College football games bring an energy and excitement that elevates the product to new levels. Each and every weekend, we see college football fans packing their home stadium to root on their school regardless of how successful the program has been.
All across the country there are crowds bigger than any NFL stadium could hold and the home-field advantage often proves to be a deciding factor.
But while every team has their loyal fan base, there are a handful of programs that differentiate themselves with their high-quality facilities and unrivaled atmospheres.
What are some of the top college football stadiums in the nation? Let’s take a look.
10. Clemson — Memorial Stadium
Known as Death Valley by Clemson fans everywhere, Memorial Stadium is a beautiful stadium that has been around since September 19, 1942. Clemson has two incredible traditions at Memorial Stadium, running down the hill and Howard’s Rock. Howard’s Rock has been vandalized twice, leading to the Clemson Ranger Club protecting the rock for 24 hours prior to the Tigers’ rivalry game with South Carolina. Running Down The Hill is used to intimidate opponents as players run down the hill on their way from the field house to the stadium.
The tradition sets Memorial Stadium apart from the team’s foes in the ACC.
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Capacity
81,500
Attendance Record
86,092
Location
Clemson, South Carolina
Nickname
Death Valley
Date Opened
October 6, 1941
Home Teams
Clemson Tigers, Carolina Panthers (1995)
9. Tennessee — Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium originally opened in 1921 with just 3,200 seats, but after countless renovations, the stadium is now capable of holding more than 100,000 rowdy fans. It is the fifth largest stadium in the United States, named after former Vols head coach Robert Neyland. You can always tell you are watching a Tennessee football game thanks to the orange-and-white checkerboard endzones.
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Capacity
102,455
Attendance Record
109,061
Location
Knoxville, Tennessee
Nickname
N/A
Date Opened
September 24, 1921
Home Teams
Tennessee Volunteers football
8. Texas A&M — Kyle Field
Home of the 12th Man, Kyle Field is the largest stadium in the SEC and the fourth largest in the United States. The stadium has been home to Texas A&M football since 1904. The Bernard C. Richardson Zone is one of the newer features at the stadium, hosting the nation’s only all-sports museum funded primarily by former athletes and showcasing the history of the program. You can also visit Reveille Cemetary, which is home to past mascots.
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Capacity
102,733
Attendance Record
110,631
Location
College Stadium, Texas
Nickname
Home of the 12th Man
Date Opened
September 24, 1927
Home Teams
Texas A&M Aggies football
7. Georgia — Sanford Stadium
Samford Stadium has undergone multiple expansions throughout the years, leading to the current capacity of 92,746. The stadium features a beautiful view of the Georgia campus and is known as “Between the Hedges” thanks to the field being surrounded by privet hedges. It is the 11th largest stadium in the United States and previously hosted soccer matches during the 1996 Summer Olympics. Like Kyle Field, there is a section for deceased mascots that are entombed in the corner of the stadium.
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Capacity
92,746
Attendance Record
N/A
Location
Athens, Georgia
Nickname
Between the Hedges
Date Opened
October 12, 1929
Home Teams
Georgia Bulldogs, 1998 Summer Olympics (football)
6. UCLA — Rose Bowl
Perhaps one of the most recognizable stadium in college football, the Rose Bowl is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and a California Historic Civil Engineering landmark. Along with being home to the UCLA Bruins, the Rose Bowl has hosted five Super Bowls, the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final, 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, and 1984 Olympic Gold Medal match.
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Capacity
90,888
Attendance Record
106,869
Location
Pasadena, California
Nickname
America’s Stadium
Date Opened
October 28, 1922
Home Teams
Rose Bowl Game, UCLA Bruins football, Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) (1996–2002), Pasadena Bowl (1946–1966, 1969–1971), Caltech Beavers (1923–1976), Pasadena HS Bulldogs, John Muir HS Mustangs, CSULA Diablos (1957–1960, 1963–1969), Los Angeles Wolves (1968), and Los Angeles Aztecs (1978–1979)
5. Ohio State — Ohio Stadium
The Ohio State Buckeyes have one of the most loyal fanbases in the nation, making the atmosphere at Ohio Stadium a memorable one. With a capacity of 104,944, it is the third largest football stadium in the United States and the fourth largest non-racing stadium in the world. Ohio Stadium is listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. Along with hosting the Buckeyes football games, Ohio Stadium is the site of spring commencement ceremonies for the university.
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Capacity
104,944
Attendance Record
110,045
Location
Columbus, Ohio
Nickname
The Horseshoe, The Shoe, The House That Harley Built
Date Opened
October 7, 1922
Home Teams
Ohio State Buckeyes football, Ohio Glory (1992), Columbus Crew SC (1996-1998)
4. Notre Dame — Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium has been around for 87 years and can hold up to 77,622 fans. There is also a unique experience from the seats of the stadium, with “Touchdown Jesus,” a mural by Millard Sheets titled “The Word of Life,” visible throughout. The mural was gifted to Notre Dame from Mr. and Mrs. Howard V. Phalin.
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Capacity
77,622
Attendance Record
80,795
Location
Notre Dame, Indiana
Nickname
The House That Rockne Built
Date Opened
October 4, 1930
Home Teams
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
3. Michigan — Michigan Stadium
“The Big House” is one of the most iconic stadiums in the country. With the ability to hold 107,601 fans, Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the country and the second biggest in the world. Some of the seats in the stadium are below ground level, so you can’t always recognize the size of the stadium from outside, but the atmosphere is virtually unmatched. Along with being home of the Wolverines football team, the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams play their home games on the field.
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Capacity
107,601
Attendance Record
115,109
Location
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Nickname
The Big House
Date Opened
October 1, 1927
Home Teams
Michigan Wolverines football, Michigan Wolverines men’s lacrosse, Michigan Wolverines women’s lacrosse, Michigan Wolverines field hockey (1973-1975)
2. Penn State — Beaver Stadium
The second-biggest stadium in the country, Beaver Stadium routinely fills with more than 100,000 fans on gamedays. When theNNittany Lions hold a White Out game, it creates one of the best sights in the game. The stadium is named after former Pennsylvania governor James A. Beaver, who is president of the university’s board of trustees. It is the third largest stadium in the world. At Beaver Stadium, you will see the iconic “S-Zone” student section and experience some of the best tailgating leading up to kickoff.
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Capacity
106,572
Attendance Record
110,823
Location
State College, Pennsylvania
Nickname
N/A
Date Opened
September 17, 1960
Home Teams
Penn State Nittany Lions football
1. LSU — Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium, affectionately known as the real Death Valley, is home to the LSU football team and is the third largest stadium in the SEC. Holding over 102,000 fans, it creates a wild atmosphere on gamedays. Tiger Stadium has the unique feature of marking yard lines every five yards, and previously had dorm rooms build into the structure. The stadium also features H style goal posts rather than the tradition Y-style. Death Valley also has two HD video boards that give fans an up-close look at all of the action. The stadium previously served as a temporary home for the New Orleans Saints following Hurricane Katrina.
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Capacity
102,321
Attendance Record
102,321
Location
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nickname
Death Valley
Date Opened
November 25, 1924
Home Teams
LSU Tigers football, New Orleans Saints (4 games in 2005), Tulane Green Wave football (1 game, 2005), and South Carolina Gamecocks football (1 game, 2015)
