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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
CBS Sports ranks college football's most intimidating stadiums. Where did LSU rank?
LSU football is annually recognized as one of the toughest places to play, and that isn't changing anytime soon. CBS Sports ranked LSU atop its list of most intimidating venues ahead of the 2025 season. The top 10 follows a release by EA Sports' College Football 26 of the video game's toughest places to play. "Tiger Stadium provides a pressure-cooker feel before every kickoff against SEC competition, especially when the game's played at night -- which happens often," CBS Sports' Brad Crawford said. LSU welcomes Louisiana Tech, Florida, Southeastern Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Western Kentucky into Baton Rouge for its 2025 home schedule. "You get southern Super Bowl vibes before Alabama-LSU or Florida-LSU in Baton Rouge because the games mean so much to a passionate and buzzed fanbase," Crawford wrote. Since 2003, LSU is 129-21 at home. The Tigers generated plenty of hype during the offseason. Head coach Brian Kelly's staff took an aggressive approach to recruiting the transfer portal, which resulted in the highest-ranked class of the cycle. LSU's talent, mixed with a favorable home schedule, has the Tigers riding high into the 2025 season. However, LSU will open the year away from the comfort of Tiger Stadium, traveling to take on Clemson.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Clemson ranks in CBS Sports 2025 most intimidating environments in college football
When Clemson opens its home schedule with a high-profile clash under the lights, the atmosphere at Death Valley will remind the college football world why it's one of the toughest places to play. CBS Sports ranked the most intimidating environments for the 2025 season, and Memorial Stadium checked in at No. 8 on the list. Clemson will host LSU in what promises to be a marquee Top 10 matchup in Week 1. 'Anyone else anxious for opening weekend? LSU-Clemson from the ACC's Death Valley should be scintillating,' wrote CBS Sports' Brad Crawford. 'The Tigers' 40-game home winning streak was snapped in 2022 by South Carolina, but this is one of the nation's toughest road asks for quality teams. Notre Dame found that out two seasons ago after Clemson touched Howard's Rock before running down the hill and punching the Fighting Irish in the mouth. This is the only ACC environment that offers a SEC feel outside of Doak Campbell (Florida State) at night.' Clemson vs. LSU also landed at No. 7 on CBS' list of the best individual game-day environments this fall. As for No. 1 overall? That honor went to LSU's Tiger Stadium, which will host heavyweights like Florida, Texas A&M, and Alabama this year. Meanwhile, just ahead of Clemson in the venue rankings at No. 6 is a familiar location—Williams-Brice Stadium. The Tigers are aiming for their sixth straight win in Columbia this November and have dominated the series there, winning 17 of the last 22 matchups. 'Sandstorm. 2001. Cocky. Do yourself a favor and get to a South Carolina home game this season against Oklahoma, Alabama or Clemson,' Crawford wrote. 'The Gamecocks crowd will be fired up to try and spark a home victory over a ranked opponent, something they've accomplished three times during Shane Beamer's tenure. This place becomes really scary when South Carolina gets an early lead. It feels like the student section in the end zone is about to claw its way onto the field.' Though Memorial Stadium ranks behind a few SEC venues this year, Clemson fans will have their chance to make a national statement when Death Valley comes alive on opening weekend.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bold prediction sees Tennessee cycle through QBs in 2025
The Tennessee Volunteers suffered a shocking and detrimental loss over the offseason when Nico Iamaleava transferred out. It left a gaping hole under center, one that they'll hope is filled by Joey Aguilar. The success of their season in 2025 will likely depend strongly upon that. Unfortunately, he won't be, at least according to CBS Sports insider Brad Crawford. In fact, the analyst has a bold prediction that Tennessee won't see every game started by one quarterback, which is not a good thing. "Tennessee fans hoping Joey Aguilar will be a program savior, following Nico Iamaleava's transfer to UCLA, may want to temper their expectations. The Vols' decision to part ways with the quarterback who helped lead them to the CFP last season was one of the most surprising and potentially damaging moves across the Power Four this offseason -- and it could backfire in Knoxville," he said. The QB was instrumental in their success last season, but he's gone now. That decision in and of itself is rather shocking, and the results in 2025 of swapping out such an important position could be equally as shocking. "Heupel has downplayed Iamaleava's departure and shifted focus to the three quarterbacks on the roster, but this is a pressure-filled situation. Tennessee opens the season with a challenging stretch, facing Syracuse and Georgia within the first three weeks," he concluded. Those three games could make or break the season for Aguilar, who might not make it the season without heading to the bench.
