You Won’t Believe Which Big Ten Stadium Tops the Atmosphere Rankings—And Which Shocks Fans at the Bottom!

No college football conference matches the Big Ten’s classic collection of programs, brands and stadiums. With June being generally quiet in terms of 2025 season preparation, now is the perfect time to evaluate that entire off-the-field landscape.

USA TODAY ranks Big Ten football stadium atmospheres, considering factors beyond just stadium size and design.
Beaver Stadium (Penn State) tops the list, recognized for its challenging environment and Penn State’s home-game dominance.
Other highly-ranked atmospheres include Ohio Stadium (Ohio State), Kinnick Stadium (Iowa), and Spartan Stadium (Michigan State when performing well).
While iconic venues like the Rose Bowl and Michigan Stadium are recognized for their history, their game-day atmospheres are considered less impactful.

The answers to those questions and more can be found in our power ranking of the Big Ten’s 18 football stadium atmospheres.Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes WireStadium Rank: 9Capacity: 52,454

Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire

Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA WireCapacity: 69,250

17. Rose Bowl Stadium (UCLA Bruins)

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: A general view of play between the Alabama State Hornets and the UCLA Bruins in the first quarter at Rose Bowl on September 10, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinionNot much needs to be written about the Beaver Stadium atmosphere. Penn State is almost unbeatable at home overall, let alone during night games. The highlights of its College Football Playoff win over SMU should tell an accurate story.Capacity: 12,023Capacity: 70,138

Oct 2, 2021; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; A general view of the field at SHI Stadium before the game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 52,626Like Indiana’s home venue, Illinois’ Memorial Stadium is trending positively after the Fighting Illini delivered a program-best season in 2024. The stadium’s atmosphere ranking could continue its forward momentum if Bret Bielema and his team deliver on sky-high expectations in 2025.Autzen Stadium is similar to Husky Stadium, just a bit smaller. It is exactly half the size of Michigan Stadium, which makes its decibel level and in-game atmosphere even more impressive. Oregon being among the top programs in the sport aids that environment.

15. SECU Stadium (Maryland Terrapins)

Nov 19, 2022; College Park, MD, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes punter Michael O'Shaughnessy (96) warms up before their game against Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Credit: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies WireSome of these stadiums are generally disadvantaged by a subpar on-field product. That could’ve been said about Rutgers before 2020. But since Greg Schiano’s return, the program has made three bowl games in four non-COVID seasons and has finished with a winning record in two of them. Still, the most challenging part about visiting SHI Stadium is the cross-country trip to New Jersey.Stadium Rank: 5

14. Memorial Stadium (Indiana Hoosiers)

Oct 20, 2018; Bloomington, IN, USA; A view of the north end zone before the game between the Indiana Hoosiers and Penn State Nittany Lions at Memorial Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans WireStadium Rank: 10Capacity: 54,000

13. L.A Memorial Coliseum (USC Trojans)

Apr 15, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A general view of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before the USC Trojans Spring Game . Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Stadium Rank: 13Capacity: 85,458Stadium Rank: 8Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire

Dec 5, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; A general view during the first half in a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes WireStadium Rank: 6Stadium Rank: 1

11. Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue Boilermakers)

WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 16: A general view is seen of the inside of the stadium during the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 16, 2024 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Capacity: 50,805Stadium Rank: 4Husky Stadium is a notable new entry to this list as of last season. It is one of college football’s most beautiful stadiums, with an atmosphere to match. This will consistently be one of the tougher places for Midwest teams to travel for conference matchups.

10. Huntington Bank Stadium (Minnesota Golden Gophers)

Oct 29, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Pregame between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

Now, just as we did with the conference’s 18 basketball arenas, it’s time to evaluate the Big Ten’s toughest football stadiums to visit, which teams are elevated by a top-tier home-stadium environment and how a football game atmosphere correlates with a stadium’s overall ranking.Nebraska’s in-game environment has fallen in recent years, partially due to the program’s on-field struggles. But the stadium still has its fastball. That was seen during Nebraska’s big home win over Colorado last season. The team beginning to win consistently would elevate this venue’s atmosphere as one of the sport’s best.Stadium Rank: 18

9. Michigan Stadium (Michigan Wolverines)

Sep 4, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; General view Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the game between the Western Michigan Broncos and the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Stadium Rank: 17Stadium Rank: 16Like the Rose Bowl, this building is among the most historic in all of sports, let alone just college football. However, it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the in-game environment. USC could be a national contender, and there would still be better things to do in Los Angeles.Maryland’s home crowd has tried to will their Terrapins to a marquee home win. That result just hasn’t followed. The program has not defeated a ranked conference opponent at home since 2010 — when it was still in the ACC. That streak includes 15 straight losses at home to ranked Big Ten opponents. Again, that isn’t a fault of the fanbase or the environment it creates.

