Big Ten stadium rankings: Exploring Oregon, USC, Washington and others’ positions in the list
The Big Ten will expand once again for the 2024 college football season when Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington join the conference from the Pac-12. These additions will bring four new stadiums into the Big Ten, meaning more hostile environments that conference opponents will need to be prepared for.
With the 2024 college football season just over a month away, these stadiums are once again preparing to host thousands of screaming fans. Here's a look at the rankings of all the stadiums in the Big Ten ahead of the upcoming season:
Big Ten stadium rankings
#18 Martin Athletics Facility, Northwestern
Northwestern football will be playing its home games this season at a practice field in the Martin Athletics Facility.
The Wildcats will temporarily use this facility while Ryan Field is being rebuilt. The small venue will provide a toned-down atmosphere, putting it in the last spot on this list.
#17 Memorial Stadium, Indiana
Home fans often struggle to fill the 52,626 capacity of the Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. The venue isn't one of the most visually appealing stadiums in the Big Ten, and the team's lack of success also plays into the often underwhelming atmosphere.
#16 SECU Stadium, Maryland
Opened in 1950 with a capacity of 51,802, the SECU Stadium features a beautiful backdrop of the Maryland campus. However, due to the open end of the stadium, the noise escapes too easily, making it one of the more quiet venues in the Big Ten.
#15 Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue
Similar to the SECU Stadium, the open end of the stadium fails to trap the sound of fans inside. The lack of recent football success by Purdue also weighs heavily on the stadium's inability to create a truly intimidating place for visiting opponents.
#14 SHI Stadium, Rutgers
Rutgers played their first game at SHI Stadium in 1938, and the stadium has seen multiple renovations and expansions since then.
When they're winning, Scarlet Knights fans create a truly special home for their team. However, the team has only had one winning season since joining the Big Ten in 2014.
#13 Memorial Stadium, Illinois
The Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL, continues to be improved upon with recent renovations to make it more appealing.
However, the easiest way to get fans into the stadium to create a unique environment is to win games. Winning is something that Illinois football has struggled to do lately, finishing with a winning record just once since 2012.
#12 Huntington Bank Stadium, Minnesota
The Golden Gophers decided to brave the elements when they moved from the Metrodome to an outdoor stadium. The Huntington Bank Stadium was constructed in 2009 and is the second-smallest stadium in the Big Ten, with a capacity of 50,805.
#11 Spartan Stadium, Michigan State
The Spartan Stadium turned 100 in 2023, and the tema has won close to 70 percent of its home games since it opened. When the Spartans are playing at their best, it can be one of the most intimidating environments for visitors.
#10 Memorial Stadium, Nebraska
The expanded capacity of Memorial Stadium means it can hold over 85,000 fans, and Nebraska is continuously selling out the stadium. The Huskers haven't had a winning season since 2016, but the fan base continues to show up for their team, win or lose.
#9 Los Angeles Coliseum, USC
USC will be joining the Big Ten this season after moving over from the Pac-12. The Los Angeles Coliseum is one of the most historic stadiums in the country, but the layout of the seating has its disadvantages when it hosts Trojan football games.
#8 Kinnick Stadium, Iowa
The charm of the Kinnick Stadium begins with the tradition of "The Wave." This heartwarming tradition involves the 69,250-capacity crowd waving to the kids in the Stead Family Children's Hospital across the street from the stadium.
It's a great environment for fans of either team to watch a game, especially fans of low-scoring Big Ten affairs.
#7 Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin
Camp Randall held its first Badgers game in 1917, when Wisconsin defeated rivals Minnesota Golden Gophers 34-0.
The tailgating outside Camp Randall Stadium is a great experience, and the atmosphere is unmatched when House of Pain's "Jump Around" bumps through the stadium speakers.
#6 The Rose Bowl, UCLA
The Rose Bowl is an iconic venue, but it doesn't quite have the same environment when hosting UCLA games as it does when hosting the Rose Bowl Game on New Year's Day.
The surrounding area in Pasadena, CA, is a beautiful backdrop, but the Bruins struggle to bring fans into the Rose Bowl when they struggle to win games.
#5 Autzen Stadium, Oregon
The Autzen Stadium is one of the top venues in all of college football and will be one of the most intimidating atmospheres for visiting Big Ten teams in 2024.
The field features a unique turf pattern that alternates between two shades of green. The 54,000 capacity is relatively small, but fans make enough noise to make it sound like there are twice as many people inside the stadium.
#4 Ohio Stadium, Ohio State
The horseshoe design of Ohio Stadium can pack in up to 102,780 fans for Buckeye football games.
It first opened in 1922 and has hosted some of the most successful college football teams. The noise is raised to another level when rival Michigan makes a trip to Ohio Stadium late in the season, as there are usually playoff implications on the line.
#3 Michigan Stadium, Michigan
Nicknamed "The Big House," the Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the Big Ten and in all of college football.
While it looks like nothing special from the outside, the interior of Michigan Stadium is absolutely massive, and the closed-bowl style of the stadium leaves no room for noise to escape.
#2 Husky Stadium, Washington
Washington will be moving to the Big Ten from the Pac-12 in 2024, which makes their home, the Husky Stadium, one of the most intimidating places to play in the conference.
The Husky Stadium has a capacity of 70,138, and the noise level is unmatched, with ESPN measuring a maximum of 133.6 decibels in 1992.
#1 Beaver Stadium, Penn State
The 106,572-capacity Beaver Stadium is the second-largest stadium in college football, behind the Big House in Michigan.
Fans consistently pack the stadium located in University Park, PA, and create a noisy environment that's second to none. The white-out games at night create one of the most breathtaking scenes in all of college football.
Which Big Ten stadium would you rank at No. 1? Let's know in the comments section: