College football's 25 worst places to play: Which stadiums are too expensive? Which are the most neglected?

The return of EA Sports' college football video game has brought heightened anticipation to the middle of the offseason, and after an 11-year hiatus, the game's developers have gone to great lengths to pack as much realism as possible into the latest edition. On Tuesday, EA Sports announced College Football 25's “Toughest Places to Play,” a top 25 ranking of stadiums that will pose an added challenge for gamers playing as the visiting team.

A ranking of the worst places to play was a staple of previous versions of the game, but its return enhances countless depictions of the atmosphere and environment that make college football a unique experience. As the game's official website advertises, “You may experience squiggly lines, incorrect play art, poor audible and hot route registrations, and receiver icons fading in and out during key game moments.” Visiting team players may also find their confidence and composure eroded more frequently by game conditions and the enthusiasm of the crowd.

But before fans can find out how the “toughest playing conditions” affect their gaming experience, we need to debate EA's ranking of the top 25 toughest conditions in college football. Did the game developers get it right? Below, our writers debate the most surprising, overlooked, and controversial aspects of the top 25.

The 25 toughest places to play in college football

What's the biggest surprise in the top 25?

Sam Kahn Jr.: Autzen Stadium and Rice-Eccles Stadium both seemed too low. Oregon fans make Autzen one of the loudest stadiums in the country, and the Ducks have a 28-1 record over the past five years, tied with Georgia for the best home record among powerhouse conference teams in that span. Utah boasts “MUSS,” one of the loudest and rowdiest student seats, and Utah is just as tough to beat at home, going 27-2 over the past five years.

Max Olson: I think a lot of college football fans will be surprised that a school other than LSU made it to No. 1. I haven't played the game yet, but I'm already nervous that my Dynasty team's five-star freshman QB will have to play in Saturday night's game in Death Valley, especially if reports that “Neck” will actually play in the game are true, and he won't be ready.

Chris Vannini: Aside from a few oddities, I think the rankings are generally good. Notre Dame is surprisingly low at 21st. This stadium has hosted many big games over the decades, and the crowds always live up to the expectations. In 1988, Too loudThe place should definitely be near the top ten.

Audrey Snyder: Michigan Stadium where? The Big House, at #16, is mind-bogglingly large. This massive stadium is not the fourth-hardest in the Big Ten; Michigan is around #5 or #6 overall, and certainly above Camp Randall in the conference. At worst, it's the third-hardest venue in the Big Ten, and at best, second only to Ohio Stadium. That “Mr. Brightside” moment is a viral sensation. The sight of a crowd packed into a venue that size really gets the crowd going during Wolverines games. The huge gap between the Horseshoe and the Big House makes little sense to me.

Pete Sampson: This might be biased towards home wins, but Notre Dame is 21st? One above Michigan State? The Irish have a top 10 home win rate over the last decade, including a stretch where they won 26 straight games at Notre Dame. Touchdown Jesus might not scare many opponents, but the Irish are a very tough team to beat in South Bend.

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Which stadiums are ranked too high?

Clan Leader: I hate to say it, but putting Kyle Field at number one seems a bit high. Not that there's anything wrong with the fans. With over 30,000 students waving towels and screaming from start to finish as part of a rowdy crowd of over 100,000, the stadium is arguably the best game-day atmosphere in the sport. But “toughest” means it's hard to win there, and for opponents, it hasn't been this tough in the last decade. Appalachian State infamously beat the Aggies in 2022, but finished that season 4-3 at home. A&M under Kevin Sumlin had a losing record at home against SEC powerhouses and failed to beat an SEC West team at Kyle Field for the second straight year. That's the team's fault, not the stadium's or the fans', but it should be taken into consideration.

The only time Texas A&M has had an undefeated season at home this century was in 2020, when pandemic restrictions prevented full capacity crowds from attending. The next most recent unbeaten home streak was in 1999. An unbeaten home streak should happen more often when it's one of the toughest places to play in the country.

Olson: Georgia coach Kirby Smart has a 44-4 record in home games and 13 straight wins over ranked opponents at Sanford Stadium. His teams are clearly capable of dominating opponents on any field, and while Sanford's game-day experience has certainly improved in recent years, there will undoubtedly be some segments of the fanbase that would argue the Bulldogs deserve to be in the top five, alongside the likes of Penn State, Florida State and Florida.

Vannini: I would put Oklahoma at No. 8, but with a proviso: the Sooners don't often have a good home schedule because the Texas game is played in Dallas every year. That will change this year, as Tennessee and Alabama are coming to Dallas as part of OU's opening SEC schedule. I'm excited to see if Sooners fans live up to this ranking.

