Big Ten Football Stadium Rankings

The Big Ten is the oldest conference in Division I athletics. When it comes to great college football experiences, it is hard to beat an autumn Saturday afternoon in the Midwest watching one of the classic college football rivalries. Here are our rankings of the best college football stadium experiences in the Big Ten.

1. Michigan Stadium - Home of the Michigan Wolverines

   

   What is it about Michigan Wolverines football? It may be those famous winged helmets, a signature of the program since 1938. Maybe it’s the tradition, with 11 National Championships (second only to Alabama with 14). Maybe it’s just being a part of the largest college football crowd in the world. Whatever it is, there is little doubt that a visit to Michigan Stadium, “the Big House,” is a must-see for any fan of college football.

2. Memorial Stadium - Home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers

   

   Nebraska fans are as passionate about Cornhusker football as any fans in the country. As a bonus they are probably the friendliest fans of any major team in the country. They are famous for the good treatment they give to visiting fans.

3. Camp Randall Stadium - Home of the Wisconsin Badgers

   

   Although the Wisconsin Badgers have never claimed a national championship in football, they have been very successful for the better part of their history, winning 13 Big Ten titles. The team has also boasted two Heisman Trophy winners over the years (Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne). When you're in Madison, you are sure to experience a great atmosphere both in the stadium and the surrounding neighborhood. In fact, this is my favorite Big Ten town. A trip to Camp Randall Stadium is a good decision for any fan of college football.

4. Memorial Stadium - Home of the Indiana Hoosiers

   

   This may be a surprise, but Memorial Stadium is one of the Big Ten's hidden gems. Located in the heart of Southern Indiana on the campus of Indiana University, Memorial Stadium offers a scenic getaway from the urban life where bicycles are almost as abundant as cars. Although, Indiana University is most closely associated with basketball, it has been Memorial Stadium that has seen the most investment dollars from the athletic department. What once used to be an ordinary, traditional, and generic end zone to end zone stadium, Memorial Stadium now boasts a unique horseshoe design that pays tribute to the areas limestone mining industry.

5. Spartan Stadium - Home of the Michigan State Spartans

   

   For the Spartan football team and many fans, the experience begins at the Spartan statue about 2 hours before kickoff. Designed by Leonard D. Jungwirth in 1945, the current bronze statue is a replica of the original terra cotta design. The experience of the marching band playing as the team walks by, dressed in their suits, and individually touches the statue is a very cool way to get things started.

6. Ohio Stadium - Home of the Ohio State Buckeyes

   

   The atmosphere at Ohio Stadium is absolutely electric. From the band's traditional entrance and "Script Ohio" at the beginning, to the student's White Stripes chant, to the "Hell's Bells" on defensive third downs, any fan will get goose bumps just at the thought of it.

7. Beaver Stadium - Home of the Penn State Nittany Lions

   

   Seeing a whiteout for a 8pm kickoff is out of this world. The town itself will draw over 200,000 people for the big games with tailgating starting at 8am and lasting right up until kickoff. Strangers offer food to those tailgating around them, sharing stories and Yuengling Lager with both the Penn State and visiting team fans.

8. Kinnick Stadium - Home of the Iowa Hawkeyes

   

   The home of Iowa Hawkeyes football debuted in 1929 as Iowa Stadium. In 1972, it was renamed Kinnick Stadium, in honor of the university's only Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick- who received the award in 1939 before being killed in service during World War II. Kinnick Stadium seats up to 70,585 fans, making it one of the 20 largest university owned stadiums in the nation.

9. TCF Bank Stadium - Home of the Minnesota Golden Gophers

   

   Amidst all of the tradition and luster of the Big Ten conference, the Minnesota Golden Gopher football team sometimes tends to get lost in the shuffle. With their new stadium and a new coach, however, people in the Twin Cities have started to give this team another look.

10. Ross-Ade Stadium - Home of the Purdue Boilermakers

    

    Make sure to start your Purdue experience with the All-American Marching Band's pre-game concert played at Slayter Center, and known as the Thrill on the Hill. The concert begins about 2 hours before kickoff, so whether you're tailgating, or just hanging around campus, make your way to this site, just follow your ears.

11. Memorial Stadium - Home of the Illinois Fighting Illini

    

    After several rounds of reconstruction and refurbishment through the years, Memorial Stadium has become a pretty good place to watch some Big Ten college football. Illinois is certainly not a program that comes to mind when you think of the elite programs in the nation, but with names like Grange, Butkus, Halas, and Nitschke there certainly is some history here.

12. Ryan Field - Home of the Northwestern Wildcats

    

    Since 1926, the Northwestern Wildcats have played their home football at Ryan Field. It's easy to forget at times that this is a school with great football tradition. The Wildcats won their first Big Ten championship in 1903, and won three Big Ten championships in a six year period from 1995-2000. Today, a trip to Ryan Field makes for a great road trip for any fan in the area. The proximity to Chicago, the availability of tickets, and the ability to turn an away game into a home field experience all seem to draw the fans of the opposition.