The South Dominates Stadium Rankings

By Matthew Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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Schools in the deep south are known for their exceptional stadium experiences.

StadiumJourney.com, a website known for producing comprehensive reviews of stadium experiences throughout the country, recently released its rankings of the top stadium experiences in FBS college football.

With such a ranking, it should come as no surprise that schools from the deep south make up a healthy portion of the highly ranked stadium experiences.

Here is a breakdown of the ACC and SEC schools which were determined to be amongst the top 25 stadium experiences in college football.

* Note: These rankings were based on the total stadium experience, and not simply the loudest crowds.

Alabama – Bryant-Denny Stadium (Rank: No. 1)

It’s amazing to think that Crimson Tide fans have remained so passionate when they easily could have become jaded by their team’s success. Bryant-Denny Stadium is one of the great historical venues in sports, and it also gets as loud as any stadium in the country on Saturdays in the fall.

Florida – Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Rank: No. 4)

Many former players have claimed that playing in “The Swamp” is the toughest road game in all of college football. As is pointed out by the folks at Stadium Journey, it also makes for a very tough environment when you are forced to deal with the Florida heat and humidity.

Arkansas – Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (Rank: No. 5)

Arkansas’ stadium might not have the same lore as some of the other schools on the list, but there is something to be said about playing a football game in a state in which nothing else matters on Saturday. The beauty of the surrounding campus also adds to the experience.

Auburn – Jordan-Hare Stadium (Rank: No. 7)

Auburn has some of the best traditions in all of college football, including the “Tiger Walk” and the famous War Eagle chant. When the crowd gets to rocking, it can rival any stadium in the SEC in terms of crowd noise.

Texas A&M – Kyle Field (Rank: No. 9)

There are a number of great traditions in college football, but it doesn’t get much better than the 12th Man at Kyle Field. The Aggies’ fans are absolutely crazy about their team, and the fan base certainly is fitting in well with the remainder of the SEC.

Clemson – Memorial Stadium (Rank: No. 10)

Clemson’s fans are undoubtedly as passionate as any, but the best part of watching a game in “Death Valley” is the unique traditions. When the players touch Howard’s Rock and run down the hill, you can’t help but get goosebumps on the back of your neck.

Ole Miss – Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Rank: No. 11)

The stadium experience at Ole Miss is exceptional, but there is no doubt that tailgating was taken into consideration with this lofty ranking. If you are looking to enjoy the nation’s best tailgating scene, The Grove is definitely the place to go.

Florida State – Doak Campbell Stadium (Rank: No. 13)

Doak Campbell Stadium is one of the more unique venues in the country from an aesthetic standpoint, as the outside is made up entirely of brick. On the inside, you can’t help but be impressed when Chief Osceola rides Renegade to the center of the field before the game.

Tennessee – Neyland Stadium (Rank: No. 23)

With a capacity of over 102,000, Neyland Stadium is incredibly intimidating when the program is competitive. Unfortunately, a few lean seasons have slightly lessened the atmosphere on Rocky Top as of late.

LSU – Tiger Stadium (Rank: No. 24)

In terms of crowd noise alone, there might not be a better venue in the country than Tiger Stadium. Unfortunately, according to some stories passed along, sometimes the atmosphere can become a little too intense between the Tiger faithful and the visiting team.