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Clemson landed in CBS Sports 'programs set up for future national titles' tiers
CBS Sports took a step back to examine which college football programs are really built to chase national championships in the years ahead — and it's clear the 'Power 2' leagues continue to hold the cards. With the SEC and Big Ten pulling in record money and only adding to it with future TV deals, the top tier is heavily tilted toward those two conferences. CBS broke teams into tiers based on recruiting muscle, financial backing, available talent, leadership advantages and whether their expectations match reality. Clemson landed in the 'Silver' group — the third tier — sharing the spot with Tennessee, Miami, Florida State and Auburn. 'All five have hoisted a national championship trophy before, which proves it's possible again,' CBS' Brad Crawford wrote. 'Whenever Clemson finally exits the ACC and joins one of the super leagues in the next wave of realignment, the Tigers should see a revenue bump that lines up with college football's biggest spenders. But whenever Dabo Swinney steps down, whoever follows him will have a major task trying to keep that level of success going. The sport is more balanced than before, and recruiting isn't what it was during Clemson's title years.' At the top sits the 'Diamond' level, filled mostly with SEC powers — Texas, LSU, Georgia and Alabama — plus Ohio State out of the Big Ten. One step down sits Notre Dame at the front of the 'Gold' tier, joined by Michigan, Oregon, USC and Texas A&M. Clemson's recent dip into the portal also got a nod from ESPN's Adam Rittenberg: 'The big change is coach Dabo Swinney's willingness to add a few portal pieces,' he said. 'Heldt joins an already talented defensive line, and Southeast Missouri State's Tristan Smith provides a big frame (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) for the receiving corps. Clemson had a relatively small number of outgoing transfers, although defensive tackle Tre Williams could be missed.' For now, Clemson enters the fall with high expectations yet again — ranked inside the Top 5 by multiple outlets and favored to take the ACC crown. After winning two titles and appearing in four national championship games from 2015 to 2019, the Tigers aim to get back to the playoff's final four for the first time in half a decade. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
CBS Sports pits Auburn with this Big Ten team in a hypothetical alliance
CBS Sports pits Auburn with this Big Ten team in a hypothetical alliance The traditional fanfare between these two programs would create an electric atmosphere says Brad Crawford of CBS Sports. Talking season is underway, and the biggest topics of discussion this week are potential changes to the College Football Playoff format and a possible alliance between the SEC and Big Ten. During the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Florida this week, LSU head coach Brian Kelly discussed the desire of fellow SEC head coaches for SEC teams to face one Big Ten team each season in the future in an effort to challenge each team. "The Big Ten right now holds it on the SEC," Kelly said this week. "They've won the last two national championships, that's the reality of it. We want to get challenged in that regard and we'd like to be able to get that done. That's up to the commissioner and the ADs, but that's the wish of the room." If this dream were to become a reality, which Big Ten squad would pair best with the Auburn Tigers? Brad Crawford of CBS Sports recently pieced together hypothetical pairings of an SEC vs. Big Ten schedule, and has pitted Auburn with Iowa in this scenario. The two teams have never met on the gridiron, and the traditions that each team possesses would create an electric atmosphere in the regular season. Despite all of those Florida-based bowl games for the Tigers and Hawkeyes, these programs have never played. What's up with that? Iowa has one of the nation's best gamed traditions with the 'Hawkeye Wave' at the end of the first quarter of every home game while Auburn enjoys the 'Tiger Walk' and pre-game 'Flight of the War Eagle' prior to kickoff. It would be a neat experience for fans of both teams if Auburn and Iowa were locked in a alternating series with at least enough time for each program to get a home game. Auburn has a winning record historically against the Big Ten at 16-15-1, with most matchups coming in postseason play. The Tigers have a winning record over seven Big Ten squads including Washington, Michigan State, and Oregon, with teams such as Penn State, Wisconsin, and USC holding an edge over the Tigers. The potential alliance between the SEC and Big Ten would create opportunities for Auburn to square off with the conferences best teams while expanding their history with teams such as Illinois, UCLA, and Iowa, teams that Auburn has never played on the field. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
