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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where USA TODAY Sports ranks the Swamp in its top 25 college football stadium rankings
The college football offseason offers an opportunity to reflect on some of the more bird's-eye views of the sport as we await the start of the nation's favorite fall game. Among the more common queries focus on the quality of various schools' stadiums, which serve as something of a house of worship featuring a gridiron altar that fans pray at every Saturday (with exceptions, of course). Many of these locations are among the highest-capacity venues in the nation, which adds fuel to the fervent fire that burns from within during the autumn months. USA TODAY Sports writers Paul Myerberg and Blake Toppmeyer recently tried to tackle the topic by ranking the top 25 best college football stadiums in the country, which included the University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium among the top 10. Known throughout the land as "the Swamp," the Gators' home field came in at No. 9 in the rankings — behind the Alabama Crimson Tide's Bryant-Denny Stadium and ahead of the Texas A&M Aggies' Kyle Field. "As former coach Steve Spurrier aptly said, 'Only Gators get out alive' from The Swamp," they offer. "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." Ranking the Swamp according to other opinions Oddly enough, Toppmeyer ranked Ben Hill Griffin Stadium as the top football venue in the Southeastern Conference earlier this month. Despite this, Florida's home field is the fifth-highest ranked SEC location in the latest tally. On the other hand, Carter Bahns of 247Sports' assessment back in May — in which he ranked the top college football atmospheres — is in agreement with the latest assessment, also placing the Swamp at No. 9. USA TODAY Sports top 25 college football stadium rankings Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nebraska's Memorial Stadium ranked middle of the pack in the Big Ten Conference
Where does Nebraska's Memorial Stadium rank among the 18 home venues in the Big Ten? Paul Myerberg recently ranked the Big Ten Stadiums, and the Huskers' home venue ranks No. 8 in the league. Ohio Stadium, home of the Buckeyes, ranked No. 1 in the conference while Northwestern's Ryan Field brought up the rear, ranked dead last at No. 18. Nebraska has called Memorial Stadium home since October 13, 1923. The original construction cost $430,000. Nebraska's Memorial Stadium is best known for its home sellout streak. The Huskers, entering 2025, have sold out 403 games dating back to 1962 and hold a record of 326-77 during the streak. "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." Nebraska will open the 2025 college football season on Thursday, August 28, when the Huskers face the Cincinnati Bearcats at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Huskers open Memorial Stadium in 2025 on September 6 when they host Akron for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff. Find the entire Big Ten stadium rankings from USA TODAY Sports below. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
23-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Penn State takes top spot in USA TODAY Sports Big Ten power rankings
There is no denying that Penn State is preparing for one of the more anticipated seasons in program history after making a run to the College Football Playoff semifinal last season. The bar has been raised by many for the Nittany Lions, and the hype train continues to be roaring at full steam heading into the 2025 season. That hype continued to rise with the Nittany Lions landing on top of the Big Ten preseason power rankings from USA TODAY Sports college football writer Paul Myerberg. Yes, Penn State comes out ahead of the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes and the defending Big Ten champion Oregon Ducks, respectively. That has been the fairly common belief by those around the college football media circles this offseason in part due to a roster returning many key players on each side of the ball, despite losing first-round draft picks in Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren, and adding key transfers to help plug the void at the wide receiver position. The addition of Trebor Pena from Syracuse is considered a major upgrade for an offense that already added a pair of other talented wide receivers in the offseason. Penn State's rise to the top of the Big Ten power rankings is focused largely on the expectations for the offense. The return of Drew Allar at quarterback and both star running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen gives Penn State as solid a returning backfield as we may see this season in all of college football. Penn State's schedule is also moderately favorable, with the biggest challenge coming with a road trip to Ohio State and getting Oregon at home for a primetime whiteout game highlighting the home schedule. According to the power rankings from Myerberg, Penn State will face five of the Big Ten's top-10 teams this season. Three of those games will come at home (Oregon, Indiana, and Nebraska), and the other two will be on the road (at Ohio State and at Iowa). You can see the full Big Ten power rankings from Myerberg via USA TODAY Sports to see how the whole conference looks in 2025. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where is Ohio Stadium in USA TODAY's ranking of best Big Ten stadiums?
