25 best college football stadiums to watch a college football game
By Nick Villano
Ranking the 25 best college football stadiums to watch a college football game, including the homes of the LSU Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes.
There are 130 FBS college football teams and much like their college football stadiums, they are not judged equally. They come in all different shapes and sizes. Some only hold around 15,000 fans (like Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, NC), while others hold a lot more (Michigan Stadium holds 107,000). Some college teams play in NFL stadiums (Pitt plays at Heinz Field, Miami plays at Hard Rock Stadium, and Temple playing at Lincoln Financial Field are just a few examples). Others break the budget just to put a stadium on campus.
The stadium can change the atmosphere for a college football team. Sometimes deep within a community, the stadium is the one place where everyone gets together. The stadium is usually an extension of the campus and community where the team plays. Eight stadiums have 100,000-plus capacity. All of them are in communities that live, eat, and breathe football.
When putting together a list of the best stadiums in the country, there are a lot of factors that come to mind. There’s a feeling to it. The best stadiums make your jaw drop. Then, there are the stadiums that have just a wonderful atmosphere. Some have a beautiful skyline that can be seen from your seats. Others add in cool amenities or historic locations that are perfect for your Instagram profile.
This is looking at those college stadiums that are just different. They stand out from the rest.
Best college football stadiums ranked
25. Husky Stadium, Washington
What would one want from a stadium in the Pacific Northwest? A scenic overlook? Check. A building seemed with a century of history? Check. (Husky Stadium’s 100th anniversary is this year.) A giant lake right outside its doors that can be seen from your seats? Check. A successful college football program? That can’t be promised.
It originally only fit around 30,000 people, but now it fits more than 70,000 after multiple renovations. When it’s full, it’s one of the best atmospheres in college football. The fans don’t always sell out which is upsetting, but it’s what happens when a program has its good times and bad times.
The best part of Husky Stadium is people can literally tailgate on Lake Washington. People hang out on the boat, part it somewhere, and then go see the Washington Huskies play ball. Driving to the stadium is an experience itself, as the stadium pops out of nowhere behind the trees.
There are a lot of fun traditions that the Huskies claim. Apparently, the crowd wave was done here on Halloween 1981, which Huskies fans will say is what caused the phenomenon. Some might see that as something that hurts this stadium’s score, but it’s definitely influential.
Another weird thing that’s actually really cool is there is this metal roof that covers the fans from the elements. Whether it’s raining, snowing, or the beating sun in September, getting some shade to help from the elements is nice for those on the upper deck.