College Football 2011: The 20 Most Overrated Stadiums

There are times when the feel of a college football venue, its atmosphere, the buzz in the crowd or the elegance of its architecture casts a certain perspective that might overpraise the stadium.

Those elements typically are rooted from within the grounds as a spectator. But the view from the exterior, physically and metaphorically, provides a completely different take.

Sometimes we get lost in too much tradition, passing up something more spectacular for something else that is borderline archaic and falling behind the business that is college football.

For a sport that is worshiped like few others of its kind, there are just a handful that are able to capture the essence of the most lucrative sport in collegiate athletics.

Here are the 26 most overrated venues in college football.

Neyland Stadium

Make no mistake, Neyland Stadium is one of the most impressive structures in college football.

But the Vols' home field is missing a characteristic that screams college like Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin or Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville portray cathedrals in the sport.

The L.A. Memorial Coliseum

Home to the USC Trojans, the L.A. Coliseum is a fantastic display for the sport, but it hardly encapsulates the grandiose nature of the sport.

At times, the stadium simply doesn't bring that wow factor that other venues effortlessly provide.

The Big House

Admittedly, the Big House is one of the most revered arenas in all of football.

But with the Wolverines consistently playing mediocre-to-less-than-mediocre football, the glimmer of the stadium is fading with the program.

A day when the stands are covered in yellow is magnificent, but there is a certain flair missing from its appearance.

Rose Bowl

Gasp.

No, not one of the most historic and ritualized stadiums in all of college football!

While the Rose Bowl is the site of some of the greatest games played, and home to the UCLA Bruins, it shares that California dull spot.

It definitely looks like a bowl, but there is often too much made of its tradition.

Notre Dame Stadium

Notre Dame Stadium is also an iconic venue in college football, but the Irish's lackluster performances season-in and season-out have left some to forget the prominence of the program.

It belongs in the same conversation as the Big House and the L.A Coliseum. Those rivalries have produced great football, but its venues have become dull.

Folsom Field

Maybe the picture gives more than it should.

A sunset over the mountains in Boulder, Colo. would be a great distraction from the shameful football of the home side.

Backdrop aside, the stadium lacks character and is a far cry away from the cathedrals of the sport.

Falcon Stadium

The military academies in college football always deserve high praise for their place in society, but their stadiums deserve little.

Falcon Stadium, home to Air Force, can provide a scenic backdrop to an otherwise less-than-exciting game on the field.

But the classic, oval-shaped arena is very ordinary, even for an academy. 

Michie Stadium

Like its academic counterpart, Army plays in a humble stadium that is praised. 

But purely from a spectator's point of view, there is little to be excited about when glancing over Michie Stadium.

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

For one of the top football program's in the country in recent memory, Oklahoma has little to show as far as where it does business.

The facility looks great, but the design and juxtaposition of the stands leaves something to be had for a program with such distinction and celebration.

Some will make more of the venue than it deserves, but the Sooners deserve a stadium of better quality.

Doak Campbell Stadium

From within, the Seminoles' Doak Campbell Stadium looks spectacular.

But its magnificence drops a level when compared to others from a considerable distance.

It has the feel of a historic structure, less flair and elegance, more robustness.

War Memorial Stadium

The Razorbacks' War Memorial Stadium nearly mimics the L.A. Coliseum. 

Yes, football is played on a flat surface, but the venue lacks character. Maybe more impressive on some nights than others, it is reminiscent of a glorified high school football arena.

The Cotton Bowl

Maybe the lone thing keeping the Cotton Bowl as the selected venue for the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma is the Texas State Fair, as both events share the same ground.

While the RRR is one of the best rivalries in the country of late, the stadium is old and gets less spectacular every year.

The football games, on the other hand...

California Memorial Stadium

It seems like there is a similarity in these California-based venues.

Cal Memorial Stadium, home to none other than the Cal Golden Bears, has long been praised for its natural backdrop, but the entire grounds itself feels outdated and dull.

AT&T Jones Stadium

Dust storms and desert-like lands can be found in Lubbock, Texas. The Red Raiders' home venue is there too, but it is not much to look at other than the crowd drenched in a sea of red.

AT&T Jones Stadium is a humble venue that many (mostly Texas Tech supporters) praise.

It comes off as an upgraded high school football arena, which in Texas isn't so remarkable.

SunLife Stadium

When was the last time that the Hurricanes commanded a certain respect in the college football arena? It is been some time.

Sun Life Stadium is an impressive structure, but its purpose as a college football venue is a drag.

As popular as the Miami program appears to be, its fans don't fill up the seats.

Jordan-Hare Stadium

Auburn football may forever take a backseat to Alabama football, and the Tigers' venue could occupy the same seat.

Jordan-Hare Stadium lacks the architectural novelty that other stadiums have. In the southeastern region of the country, where football is arguably law, stadiums are looked upon as palaces.

Auburn's simply doesn't have that quality. 

The Horseshoe

Rather unsurprisingly, the Buckeyes' home stadium may quickly begin fading in respect along with the Ohio State program.

Make no mistake, the Horseshoe is an iconic venue for college football, but as football talk in Columbus is hushed, so is its stadium.

Husky Stadium

Much is made of Husky Stadium and its great view of Union Bay. That praise is worthy.

But the venue itself is hardly spectacular. Maybe that California trail of dull stadiums wandered up to the Northwest.

Tailgating on the water must be pretty cool, though.

Bronco Stadium

The mysterious and tantalizing blue turf up at Boise State has been a topic of discussion ever since the football program hit it big.

Everyone knows the Broncos are good now, regardless of their blue turf. The stands are slightly elegant, but the true focal point has always been the blue turf. The gimmick is up, the Broncos are legit, their venue is not so much anymore. 

Autzen Stadium

With all of the smoke surrounding the Oregon football program and the University's ties with Nike, it almost seems like everything is run too much like a business, including its spectacular venue, Autzen Stadium.

But that's just it, college stadiums should instill something different in us than professional stadiums. Perhaps it comes on an individual level, but the feel of the Ducks' home venue seems much less collegiate than it should.