Going deeper

I played two hours of College Football 25, and here's what I learned:

Snyder: Spartan Stadium, #22. As a Penn State reporter who often visits over Thanksgiving weekend to catch the Land Grant Trophy games, I realize the lens through which I view this stadium doesn't paint the best picture of the crowd. I try not to focus on that too much, but I've never felt during any of my trips to this stadium that it truly has one of the best atmospheres in the sport. Maybe I just don't make my trips to this stadium out of the ordinary, and that's possible. But when it comes to making life difficult for visitors with the Big Ten's changeable weather, this stadium definitely lives up to the expectations. With snow, lightning delays, and all sorts of other conditions, you might find yourself playing in the harsh winter wonderland of East Lansing.

Sampson: I know this video game is coming out after an 11-year hiatus, but what about Lane Stadium? “Enter Sandman” may be an iconic entrance, but it doesn't translate to the actual game. Over the past decade, the Hokies are 2-10 at home against top 25 teams. Once the game begins, Lane Stadium is no different than any other college football venue.

What do you think is the #1 toughest place to play?

Clan Leader: There's no better place to watch an LSU home game than Tiger Stadium. Saturday nights in Death Valley couldn't get any more tense. LSU fans know how to tailgate, and they show up to Tiger Stadium ready to yell at the top of their lungs for three and a half hours. Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow He put it best in a 2021 conversation with Paul Finebaum.“You get to the bus and fans are pushing you. You get off the bus and they throw beer at you. You enter the stadium and three generations are lined up and say things I can't repeat. And then when the game starts they start yelling.”

Olson: The two loudest stadiums I've ever experienced were Texas A&M and Virginia Tech games, so I can't in good faith argue that A&M doesn't deserve to top this list. I've been to a few epic night games in College Station (Alabama in 2021, Clemson in 2018, Nebraska in 2010) and was very impressed. Still, I thought LSU would be #1.

Vannini: It has to be Tiger Stadium at LSU. Where else can claim an “earthquake game” like LSU did against Auburn in 1988? Nothing beats a night game there. Death Valley is “where opponents' dreams go to die.”

Snyder: LSU. ​​Saturday nights in Death Valley, an event I've only ever seen from afar and would love to see in person one day, will always impress me as one of the most electrifying atmospheres in sports. Even on TV, it's clear to me that it's something special. The whiteout at Beaver Stadium, the dot of the I at Ohio State, the Lamar Jammers at Alabama, the waves at Kinnick Stadium – the Death Valley experience is one of many moments I hope the video game successfully recreates for the fans. Good luck to the players as they play at Tiger Stadium on a night of over 102,000 people going wild.

Sampson: Speaking from personal experience, it doesn't get any better than Sanford Stadium in Athens. Georgia got on the light show bandwagon early and knows how to keep the party going all day and all night. And snapping the ball is hard work; you can yell “hike” at Georgia and no one will hear you. It's the perfect mix of fan culture and 5-star talent.

Going deeper

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What is the most neglected stadium?

Clan Leader: Ask any ACC team what it's like going to Carter-Finley Stadium for a night game against NC State, and it's a big deal. The Wolfpack are 27-7 at home over the past five years, second only to Oklahoma State among powerhouse conference teams not included in this top 25. They sold out their home game last season, and the 57,600-seat stadium has averaged more than 53,000 fans every year since 2003 (except 2020). Carter-Finley is a powerhouse that deserves to be on this list.

Olson: I was a bit surprised to see Oklahoma State's Boone Pickens Stadium left out of this Top 25. The stadium, with its incredibly small sidelines and the amount of fans banging on the walls with paddles, presents a tough road trip for any visiting team in the Big 12. Under coach Mike Gundy, the Cowboys are 27-5 at home over the past five seasons, good for 10th in home winning percentage among Power 5 schools in that span, tied with LSU.

Vannini: I had to check a couple of times to see if Washington was really missing from the top 25. Clearly Washington is the top snob. With overhangs on the sidelines, this stadium gets amazing amounts of cheering during games where the press box shakes. The Huskies' run to the national championship shows how tough they are at home. I watched their win over Oregon last season and I'm sure the crowd cheering played a part in the Ducks' missed field goal with time running out.

Snyder: Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. Maybe I'm over-indulging in nostalgia, or maybe the video game resurgence is making everyone think too much about the past, but it feels odd not to see the Huskers here; sold-out games and an all-red stadium probably don't mean much to the developers.

Sampson: The Los Angeles Coliseum is one of the most iconic venues in sports, home of the Heisman Trophy and, at least, the fans who flock there to see the winner. Few stadiums serve as a national stage like this one, and opponents know it. USC may not be a threat to unknown opponents, but they can be tough in prime time.

(Screenshots courtesy of EA Sports)