8. Memorial Stadium (Nebraska Cornhuskers)

Nov 24, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; A general view of the game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Stadium Rank: 7The Ryan Walters era shouldn’t make fans forget about night games at Ross-Ade Stadium during the Jeff Brohm era from 2017-22. The Boilermakers knocked off No. 2 Ohio State and No. 19 Iowa at home in 2018, plus No. 5 Michigan State in 2021. While the stadium itself isn’t highly ranked, its environment is consistently impressive.Capacity: 51,802Stadium Rank: 14

7. Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin Badgers)

Sep 14, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; General view of Camp Randall Stadium during the first quarter of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Wisconsin Badgers. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The Rose Bowl is the best venue in college football. That is, when the Rose Bowl Game is considered. UCLA home games leave a lot to be desired when it comes to in-game atmosphere. Part of that could be the 40-minute drive between the campus and the stadium.Capacity: 107,601To do so, earlier this month, we re-ranked the Big Ten’s 18 football stadiums after the 2024 season, as well as the conference’s uniform combinations, its classic collection of helmets and its memorable fight songs. An unsurprising theme persisted: the conference’s storied programs tended to rank well in every measure. One of those programs, of course, is Wisconsin. The Badgers boast our fifth-best stadium, third-best uniform, eighth-best helmet and second-best fight song. While the program has struggled on the field as of late, it is still among the Big Ten’s most historic and recognizable.

6. Husky Stadium (Washington Huskies)

Sep 24, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; General view of Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium as the Husky Marching Band performs before a game between the Stanford Cardinal and Washington Huskies. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio Stadium might be one of the three toughest places to play in the sport. Part of that is due to a Buckeyes program that is among the nation’s best, though part is also due to a fantastic in-game environment. The only issue is that Michigan has won two straight in the building.This ranking considers Spartan Stadium when Michigan State is at its peak, like it was for 13 years under Mark Dantonio. This is one of the toughest places in the Big Ten to play when the Spartans are good. The fanbase just needs Jonathan Smith to bring the program back to its typical standing.Stadium Rank: 15Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium delivers one of the more consistent in-game atmospheres in the conference. All that’s missing are marquee home wins — something Luke Fickell’s Badgers got close to twice last season (vs. Oregon and Penn State). Fickell turning the Badgers around could lead this ranking to rise in the coming years.

5. Autzen Stadium (Oregon Ducks)

Oct 18, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; General view of Autzen Stadium between the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Stadium Rank: 12As we’ve outlined in each of our stadium rankings, Michigan Stadium is among the most overrated in the sport. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad venue or that it generates a poor atmosphere. It just isn’t comparable to the top venues in the conference. Its seating build-out makes what is the largest stadium in America quieter than some of its Big Ten counterparts.Capacity: 102,780Capacity: 89,702

4. Spartan Stadium (Michigan State Spartans)

Oct 24, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; A view inside Spartan Stadium before the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to college football, the Big Ten isn’t just a conference — it’s an institution loaded with legendary programs, fervent fanbases, and stadiums that echo the spirit of the game itself. As the offseason lull sets in this June, it’s the prime moment to peel back the layers of what makes these stadiums more than just concrete and seats. Here, we’re looking beyond mere size or trophy case history — it’s about atmosphere, that raw energy that defines game day and rattles opposing teams to their core. The numbers don’t lie: Penn State’s Beaver Stadium reigns supreme, a fortress where home-field advantage becomes near mythic, thanks to the roar of Nittany Lion faithful. Ohio Stadium, Kinnick, and Spartan Stadium are right up there too, their vibes elevating teams when the stakes are sky-high. Meanwhile, some iconic stages like the Rose Bowl and Michigan Stadium carry weight in nostalgia, but their on-game-day atmospheres don’t always pack the same punch. Curious to find out which Big Ten stadiums rank where on this unique scale? Dive into our detailed power rankings that dissect home-field advantages and the vibe that turns a game into a spectacle the players and fans won’t forget. LEARN MOREStadium Rank: 3Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions WireGet more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire

3. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa Hawkeyes)

Nov 12, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; A general view of Kinnick Stadium before the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 60,670This stadium could continue to rocket up our rankings if Curt Cignetti continues his winning ways. The Hoosiers went undefeated at home in 2024. By the end of their winning streak, Memorial Stadium had the best atmosphere in its long history.Capacity: 77,500Stadium Rank: 2

2. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State Buckeyes)

Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; General view before the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota has become a sneaky-tough place to play for Big Ten teams. Don’t believe that? Go ask the then-No. 11 USC Trojans, who fell 24-17 to the Gophers in a true ‘welcome to the Big Ten’ moment last season. Huntington Bank Stadium generates a strong in-game environment, especially when there’s weather.Capacity: 106,572Stadium Rank: 11Capacity: 57,236

1. Beaver Stadium (Penn State Nittany Lions)

Sep 18, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; A general view of Beaver Stadium prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 75,005I’m a big fan of Northwestern’s temporary setup on Lake Michigan. It’s unique, which is a good thing in the college football world. That said, the stadium lacks in terms of in-game atmosphere. The most notable part of the spectator experience is the view of the lake.Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans WireStadium atmospheres are ranked favorably when they match the football team’s identity. With that, there’s something about Kinnick Stadium and Iowa’s stout defense that lends to a fantastic gameday environment. Iowa and its fans are more than happy to win 15-6.

Capacity: 80,321