While the most important part of College Football is the on field product, the surrounding environment certainly plays a role in how amazing your gameday is. There’s nothing like an iconic college football stadium to really draw you into the experience – they’re the best stadiums in the world without a doubt.
But, which college football stadiums are the best of the best? For our rankings, our methodology is a balanced combination of how impressive, how iconic, and how beautiful the stadium is. So, without further ado, here’s our list of the 10 best stadiums in College Football – did your school make the cut?
20. Albertsons Stadium, “The Blue” – Boise State
Capacity – 36,387
“The Blue”, home of Boise State, gets perhaps the most bonus points for being iconic. Much like the wild offensive trickery to come out of the Idaho school’s on field product, the “Smurf Turf” at Albertsons Stadium stands out amongst its peers. Some call it an eye sore, some cherish it, but everyone knows it completes the look of one of the most unique stadiums in College Football.
19. Sanford Stadium – Georgia
Capacity – 92,746
Sanford Stadium was already one of the most impressive stadiums, boasting the 9th largest capacity in the sport. But, the installation of stadium-wide red lighting in 2019 truly completed the fearsome image of Sanford Stadium. This home turf if what makes Athens, GA one of the hardest places to play in the country – well, the stadium, the fans, and some of the best teams to see the field this millennium.
18. Beaver Stadium – Penn State
Capacity – 106,572
Beaver Stadium is undoubtedly one of the best college football environments on earth, and the impressive stadium is just as much a factor there as the rabid fans within. Beaver Stadium is over 60 years old, but some parts of the stadium are over 110 years old. The best time to experience Beaver Stadium is most certainly a Penn State Whiteout, one of the most notorious homefield advantages in College Football.
17. Memorial Stadium – Nebraska
Capacity – 85,458
Memorial Stadium is the spiritual center of Nebraska. In fact, the stadium alone becomes the third largest city in the state on gamedays. We all know how seriously Nebraskans take football, and Memorial Stadium is the perfect house for them. The striking façade and bold design makes Memorial Stadium, fittingly, the most recognizable building in Nebraska.
16. Autzen Stadium – Oregon
Capacity – 54,000
Autzen Stadium is the house that Phil Knight built, and it is equally as iconic and prestigious as the brand Knight made his living off of. The bold, almost futuristic design of Autzen still blends seamlessly with the Evergreen landscape of Oregon. Few stadiums better reflect the state they represent than Autzen. The sloping bowl and striking exterior are two of the most unique and appealing aspects of Autzen stadiums – besides the football played inside, of course.
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15. Darrell K Royal Stadium – Texas
Capacity – 100,119
Darrell K Royal is a massive, impressive stadium that has the additional benefit of looking right into downtown Austin. Burnt Orange prevails all over this towering home for the Longhorns. An already amazing stadium was made even better with the 2021 renovation of the South End Zone, embedding a Texas Longhorn logo right into the new lower bowl. Talk about a statement!
14. Memorial Stadium – Clemson
Capacity – 81,500
Many call Clemson’s pregame traditions the best in College Football. What makes Memorial Stadium so fantastic is how it has been built around those traditions over time. The Hill, which players run down as part of pregame, feeds right onto the field itself, right in the direction of a light up tower with the Clemson Tiger Paw on the front. Howard’s Rock is of course situated right at the top of this hill for players to touch on the way down. Memorial Stadium also spells out “Clemson” with seats in the upper deck, a classic stadium hallmark. If this wasn’t all enough, Memorial Stadium is the largest stadium in the ACC!
13. Lane Stadium – Virginia Tech
Capacity – 66,233
As noted, many call Clemson’s pregame the best in College Football. Those who disagree often point to Virginia Tech’s as the best. Lane Stadium is a fitting home for the electricity of “Enter Sandman”, with it’s steep, menacing home side of seats as its defining feature. Those who have been to a game at Lane Stadium know how it traps in and amplifies the sound of Hokie fans, making it one of the more difficult away games to play. You’ll hear those jingling keys on third down, alright.
