College Football has an atmosphere unlike any other. Students, alumni, faculty, and fans pile into the stadium, screaming and cheering until they can't anymore. So, which stadiums are the best? We have broken down the top 6 Division I stadiums to play (and cheer) in.
1. Pennsylvania State University – Beaver Stadium
Home Team: Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions
Year Opened: 1960
Capacity: 106,572
Fun Fact: It is the second largest stadium in all of college sports.
Notable Alumni: Jack Ham and Mike Munchak
Originally assembled in 1960, Beaver stadium has been a staple in college football for some time. Holding over 106,000 fans, Beaver stadium is the second largest of any college football stadium.
Related: Top 5 Division III Football Stadiums
2. University of Florida – Ben Hill Stadium
Home Team: Florida Gators
Year Opened: 1930 (renovated 2003)
Capacity: 88,548
Fun Fact: It is nicknamed “The Swamp”
Notable Alumni: Emmitt Smith and Cris Collinsworth
Nicknamed the “The Swamp” the Florida Gator home field is one of the most intimidating atmospheres in college football. Located in Gainesville, Florida the stadium was originally built in 1930 has gone through a series of reconstructions yet the improvements to the stadium still do not take away from its long-standing history.
3. Boise State University – Lyle Smith Field
Home Team: Boise State Broncos
Year Opened: 1970
Capacity: 36,387
Fun Fact: The field is entirely blue
Notable Alumni: Chris Carr and Quintin Mikell
This is one of those can't-miss stadiums in college football. It was nicknamed “The Blue” for having an entirely blue football field. The blue turf was first used in 1986 and even hosts the annual Idaho Potato Bowl game.
4. University of Michigan – Michigan Stadium
Home Team: Michigan Wolverines
Year Opened: 1927
Capacity: 107,601
Fun Fact: For more than 200 consecutive games, Michigan Stadium has hosted 100,000 or more people.
Notable Alumni: Tom Brady and Anthony Carter
Being the largest stadium in North America gets you a spot on the best college stadiums list. Housing over 107,000, the Wolverines' stadium had earned its nickname of “The Big House.”
5. Appalachian State University – Kidd Brewer Stadium
Home Team: Appalachian State Mountaineers
Year Opened: 1962
Capacity: 30,000
Fun Fact: It had the highest fan attendance in the FBS SunBelt Conference for 2016, 2017, and 2019
Notable Alumni: DeAndre Presley and Daniel Wilcox
Nicknamed “The Rock”, this stadium lies in Boone, North Carolina. Home to the Mountaineers, it is located 3,333 feet above sea level. It consistently houses record-breaking numbers of fans.
6. Brigham Young University – Lavell Edwards Stadium
Home Team: BYU Cougars
Year Opened: 1964
Capacity: 63,725
Fun Fact: This stadium is known for its mountain scenery behind the stadium.
Notable Alumni: Steve Young and Bart Oates
With a seating capacity of over 63,000, the Cougars Stadium definitely holds its own amongst the biggest college stadiums. What it lacks in capacity, it makes up for in scenery, offering an unreal mountain backdrop to the football field.
Related: FBS vs. FCS
* Originally published on November 26, 2021, by Noah Fisher
