Oct 21, 2017; University Park, PA, USA; General view Beaver Stadium prior to the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
When it comes to ranking the best college football stadiums, a variety of factors are in play, and it depends on the individual’s preference as far as which venues are among the NCAA’s true elite.
For us, the atmosphere, stadium capacity, surrounding backdrop and scenery all play huge roles, as does how prominent the team that plays there is in the modern game.
With those qualifiers plainly stated, here’s our ranking of the 30 best college football stadiums heading into 2023.
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Lane Stadium is the home field of the Virginia Tech Hokies, who participate in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). It is rated as one of the “Top 10 Scariest Places to Play” and was named the number one home field advantage in college football in 2005. The stadium itself was named after former student Edward Hudson Lane, while the playing surface is named for Wes Worsham, a university donor and booster.
Along with having a sweeping view of western Virginia, from 1982 to 2014 Lane Stadium had the highest elevation of any Football Bowl Subdivision stadium in the eastern United States, clocking in at 2,057 feet above sea level. Opened in 1965, there have been several renovations to the stadium, moving forward with the times and the football team it supports.
The Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, also known as Owen Field or The Palace on the Prairie is home to the Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. With a seating capacity of 86,112, the Sooners stadium is the second largest in the Big 12 Conference, and the thirteenth largest in the United States.
Construction for the stadium began in 1922, and finished on October 20, 1923 approximately 100 years ago. The first stadium did not have much, and used movable bleachers until permanent ones were installed in 1925. There have been several other updates to the stadium over the years, with the most recent being in 2016 when the south end was enclosed.
Located right in the middle of South Carolina, Williams-Brice Stadium is home to the Gamecocks, and is currently the 16th largest on-campus college football stadium in the NCAA. Known as one of the loudest stadiums with one of the best atmospheres for college football, you sure will have an experience if you make the trip to Williams-Brice Stadium.
The stadium itself is often nicknamed “Willy B” by fans and local media, and has been the home of many concerts, state high school football championships, and other events. Built in 1934 with the help of federal Works Progress Administration funds, “Willy B” was made to replace Melton Field, an aging wooden structure that used to be located where USC’s Thomas Cooper Library now stands.
Located right near the border between Florida and Georgia, the Doak Campbell Stadium is also known as “Doak” and home to the Florida State Seminoles. The Seminoles currently participate in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The stadium was opened in 1950 and named after Doak S. Campbell, the university’s first president. Though this name could change in the future, since a petition was drafted in June 2020 to remove the name, as Campbell resisted racial integration while president.
The field itself was named Bobby Bowden Field after longtime head football coach Bobby Bowden in November 2004. In addition to HD screens to allow fans to read stats during the game, there are also plans to renovate the stands, widening seats, legroom, and adding handrails. This project should begin soon and finish between 2024 and 2025.
Located in University, Mississippi, the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium at Hollingsworth Field is the proud home of the Rebels college football team. The stadium is named after Johnny Vaught and Judge William Hemingway. Since it’s 2016 expansion, Vaught-Hemingway is the largest stadium in the state of Mississippi and holds the state record for attendance at 66,703.
The stadium began in 1915 as a federally sponsored project, with subsequent renovations expanding and modernizing the whole stadium, allowing the Rebels to play all of their home games on campus. Ole Miss is a huge football community, and if you want a true college football experience, check out the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
One of the newest stadiums on our list is the Yulman Stadium, the on-campus stadium for the Green Wave in Louisiana. With 4,500 of the 30,000 capacity reserved for premium seats in two fan clubs, you can either watch in comfort or with all the other college and local fans. The stadium’s opener was in 2014 against Georgia Tech in September.
Yulman Stadium replaced the Mercedes-Benz Superdome after 39 seasons being played at that venue, and is now situated on the university’s Uptown campus between the baseball stadium and the last on-campus football stadium. Anything that is built in New Orleans is going to have a distinct history and image, so if you want to go to a stadium with style head on down to Yulman.