12. Notre Dame Stadium – Notre Dame
Capacity – 80,795
Notre Dame Stadium, especially after recent renovations, is much more than just a stadium. First of all, the architecture makes it fit in perfectly amongst the campuses Victorian and Gothic architecture. Furthermore, new expansions have enabled Notre Dame to have classrooms and additional community facilities in the stadium itself, truly making it the center of campus. But what makes Notre Dame stadium so special is the feeling of being in the bowl itself and looking up at Touchdown Jesus, one of the most iconic views in all of College Football.
11. Neyland Stadium – Tennessee
Capacity – 101,915
You either love or hate Tennessee fans, and you’re likely in the latter group unless you are one. That being said, no one can disagree that Neyland is the perfect home for them. One of the most classic and impressive stadiums in the sport, Neyland is over 100 years with 16 renovations over that time period (starting as Shield-Watkins Stadium). There is only one such environment where you can truly experience Rocky Top, and it’s definitely not on your sofa at home. The square “VOLS” signage on the horizon is one of the signature details of this mighty stadium.
10. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, “The Swamp” – Florida
Capacity – 88,548
Many stadiums have nicknames, but perhaps none carries the same intimidating energy as “The Swamp”. In fact, Steve Spurrier, whom the field itself is named after, coined the term and described the stadium as “hot, sticky and dangerous”. It’s a well deserved moniker – Florida fans are known to be some of the rowdiest in College Football, and many teams have had championship seasons derailed in this stadium. The original facility opened in 1930, but many renovations since then have brought this stadium to the 12th largest stadium in the country. The most defining feature of the stadium is the bright orange wall reminding you “This Is…THE SWAMP”!
9. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – USC
Capacity – 77,500
What better venue for a Trojan Warrior than a Coliseum? Well, while that doesn’t seem entirely historically accurate, this beautiful stadium is dripping with history. The signature Olympic torch was added when the Coliseum first hosted the Olympics in 1932. Fittingly, the stadium will be the first to host the Olympics three times in 2028. Still, perhaps the most notable detail of the Coliseum is the peristyle at the Olympic Gateway, a unique installation that serves perfect for viewing the California sunset while serving as a venerable memorial.
8. Kyle Field – Texas A&M
Capacity – 102,733
Kyle Field is huge – in fact, it’s the largest stadium in the SEC and fourth largest in the United States. In true Texas fashion it’s scale is a big reason it makes the list – the sheer scale of its front façade and the number of seating decks it boasts make it one of the grandest constructions in College Football. But, what really makes Kyle Field stand out are the installations of tradition so core to Texas A&M – including the Reveille cemetery, in which past mascots are interned, the 12th man statue, and the various other memorials throughout Aggie Park. Come the night before for the Midnight Yell, perhaps the most iconic Aggie experience and a great way to see the stadium in a more intimate setting.
7. Ohio Stadium, “The Shoe” – Ohio State
Capacity – 102,780
When the original Ohio Stadium was built in 1922, at the time the largest poured concrete structure in the world, it had a capacity of 66,210. University officials reportedly feared it would never fill. They couldn’t be more wrong – from 2002-2019, Ohio Stadium never saw a crowd smaller than 100,000. The rowdy Block O and sounds of The Ohio State University Marching Band make any gameday in “The Shoe” (named for the stadiums Horseshoe shape) a signature experience. But, the seminal detail of the stadium is the rotunda at its front end, designed to look like the Pantheon in Rome. Fittingly, it is adorned with stained glass designs of the football team and Block O Logo.
