How great is college football? There is nothing better than making a road trip and traveling to a big-time college football game. Having traveled to a lot of these major stadiums, I decided just for fun to come up with a list for 2009 of College Football Stadium Superlatives.

 

Best Tailgating Scene

LSU's Tiger Stadium: The scene in Baton Rouge brings eating to another level. Most of the games here are held at night, giving you a longer tailgating time.

Runner-Up

Ole Miss' Vaught-Hemingway Stadium: The Grove is just a legendary tailgating area.



Best Pre-Game Scene

Tennessee's Neyland Stadium: You'll be humming Rocky Top for Days after your visit to Knoxville. You can arrive via boat, sip Tennessee whiskey, and enjoy great BBQ.

Runner-Up

Ohio State's Ohio Stadium: The Best Damn Band in the land dotting the i in the Script Ohio.



Best Big Game Stadium

Penn State's Beaver Stadium: "The greatest show in college football" is home to the best student section, largest stadium, and everyone wears white for the night games.

Runner-Up

Nebraska's Memorial Stadium: The Cornhuskers have some of the best fans both in intensity and in class. The sea of red just looks awesome.



For the History Buff

USC's LA Memorial Coliseum: USC has had seven national championships and seven Heisman Trophy winners whom have played at this fabled stadium. But holding the Olympics here twice makes this place extra special.

Runner-Up

Notre Dame Stadium: A close second place. Golden Dome, Touchdown Jesus, and Rudy—it's all here.



Small(er) Stadiums, Big Fun

Oregon's Autzen Stadium: This place only seats 54,000 but gets very, very loud. Nike has dumped a ton of coin into the facilities, and it shows.

Runner-Up

Army's Michie Stadium: The 40,000-seater is perhaps the most beautiful in all of college football.



Most Overrated

Michigan Stadium: The Big House just does not generate a lot of noise. Cramped seats and poor accessibility also factor into this rating. Things are changing as Michigan Stadium continues to undergo renovations.

Runner-Up

USC's LA Memorial Coliseum: It's historic...which means that it's really old. The Coliseum is just not on the same level as the other elite college football programs' stadiums.



Underrated

South Carolina's Williams-Brice Stadium: Seating over 80,000, this loud stadium is often forgotten when people talk about the great stadiums of the SEC.

Runner-Up

Oklahoma's Memorial Stadium: Oklahoma just straight dominates visitors at Owen Field, and recent renovations have really improved this stadium.



Most Improved

Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium: When you go from the god-awful Metrodome to a beautiful outdoor facility, then you automatically win most improved.

Runner-Up

Texas Memorial Stadium: Now seats over 100,000 and features one of the largest video scoreboards in the country, "Godzillatron."



Best Home Field Advantage

Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium: Just try playing here in the heat. The scorching temperature does not seem to tame Alabama fans' enthusiasm, either.

Runner-Up

Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium: Think of 80,000 people who are really intoxicated and curse in unison.



Best Use of Psychological Warfare

Boise State's Bronco Stadium: That blue smurf turf...it's hard to watch on TV, and the color matches Boise State's uniforms.

Runner-Up

Iowa's Kinnick Stadium: The pink away locker room—there is just something completely wrong with that.



Loudest Stadium

Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium: Noise just doesn't leave The Swamp. The upper decks are steep and seemingly on top of the field.

Runner-Up

Virgina Tech's Lane Stadium: The Hokies have a very passionate and rather young fanbase.



Please Do Better

Miami's Land Shark Stadium: A once elite program now plays their home games far away from their campus in another team's stadium—terrible. Land Shark Stadium just is not a good fit for the U.

Runner-Up

Pittsburgh's Heinz Field: Do people in Pittsburgh even realize that the Panthers play at Heinz Field?

 

I am sure there is going to be some disagreement, as there always is with these sorts of lists, but that is part of the fun. Let me know what I am missing out on or where I am misinformed.

If you enjoyed this article, please check out my sports travel site The Crosshair Guide.