We say it all the time, but we’ll say it again in case you needed to hear it. There’s nothing like college football and there’s nothing like being at a college football game. You won’t find the tradition and enthusiasm anywhere and it makes for a truly unique experience.
Last month we ranked the 5 loudest college football stadiums, but noise isn’t everything. It’s only part of the equation. The best stadiums have a mix of atmosphere, history, tradition, location, scenery, and that extra something special that can’t quite be quantified.
So this month we’re taking that extra step and ranking the top 5 college football stadiums in the country.
5. Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame
Notre Dame Stadium and Michigan Stadium battle each other much in the same way that these two stories programs have done so for as long as we can remember.
But for as special as Michigan Stadium is, Notre Dame has a feel to it that can’t quite be described. Maybe it’s Touchdown Jesus overlooking the field, the Golden Dome, or the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, but the 80-year old “House That Rockne Built” just separates itself.
4. Tiger Stadium, Louisiana State
Tiger Stadium, the other “Death Valley,” is as loud as they come, particularly for a night game. While Notre Dame and Michigan have more history, there’s not much that compares with this SEC atmosphere.
With a seating capacity of over 92,000, it’s the seventh largest on-campus college football stadium in the country. The nickname, originally “deaf valley,” is in reference to the truly deafening sounds produced by the crowd.
3. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State
Ohio State’s Ohio Stadium might not be the original horseshoe, but it’s “The Horseshoe”. It’s one of the toughest venues to visit in the country and has an atmosphere that rivals almost anywhere’s.
With it’s rich tradition and loyal fan base, whether you like them or not, everyone should go to a Buckeyes game before you die; even if it’s just to watch the band perform “Script Ohio”.
2. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is best known as “The Swamp,” a nickname popularized by former head coach Steve Spurrier in the 1990s.
With crowds over 88,000, the completely enclosed stadium partially below ground is an opponent’s nightmare. Opened in 1930, in recent years it’s become a year-in and year-out battle with Tiger stadium for the best in the SEC.
1. Beaver Stadium, Penn State
With a capacity over over 107,000, Penn State’s Beaver Stadium has the second largest capacity of any venue in America; coming just short of Michigan Stadium.
With crowds that can literally shake the stadium, what’s better than a Penn State “White Out” after a long weekend in Paternoville making sure you get the best seats in the house?