6. Michigan Stadium, “The Big House” – Michigan
Capacity – 107,601
Few stadiums can beat Ohio State’s, but unfortunately for them, next up is their biggest rival. To be fair, Michigan Stadium is the largest football stadium in the world, so it’s tough to compete. Experiencing a gameday here should be on every College Football fan’s bucket list, whether you support the Wolverines or not. Like many other stadiums (including the LA Coliseum), its design was inspired by the famous Yale Bowl. What truly makes “The Big House” impressive is how much it stretches the concept of a bowl – literally. The sunken bowl has to stretch larger than any other to accommodate the massive capacity.
5. Tiger Stadium – LSU
Capacity – 102,321
While both Clemson’s Memorial Stadium and LSU’s Tiger Stadium compete for the title of Death Valley, it’s hard not to give the title to the latter when you experience a gameday there. While Tiger Stadium is the second largest stadium in the SEC behind Kyle Field, many have referred to it as the loudest stadium they’ve ever been in. The stadium’s arches give it a coliseum feel, and every College Football fan can recognize the purple LSU sign at its helm. But, surely the most unique feature of Tiger Stadium is what lies just outside – Mike the Tiger’s 15,000 square foot enclosure. LSU’s mascot deservingly lives like a king here!
4. Doak Campbell – Florida State
Capacity – 79,560
Just barely the second largest stadium in the ACC, what Doak Campbell falls short of on capacity it makes up in design. Perhaps no other stadium has a more glorious entry plaza than Doak’s, centered around the 19 foot bronze statue of Osceola and Renegade, made by Fritz White. Osceola’s spear is lit on fire the night before home games, becoming a gathering place for the FSU faithful. Doak Campbell Stadium also features a stained glass window in honor of Bobby Bowden (for whom the field is named after). Another impressive fact about Doak Campbell? It is the second largest continuous brick structure in the world, second only behind the Great Wall of China!
3. Camp Randall Stadium – Wisconsin
Capacity – 80,321
Camp Randall Stadium has a unique name, coming from an extremely interesting history. Camp Randall Stadium stands on the grounds of Camp Randall, a Union Army training camp utilized during the Civil War. In fact, Civil War history runs right through the University of Wisconsin with a statue of Lincoln (who passed legislation helping the creation of the Land Grant school) sitting atop Bascom Hill. One of the most notable architectural details is Wisconsin Field House, perched atop the South End Zone looking in, which hosts the university’s Volleyball team among other sports. The best stadium experience? When Jump Around blasts across the stadium before the fourth quarter, and fans Jump Around themselves.
2. Husky Stadium – Washington
Capacity – 70,138
Few stadiums are blessed with a waterfront view. Not only does Husky Stadium overlook Lake Washington and offers view of the downtown skyline, but the lakefront creates one of the best traditions in College Football. Fans can anchor their boats in front of Husky Stadium to “Sailgate” and then walk right into the stadium for kickoff. The sailgating environment is unlike any other, but this isn’t the only feature that gets this stadium toward the top of our list. Sweeping awnings and a bold U-Shaped design make Husky Stadium one of the most iconic and beautiful stadiums in the world, perfectly paired with amazing Pacific Northwest vistas.
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1. The Rose Bowl – Rose Bowl Game & UCLA
Capacity – 92,542
Who could top our list other than “The Granddaddy of Them All”? The Rose Bowl isn’t the largest stadium on our list, nor is it the oldest. That being said, you can argue this stadium has seen more history than any other in the world. While the Rose Bowl Game itself, the first postseason College Football game, was played as early as 1902, the Rose Bowl itself wasn’t built until 1922 to better accommodate the event. Also inspired by the Yale Bowl, the Rose Bowl actually started as a horseshow and completed its bowl through expansion projects. The Rose Bowl Game originally hosted the best team from the East vs the best team from the West, but has over time adapted to host the best Big Ten Team vs. the best Pac 12 team, and ultimately a College Football Playoff game. The years of top teams playing in this stadium give it a feel of lasting history and invincibility. But, what truly gives the Rose Bowl our title of Best College Football Stadium is how it looks at sunset, when a pink glow washes over the stadium and the mountains.
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