or rival UCLA. 10. Spartan Stadium, Michigan State Spartan Stadium hosted one of the defining matchups of the 20th century during the famous (or infamous) 10-10 tie against Notre Dame in 1966. More recently, Michigan Stadkum turned in a dominant run at home under former coach Mark Dantonio, though that edge has diminished this decade with the program's downturn. 11. Huntington Bank Stadium, Minnesota The newest stadium in the Big Ten (for now, as we'll see), Huntington Bank Stadium's capacity of just over 50,000 makes it one of the coziest venues in the conference. The open-air site will also turn frigid and occasionally snowy later in the year, though that doesn't stop locals from enjoying a Dilly Bar in the cold temps. 12. Memorial Stadium, Illinois After suffering a major dip in attendance during the woebegone days of the late 2010s, Illinois has reestablished a home-field advantage since Bielema was hired in 2021. The Illini averaged almost 55,000 fans per home game last year, the program's most since 2009. Illinois won six home games last season for the first time since 2001. 13. Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue We won't penalize Purdue for incorrectly calling its oversize bass drum the 'World's Largest Drum.' (There's nothing wrong with a little hyperbole.) Ross-Ade has been inhospitable at times throughout its history: in the 1930s, the 1960s, the late 1970s and most recently during the Joe Tiller era (1997-2008). 14. Memorial Stadium, Indiana The home-field edge was alive in 2024, at least, when IU sold out its final four home games in Curt Cignetti's debut and drew a record single-season total of 386,992 fans. While not the case historically, the Hoosiers showed that Memorial Stadium can bring the noise when the team is competitive. 15. SECU Stadium, Maryland As a men's and women's lacrosse venue, SECU Stadium can be hard to beat. Football? There's a national title banner hanging inside (1953), and SECU (long known as Byrd Stadium) also hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip for an upset of North Carolina in 1957. But the stadium doesn't wobble the knees of Big Ten opponents. 16. SHI Stadium, Rutgers The environment can be intimidating, as Washington found out last September. Back in the program's Big East days, then-and-now coach Greg Schiano helped Rutgers turn SHI Stadium (then called Rutgers Stadium) into a surprisingly unfriendly host. That hasn't always been the case in the Big Ten, though. 17. Rose Bowl, UCLA There's the Rose Bowl game – one that has long defined college football's postseason – and there's the Rose Bowl itself, which shares an address with the bowl game but little of the pageantry and hoopla (or fans). UCLA's home stadium is at least 30 minutes or so from campus, longer depending on traffic, and while the crowd will show up for rivals such as USC there is little in the way of an obvious home-field advantage. 18. Ryan Field, Northwestern The Wildcats will play their games in 2025 at Northwestern's soccer and lacrosse stadium while extensive renovations are completed at Ryan Field. When done, Ryan will be a slightly cozier, much more 21st-century venue 'engineered to create a powerful homefield sound advantage at games,' the school said. We'll have to wait and see where it ranks when complete.
The Herald Scotland
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
SEC power rankings: Texas, Georgia top college football's best league
The SEC is poised to reclaim its perch atop the Bowl Subdivision. That starts with the one-two punch of Texas and Georgia, which met in last year's conference title game and are the favorites to do so again this December. But that's not all the SEC will bring to the College Football Playoff race. There's also Alabama, which may be undervalued at this point as a title contender, and there's LSU, which might end up having the league's offense. And don't count out teams such as Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi and more. These teams may not win the SEC, but several will be in the mix for an at-large playoff berth deep into November. With media days this week in Atlanta, here's how USA TODAY Sports projects the SEC from top to bottom: 1. Texas The Arch Manning era begins with the Longhorns as the favorites in the SEC and maybe the team to beat for the national title. There's a loaded roster, a supremely talented new quarterback and the motivation to take the next step forward after coming up short against Ohio State in last season's national semifinals. 2. Georgia Georgia feels much closer to Texas than to Alabama, illustrating the gap between these two SEC favorites and the rest of the pack. (And the rest of the pack is pretty good.) The biggest question for the Bulldogs asks how Gunner Stockton fares as the full-time starter after he gained valuable experience over the final two games of 2024. BEST TO WORST: Ranking all 16 SEC college football stadiums 3. Alabama It won't hurt to have slightly lower expectations and a somewhat softer spotlight on Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide after winning nine games in his debut. Ty Simpson is expected to take over under center and will operate behind a very strong offensive line with plenty of weapons at his disposal. The defense is best in the front seven. Overall, this is a very talented team capable of winning the SEC and the national title. 