1. Michigan Stadium (Michigan)
Ann Arbor was tied with Wisconsin for first in my initial rankings but they are now all alone at the top. Amazing atmosphere, fantastic tailgating, and one of college football's best stadiums make this a no brainer. The only complaint I have about Michigan is that, if you are sitting in the corners, it can seem like you are a long way from the action (and technically, you are). However, I don't feel as though this really detracts since the view isn't obstructed and the effect isn't debilitating so you still can tell what is going on in the game. Pretty easily the best stadium I have ever visited.
2. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)
The Horseshoe is hot on the heels of the Big House in my opinion. Rabid fans, a massive tailgating scene, and one of the most iconic stadiums in the sport make it a must see. However, there are two small details that keep it behind Michigan. First is the presence of obstructed view seats which, if you are unlucky enough to be put in one of them, are about as bad as obstructed view seats can get. Second is the town itself. Columbus just doesn't have that college town feel. The city as a whole feels more like a metropolis with a college that just so happens to be inside. While this means there is plenty to do in C-bus, there is something about those small college town atmospheres that makes the game atmosphere feel more focused and intense than in a major city where you could walk a few blocks from campus and find someone who might not know there is a game going on (let alone who the home team is playing). Still, I am nitpicking here. This is a really awesome place to visit and the city is pretty neat if you have time to look around.
3. Beaver Stadium (Penn State)
They were originally fifth on my list but the more I consider it the more I can't help but wonder why I put them that far down. The campus is gorgeous and I highly recommend spending time there. If you have time, the Nittany Lion Inn and the creamery are both good places to stop by and, while there didn't seem to be as many or as quality bars and restaurants as Madison, there is plenty if you are just spending a football weekend. For game day, the tailgating is fantastic and the fans are extremely nice. The stadium itself is ugly as sin and can be mildly annoying to navigate because some of the concourses are disjointed (it isn't horrible but can be a little frustrating at times). Also the student section shows up late. However the atmosphere is truly electric and even for lower level league games the crowd manages to create a fairly intense atmosphere.
4. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa)
Maybe a slight homer pick but when it comes to atmosphere Iowa is a great sleeper. Not many stadiums get as consistently electric of an atmosphere as Kinnick and while Iowa may not match Penn State or Ohio State when it comes to the big games, they make up for it by keeping a high energy level for the non marquee contests. The stadium is simple with no bad seats and an architectural style that, while maybe not as iconic as Michigan or Ohio State, is not an eyesore. Iowa City has more than its fair share of bars (only Madison rivals Iowa in terms of alcohol consumption per capita) and there are restaurants aren't bad either. The tailgating can be great but for noon games it drops off a bit more than other schools.
5. Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin)
Madison was much higher on my initial rankings but two things really brought it down. The first is consistency. Big games are really special in Wisconsin but those noon games just don't get the same atmosphere. Still, the town is incredible and it is worth visiting even if there isn't a sporting event going on. Camp Randal isn't the greatest architecturally but is has historical value and the sight lines are good. Overall a good experience but it just doesn't have the consistent atmosphere to put it in the top four.
6. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Florida)
Prior to kickoff in my visit to the Swamp I was ready to put it right at or near the top of this list. The fans are phenomenal, the tailgating is exceptional, the stadium itself is very nice and easy to navigate, and there are a solid number of options for drinking and eating outside the stadium (though they are expensive). Add into that the fact that the nearby BYOB spring where you can cool off in the water while enjoying some adult beverages and outside of the game this stadium has everything you could possibly ask for. The problem is that the game matters most, and I was pretty disappointed by the game atmosphere for Florida. Way too many empty seats and a pretty ho hum crowd made for a less than energetic atmosphere. I know the Gators lost the week prior and the offense isn't exactly setting the world on fire, but the Missouri fans in the stadium were far more energetic than the lethargic Gator crowd. It was almost incredible, outside the stadium there was plenty of energy but once inside a malaise set in and the crowd just seemed bored. Don't get me wrong, Florida has potential to be really special for big games and I would recommend a visit to anyone in the state, but Ben Hill Griffin is the state of Florida's equivalent to Camp Randall except Wisconsin you would be hard pressed to find that many empty seats at a Wisconsin game when the Badgers have only one loss.