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Situated in the upper middle portion of North Carolina, the Kenan Memorial Stadium (aka Kenan) is the home of the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. The stadium first opened in 1927, and was a replacement for the Emerson Field, where the school’s football team had resided since 1916. The first game was held on November 12, 1927 against the Davidson Wildcats, where the Tar Heels won 27-0 in front of 9,000 spectators.
The Tar Heels are one of the more prominent Division I colleges in the United States, and it only makes sense that their stadium atmosphere is amazing too. If you’re looking for a high-stakes, high-level game, check out the Kenan Memorial Stadium.
If you’re looking to spend a Saturday both watching football and being surrounded by breathtaking sights, Husky Stadium might be the place for you. The Washington Huskies will at least be competitive, but what lands this venue in our college football stadium rankings is the view of the Cascade Mountains. What better way to spend a Saturday than out in nature followed by a few hours in a big city and then closing out the evening at Husky Stadium. The experience is made even better now thanks to the Huskies’ explosive offense.
A variety of factors shaped our college football stadium rankings. The lack of marquee games and signature moments in recent years work against Michie Stadium. But if you’re looking for a football venue where you can see history, those honoring the armed forces and some incredible discipline and execution, Michie Stadium and the Corps of Cadets is a must-see experience.
To kick things off, we have a shocker: the BYU Cougars’ LaVell Edwards Stadium gets the nod for the 20th spot. This site edged out Army’s legendary Michie Stadium and Georgia’s Sanford Stadium and all its “between the hedges” glory. Much of that has to do with the Provo, Utah, venue directly bordering Y Mountain to provide a stunning view, as you can see above.
It’s been a struggle in recent years for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but the indefatigable spirit of their fans in Lincoln still makes Memorial Stadium a phenomenal atmosphere for college football. The program is the state’s athletic pride and joy, and regardless of how Nebraska’s season is going, fans routinely turn out to fill the 86,047-seat venue. In fact, Memorial Stadium has housed a record 375 consecutive sellouts. Granted, it’s taken donors buying countless tickets to keep the streak alive and it might end very soon. If we’re being honest, this might be the last year Memorial Stadium ranks among the best college football stadiums.
Now, some may regard this as one of the absolute worst venues in all of sports, but this author loves the Boise State Broncos’ one-of-a-kind turf. Albertsons Stadium sports an all-blue field, which definitely throws viewers for a loop and looks even crazier in person. It’s not for everyone, but those who embrace the Boise blue can’t get enough of it. The smaller 36,387-seat setting creates an intimidating environment to enjoy a premier mid-major powerhouse.
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The legendary “Jump Around” tradition that Wisconsin Badgers fans engage in literally makes it feel like this 80,000-plus capacity site is quaking when opponents come to Madison. Camp Randall Stadium has expanded and been added on to over the last several years, which makes it an all the more intimidating environment for Big Ten rivals to travel to. With Luke Fickell taking over the football program, the fans in red and white should have a lot more to celebrate in the years ahead.
Now, Colorado has not fared well on the gridiron for the past decade and a half or so, but you can’t deny that Folsom Field is absolutely among the best college football stadiums. When you look at some of the images of the Buffaloes’ home, you can’t help but be taken with the scenic sunsets over mountainous terrain and the unique atmosphere of game days make Folsom Field a seminal stadium experience.
It could be even better in 2023. The arrival of head coach Deion Sanders will pack fans into the seats. Based on everything he demonstrated at Jackson State, the Hall of Fame cornerback will find ways to hype up the home crowd. Folsom Field is definitely one of the most underrated college football stadiums.
Maybe the 100,000-plus capacity Kyle Field deserves to be a little higher on this list, but without as much history as some of the other stadiums, it’s more highly regarded for its incredible, $485 million rebuild that began in November 2013. You might quite literally say it’s the house that Johnny Manziel built after his historic run with the Aggies in College Station, where he became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy.
Unfortunately for fans at Kyle Field, Texas A&M took a massive step back in 2022. There are still deafening chants inside the building, solidifying its ranking as one of the best college football stadiums around. However, those loud sounds are fans pleading for Jimbo Fisher to be fired.