4. LSU The pressure is on Brian Kelly, though. The Tigers' offense should be explosive, especially through the air, and seems capable of winning the shootouts that have become more commonplace in the SEC. The defense needs work. LSU has to do a better job buttoning things up against the run and kickstart a pass rush that disappeared down the stretch in 2024. ALL-IN: LSU pushing all chips into defeating Clemson in opener 5. Florida Bringing back Billy Napier may end up working out for the Gators. The decision to not make a moves after a slow start in 2024 sparked a strong finish ]and developed some significant momentum heading into a promising season. No one embodies that promise more than sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway, who will have his development lifted by an upgraded receiver room. 6. Oklahoma Former Washington State quarterback John Mateer could end being one of the most impactful transfers of the season. Another newcomer to watch is running Jaydn Ott (California). With fewer questions on the defensive side, OU could go from six wins to the playoff should Mateer and new coordinator Ben Arbuckle change the Sooners' fortunes on offense. 7. Tennessee Nico Iamaleava's departure was one of the biggest stories of the offseason. His replacement, Joey Aguilar (Appalachian State), has a track record of production but has to limit his turnovers after tossing 14 interceptions in 390 attempts in 2024. (Iamaleava had five in 334 throws.) The biggest question mark is whether the Volunteers can build a running game that can carry the load without last year's leading rusher and with multiple new starters up front. 8. Mississippi Team Transfer takes another stab at a playoff berth behind a rotating cast of contributors and a new starter under center in Austin Simmons. While the portal yielded more help for the Rebels, look for the defense to rely primarily on players who have at least one year in the program outside of two big adds on the edge. If the defense stays among the four in the SEC, don't be surprised if Ole Miss exceeds national expectations. 9. Texas A&M A veteran offensive line leads the way for a running game that may be the best in the SEC. That will help Marcel Reed continue his growth as the starter. But the Aggies won't improve on last year's 8-5 finish without significant improvement from a defense that gave up 5.5 yards per play in 2024, better than only four other teams in the SEC. Mike Elko's history says the defense will be improved, but by how much? 10. Missouri Another very friendly SEC schedule - the same opponents as last year, just flipped from home to away and vice versa - could lead Missouri to a third 10-win season in a row, which would be a program first. A transfer bonanza will help the Tigers replace several daunting losses on offense, with no addition more crucial than quarterback Beau Pribula (Penn State). And the defense could be nasty with the return of most of last year's starters and more than a handful of Bowl Subdivision transfers with starting experience. 11. South Carolina South Carolina's season will be defined by a five-game stretch in October and November against LSU (road), Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss (road) and A&M (road). Given the rest of the schedule, taking three of five there would probably leave the Gamecocks in range of a playoff berth heading into the rivalry with Clemson to end November. But getting to that point is only doable if quarterback LaNorris Sellers takes a big leap in his second year and the staff can plug in as many as a dozen new starters and contributors on the defense. 12. Auburn Auburn is going to be better, but will seven or eight wins be enough to calm a fan base stewing over Hugh Freeze's 11-14 mark through two seasons? He's done a nice rebooting the offense, though a lot of the Tigers' success or failure will hinge on transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma) proving he's good enough to start in the SEC. The schedule kicks off at Baylor in what feels like a must-win game. 13. Vanderbilt Quarterback Diego Pavia and dynamite tight end Eli Stowers will lead an offense that largely avoids self-inflicted errors and is able to take advantage of opportunities provided by good field position. The offensive line and receiver corps will be reliant on the portal, though. Look for the defense to take another step forward and help carry the Commodores back to a bowl. The schedule is flat-out brutal. Arkansas takes on Memphis and Notre Dame in non-conference play. The SEC slate is Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU and Texas on the road, and A&M, Auburn, Mississippi State and Missouri at home. The Razorbacks could recapture the magic of 2021 if things go right - really, really right. But the schedule and the new personnel nearly across the board point toward a losing finish. 15. Kentucky The arrow is pointing down for Kentucky after longtime coach Mark Stoops orchestrated the most consistently successful stretch in modern program history. A major roster reboot via the transfer portal yielded another rental at quarterback in Zach Calzada, who has SEC starting experience. But even if the portal additions work out, the Wildcats won't go anywhere without fixing the turnovers that defined last year's four-win finish. 16. Mississippi State Winless in SEC play last season, Mississippi State has barely any reason for optimism and is the unquestioned last-place team heading into the regular season. Winning two league games wouldn't be remarkable, but it might be surprising.