7. Memorial Stadium (Nebraska)
On its face putting Nebraska here may seem weird, but while the first six are all really close together in my mind, there is a pretty significant drop off from Florida to Nebraska. Lincoln isn't a bad town but it isn't terribly exciting. The tailgating takes place under a freeway over pass and, in terms of both quality and volume, is not even close to any of the six stadiums above it. The stadium itself is a pain in the butt to navigate. God forbid you have a weak bladder and are seated near the top because you will be going up and down about four to five stories worth of narrow ramps all game. The fans are generally content to sit and watch in relative silence as long as the Huskers are winning. It doesn't take much to quiet the crowd and there were times when I wondered if people were leaving that I couldn't see. For a bigger game I am sure it gets louder but for a conference game that was one of the tamest atmospheres I have ever encountered. While Nebraska certainly has better (or at least more consistent) attendance than Florida, there is no redeeming quality to the bad atmosphere for most non-marquee games in Lincoln since the tailgating and atmosphere outside the stadium at places like Gainesville or Iowa City just aren't present at Nebraska.
8. Doak S. Campbell Stadium (Florida State)
Tallahassee is not a college town. Like Columbus or Minneapolis it feels like a city with a college next to it. Making matters worse is that, as a city, Tallahassee is kind of dirty and it can get kinda rough in some of the neighborhoods close to campus. The campus itself is pretty but outside of taking a walk there isn't much to do on game day. Tailgating is poor and there aren't really any great places to eat or drink close to the stadium. The stadium is nice with good sight lines but unless the Seminoles are playing a rivalry game there are going to be huge swaths of empty seats. The fans inside get into the game but unless it is a marquee game you will get a mass exodus at half time when most of the student section and many alums decide that watching the rest of the game would be more fun with air conditioning. It can be pretty electric for big games but it doesn't have the upside of any of the elite teams. Overall unless the opponent is a big name school or a rival like Miami or Clemson then you probably aren't missing anything.
9. Memorial Stadium (Illinois)
Champagne isn't the greatest college town in the world but it hosts a nice football game. No the Illini aren't always good but when they are decent this is a solid place to spend a Saturday. The tailgating is pretty good and there are enough good bars and restaurants in the city to keep you occupied for a game weekend. The stadium sucks, with bad sight lines and some obstructed view seats to go with what has to be the worst traffic control known to mRossan. The atmosphere is decent and there are several little traditions that are unique to Illinois that make it interesting. No it isn't in the same league as any of the stadiums above it but Memorial Stadium has a solid atmosphere with several interesting traditions that make it worth visiting.
10. Jack Trice Stadium (Iowa State)
I am just going to copy and paste my previous write up since I don't have anything else to say.
"First off, Ames sucks. There are a couple good places to go there but the campus is unspectacular and your options are limited. This is second only to Evanston in terms of bad bar availability. The tailgating around Jack Trice is pretty good and, while Cyclones can be particularly hostile to Hawkeyes, their fans tend to be nice enough that you would never feel too threatened. The stadium itself is a piece of crap, aesthetically my least favorite of all the ones I have been to. Yet, this is more about atmosphere than anything else and I have to tip my hat to Cyclone fans who generate a very loud, very energized stadium atmosphere. There are a lot of crappy stadiums at the bottom of this list but ISU passes them for having an extremely higher level of passion both inside and outside the stadium on game day. I wouldn't recommend it, but if you are looking to visit a lot of stadiums you can turn a trip to Jack Trice into a very nice weekend if you try."
11. TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota)
In my original preview I wrote, "Minnesota is the anti-Iowa State. Good facility, nice city, but a crappy atmosphere around game day". I stand by that. I tend to think this stadium is overrated in the media. Having actually sat in that facility I can say that it was a pretty miserable experience. The fans are fair weather and the only real atmosphere is the annoyingly loud prodding of their PA guy who is easily the most obnoxious of any stadium I have ever been to. Minneapolis is alright (Dinkytown blows) but like I said, this is mostly about atmosphere and Minnesota's is just bad.
12. Memorial Stadium (Indiana)
Oh Indiana. It isn't a bad place to see a game but it certainly isn't a must-see locale. The stadium itself is very aesthetically pleasing and is easy enough to navigate. There is some solid tailgating but many of the fans chose to stay outside with their grills rather than actually attend the game so you always see empty seats. The addition of the playground under the video board in the open end zone bothers me since a bunch of kids running around on one side of the field makes the whole thing feel like a giant day-care/ The students make noise and there are moments where it actually starts to feel like a real football atmosphere but most of the time the Hoosiers aren't much fun to watch and the stadium empties early. Not terrible but pretty darn close to it.
13. Ross Ade Stadium (Purdue)
West Lafayette isn't a bad town and there are some decent food or drink options. That is the only positive thing I have to say about Purdue. Terrible stadium with bad sight lines and an incredibly flat atmosphere. There really isn't any good tailgating to speak of around the stadium . Just overall a really bad place to watch a football game.
14. Dyche Stadium (Northwestern)
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. While I could write more than a few harsh criticisms of the crappy stadium with bad sight lines, the non-existent pregame atmosphere, or the general high school feel to the games, I am just going to put up a picture from the Northwestern student section taken during their last home game against Iowa.
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