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Hardly any fan base in the country is as passionate as that of the Auburn Tigers. Their rivalry with Alabama in the annual Iron Bowl and SEC status make the Tigers a must-watch every year, and no matter how Auburn is faring in a given season, Jordan-Hare Stadium is always a road trip adversaries dread. You can never count the Tigers out when their 87,451-seat house is rocking. One of the unique aspects of this incredible venue, a tour through Auburn’s campus is necessary to reach it and that adds to its feeling. Fans can only hope the arrival of Hugh Freeze improves the offense, giving a crowd starved for excitement something to celebrate every Saturday.
Lots of iconic sporting events have taken place in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which now seats 77,500. But even disregarding those, the USC Trojans have one of the biggest brands in college football. Their historic stable of running backs, and the dynastic Pete Carroll era are just a couple of highlights in USC’s storied history, and fans have gotten to witness the Trojans achieve glory under the bright Coliseum lights for many years.
We’re expecting even more in 2022. Lincoln Riley will bring the juice USC’s offense needed and the best talent in Southern California is finally staying home. Leaving the Pac-12 does hurt in some ways, but we could also get some great USC vs Ohio State/Michigan clashes at the Memorial Coliseum. Fortunately, security at one of the best college football stadiums in 2023 is a lot better than USC’s defense.
The Dawg Walk is a fan-favorite and getting to witness it will certainly leave fans confident this is one of the best college football stadiums around. We anticipate the atmosphere to be even livelier this year for the reigning national champions. If you want to watch a great football team in a lively environment, Sanford Stadium is one of the best places to be.
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Speaking of amazing runs in recent years, head coach Dabo Swinney has led the Clemson Tigers to a phenomenal, historic rate of winning, and Memorial Stadium, also known as “Death Valley” makes it even harder for ACC foes to defeat the conference’s juggernaut. Clemson’s famous Running Down the Hill and Howard’s Rock are touchstones that give Memorial Stadium an electrifying pregame flair.
Unfortunately, in an ugly 2021 season, we had to bump Death Valley down, Once this program gets back on track, we might see this beauty move into the top-10 best college football stadiums. For now, it’s just behind some other historic venues.
South Bend, Indiana, is home to one of the most recognizable football programs of all-time. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish don’t even need to get creative with their stadium name. They’re just a big deal, and so is their hosting venue. Thanks to a national TV contract and a phenomenal, rich tradition, Notre Dame Stadium is always packed and full of excitement whenever the Irish take the field in front of their friendly fans. Quite frankly, we think things will be even better under head coach Marcus Freeman.
It’s impossible to separate the rich tradition of the Rose Bowl Game itself from the venue, because it’s served as the site for multiple Super Bowls in addition to being the home of the UCLA Bruins since the 1980s. The Pasadena, California, stadium has a certain mystique to it that’s difficult to articulate. It’s just unfortunate that there isn’t much local support for UCLA, even if it’s understandable. Leaving the Pac-12 conference won’t help matters, but at least the Rose Bowl remains a top-10 stadium.
No one has a more successful program than the Alabama Crimson Tide since Nick Saban took over in Tuscaloosa, and Bryant-Denny Stadium has proven to be as difficult a place for opponents to win as any in the country as a result. Named in part for the legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, the Tide have expanded capacity into six figures, and is going to remain a fixture as one of the nation’s premier venues.
Austin is an especially colloquial capital city of Texas, but the cliche that everything is bigger in the Lone Star State applies to the Longhorns’ football home of Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. Seating just over 100,000, this setting makes for plenty of excitement and a goosebumps-inducing way to watch some of the best theatre Big 12 football has to offer.
We’ve kept this down in our rankings of the best college football stadiums because of the state of the program. However, there’s hope for change. Quinn Ewers could provide a spark in 2023, but the real excitement is for Arch Manning. Is Texas back? We’ll find out.
The Oregon Ducks and their rabid fans have made Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, one of college football’s primary attractions. Thanks to an ingenious lowered seating design, opponents have to deal with Oregon’s enthusiastic crowds in a far more intimate and up-close way than almost any other place in the country. That also makes for piercingly loud distractions, which gives the Ducks a massive home-field advantage with one of the best college football stadiums.