Rankings and lists can be subjective, but we still like to follow them. Cobble a bunch of them together, and if you believe bias is taken out of it all, a consensus should tell you something, right? You've seen them, we've seen them, and your brother-in-law's cousin-twice removed has seen a ranking of college football stadiums, but now we have a new one that we'll take a little more stock in. That's because it comes from Paul Myerberg with our mother ship at USA TODAY. He took a look at all of the Big Ten stadiums -- 18 now (and maybe counting) -- and ranked them from worst to first when it comes to "nastiest to kindest" for visitors. As you can imagine, Ohio Stadium, where Ohio State does its best work, gets a lot of love from Myerberg. Sure, the iconic venue and all its historical significance and mystique have something to do with it, but it has more to do with how hard it is to come out of there with a victory. Not only did Myerberg rank the 'Shoe high on the list, he put it all the way at the top of the best stadiums in the Big Ten, at No. 1 overall. But why? "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.), wrote Myerberg. "Since the stadium opened in 1922, Ohio State has been dominant at home, 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." It's true that Ohio Stadium is a tough place to play, but it has more to do with the team that resides there than how rabid the fanbase is. Don't get me wrong, I've heard the 'Shoe rocking when it's a big game at night and other times when there's a lot on the line in a close game, but there are times when fans in the "big 'Ole Horseshoe" (said in my best Keith Jackson voice) seem disinterested. Still, the numbers don't lie. It's a tough, tough place to win. Rounding out the top five on Myerberg's list behind Ohio Stadium is Beaver Stadium (Penn State), Autzen Stadium (Oregon), Michigan Stadium (Michigan), and Husky Stadium (Washington). Yes, you saw that right. Two of the most recent teams to join the Big Ten from the West Coast are considered among the top five. For a complete list of Myerberg's list, you can visit USA TODAY and scroll through the finished product yourself. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
USA Today
19-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Alabama lands in 247Sports' preseason SEC football poll, predicted order of finish
With another SEC media days is in the book, more early evaluations on the 2025 college football season within the conference that "Just Means More" are tricking in. Only six weeks remain until Alabama kicks off the season against Florida State on Aug. 30 at 2:30 p.m. CT. Not only will it mark their first ever visit to Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, it will also be the first time in 25 years the Crimson Tide have opened a season in a true road game setting. Alabama-Florida State will be televised on ABC. As the SEC was wrapping up media days this week, the staff at 247Sports released their annual preseason SEC poll. Alabama landed at No. 4 behind two teams you'd probably expect by this point -- Texas at No. 1 and Georgia at No. 2 -- and one that's pushed its chips all-in on 2025. LSU was ranked No. 3 ahead of the Crimson Tide. It's still a strong ranking for Alabama, one that reflects the belief many in the media share about coach Kalen DeBoer's ability to win in the SEC as he enters his second season in Tuscaloosa. The SEC's own preseason media poll, announced Friday, had the Crimson Tide at No. 3. Veteran USA TODAY Sports college football writer Paul Myerberg also had Alabama at No. 3 in his preseason SEC power rankings this week. Myerberg said of the Tide: "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 the best in the front seven. Overall, this is a very talented team capable of winning the SEC and the national title." 247Sports full 2025 SEC football preseason poll, projected order of finish Here's the full 247Sports preseason SEC poll and predicted order of finish heading into the 2025 season. 1. Texas Longhorns 2. Georgia Bulldogs 3. LSU Tigers 4. Alabama Crimson Tide 5. Ole Miss Rebels T-6. South Carolina Gamecocks T-6. Tennessee Volunteers 8. Texas A&M Aggies 9. Florida Gators 10. Oklahoma Sooners 11. Auburn Tigers 12. Missouri Tigers 13. Vanderbilt Commodores 14. Arkansas Razorbacks 15. Kentucky Wildcats 16. Mississippi State Bulldogs Alabama football schedule 2025 Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, formerly Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
