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There are hundreds of college football stadiums across the country and each one has unique features that fans have come to love. But even though there are more than 250 Division 1 football teams, some stadiums definitely stand out more than others. Visiting every single one is a tall order even for the most committed college football fan, but here at NCSA we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite Division 1 college football stadiums. Hope to play at one of these one day? Check out our Football Recruiting Guide and learn how to get noticed by college coaches.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
University of Southern California
Built in 1923, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was declared a National Historic Landmark the day before the 1984 Olympics kicked off in Los Angeles. It’s home to the University of Southern California Trojans and it will be the first stadium to host the Summer Olympics three times (1932, 1984, 2028).
Michigan Stadium
University of Michigan
Also known as “The Big House,” Michigan Stadium has a capacity of 107,601. This makes it the biggest stadium in the country and the second biggest in the world. It also hosted a record-setting attendance for a hockey game when 105,491 came to see the Detroit Red Wings take on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Bryant-Denny Stadium
University of Alabama
The seventh biggest stadium in the country and the eighth biggest in the world, Bryant-Denny Stadium has a seating capacity of 101,821. Hilariously, the visiting team’s locker room is named The Fail Room after alum and donor James M. Fail.
Waves spotted in Bryant-Denny Stadium #TodayAtUA 😉 Drown ‘em Tide! #RollTide #BamaGameday pic.twitter.com/GydqINvVQi
— The Univ. of Alabama (@UofAlabama) October 20, 2019
Tiger Stadium
Louisiana State University
Also ominously known as Death Valley, Tiger Stadium is one of the loudest stadiums in the country. Its capacity is 102,321 and the stadium even had dorm rooms under the stands until the 1980s. (That must’ve been loud.)
Tiger Stadium: Home of the LSU Tigers
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (via @Aug_Dup ) #LSU #LSU18 pic.twitter.com/s3raxZUwJj— Best of the South (@southernUSA_) August 20, 2014
Ohio Stadium
The Ohio State University
Opened in 1922 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, Ohio Stadium has a capacity of 110,045. It’s also home to The Best Damn Band in the Land, the university’s marching band, which has performed at the inaugural parades of several presidents.
Your Vote For Best College Football Stadium? Ohio Stadium! pic.twitter.com/KeZ1WdPbjQ
— SportsWars™ (@SportsWarsTM) July 26, 2017
Rose Bowl
University of California – Los Angeles
Recognized as a National Historic Landmark, the Rose Bowl opened in 1922. It has a capacity of 92,542, despite having an all-seated configuration—many large college stadiums feature bench-style seating. The Rose Bowl has also hosted five NFL Super Bowl games and a pair of FIFA World Cup finals.
The greatest stadium flyover pic ever was taken by @westcoastaerial over the Rose Bowl pic.twitter.com/BmemTxZWEX
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 5, 2016
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
University of Arkansas
Featuring a natural grass field and a capacity of 76,212, Razorback Stadium has hosted University of Arkansas football since 1938. It was originally built for $492,000, which is still just $8.76 million in today’s dollars.
Sun Devil Stadium
Arizona State
Fresh off a five-year, $304 million renovation that wrapped up in August 2019, Sun Devil Stadium actually reduced its seating capacity from upwards of 70,000 to 53,599. New amenities include a massive scoreboard and a concert venue located in the north side of the stadium. The stadium also appeared in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, among others.
Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium
University of Missouri
Opened in 1926, Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium is a horseshoe-shaped stadium with a capacity of 62,621. Perhaps its most distinct feature is the 95-foot-tall “M” located above the stadium’s north end zone. It was built by students using leftover rocks from the construction of the original Memorial Stadium.
Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium
South Dakota State
One of the best smaller stadiums that you’ll find at the FCS level, the Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium was completed in 2016 and features a soy-based turf field.