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“The Swamp” as it’s affectionately called is not a place any team wants to travel to, because the Florida Gators are tough to beat in Gainesville. Florida has always had a stellar program, but newly minted Jacksonville Jaguars Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow really helped lift the Gators to another level when they were there. Dan Mullen is now overseeing an exciting new era of Florida football.
An aesthetically pleasing color palette and an impassioned Rocky Top faithful give the Tennessee Volunteers’ home Neyland Stadium an infusion of life on college football Saturdays. Finding the right coach to lead the program has proven challenging of late, but it shouldn’t be long until Tennessee is back among the SEC’s elite. Until then, this venue of over 102,000 in Knoxville will still prove to be a hostile environment.
Now that the Tennessee football program is back, the experience is one of the best in all of sports. A competitive Volunteers team means 100,000-plus fans losing their minds every Saturday with a home-field advantage that rivals some of the best teams in the nation. After a rejuvenated 2022 season, Tennessee is once again host to one of the best college football stadiums around.
Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge is always going to be a brutal road trip for anyone in the SEC — and especially an out-of-conference opponent who isn’t ready for that type of intensity. It slips a bit down our list of best college football stadiums because the program needs to prove itself once again under Brian Kelly. When Alabama comes to town, though, there’s no doubt this is one of the best stadiums in college football.
We’ve put some weight on the quality of a team on this list of the best college football stadiums. Some may view that criterion as misguided, but it’s an important factor. The better a team is, the more games at their historic stadiums mean and the more raucous a crowd can be. We saw that in 2021 when Michigan made its comeback to relevancy, becoming the Big Ten champions and playing in the College Football Playoff Semifinals. With Jim Harbaugh locked in for years to come, Michigan Stadium will be rocking.
A strong argument can be made that Beaver Stadium is the best venue of them all, but let’s just say Penn State football isn’t what it once was. James Franklin has certainly helped inject life into this program, give Penn State fans reasons to create a sea of blue and white. While this might not be one of the best teams in the country, the Nittany Lions’ home crowd certainly makes this one of the best college football stadiums in 2023.
The Horseshoe in Columbus is an absolutely unmistakable piece of architecture, and the Ohio State Buckeyes rarely disappoint the fans who pack Ohio Stadium to the brim, which is absurd for the third-largest college football stadium in the United States. Even 103,000 seats aren’t enough to get people into the best college football stadium.
With such relentless fans, constant buzz and a consistently great program to back it all up, we’re confident the Buckeyes’ Ohio Stadium offers the atmosphere and experience to be No. 1 among the best college football stadiums.
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Here is a list of the stadiums with the highest seating capacity in college football.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have the best stadium in college football. Entering the 2023 season, Ohio Stadium remains at No. 1 in our college football stadium rankings.
Michigan Stadium (Michigan Wolverines), Beaver Stadium (Penn State Nittany Lions), Ohio Stadium (Ohio State Buckeyes), Kyle Field (Texas A&M Aggies) and Tiger Stadium (LSU Tigers) are the five biggest stadiums in college football.
Tiger Stadium is the loudest in college football. Home of the LSU Tigers, Tiger Stadium can hold over 102,000 people and many around the country view it as the most difficult stadium to play in because of the unmatched atmosphere in Death Valley.
LSU’s Tiger Stadium has an atmosphere like no other, with raucous chants, immense school pride, and a huge stadium. It doesn’t hurt that LSU is often in contention for the best team in college football, and several Heisman Trophy winners have emerged from the team.
Doak Campbell Stadium at Florida State is the most unique stadium, as its brick structure makes it the largest continuous brick structure in the entire country. If you want to visit a stadium that is like no other, plan a trip to the Doak Campbell Stadium.
For the seventh season in a row in 2023, the University of Alabama has the most players in the National Football League with fifty-seven total players. Next in line is Ohio State with forty-seven players, then Georgia with forty-six, LSU with forty-three, and Michigan with thirty-eight to round out the top five colleges.
College football is a huge part of American sports, and it makes sense that all of the biggest teams have extravagant stadiums to show their school pride. If you haven’t been to one of these stadiums yet, make a point of visiting at least one, and see what the whole college football experience is all about.