25. Davis Wade Stadium (Mississippi State)
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If you attend a game at Davis Wade Stadium and don’t walk away with a headache, you have a special ability. Mississippi State’s fanbase is known for slamming around cowbells when the opposing team has the ball, and it certainly can’t be easy for the offense to operate with that type of noise filling the air. With that being said, the Bulldogs haven’t been great at home the past five years. Aside from losing one game at home in 2022, State has dropped at least three games at home in four-of-five seasons. Are the EA creators showing SEC bias?
24. Albertsons Stadium (Boise State)
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Boise State gained national notoriety in 2007 when it executed multiple trick plays en route to an upset win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Of course, fans quickly came to love (or hate) their blue turf. While the team hasn’t been great recently, it remains a very tough team to beat at home. Over the past five seasons, the Broncos have lost seven games at home — three of the losses came by a combined six points, and another loss was to a top-10 BYU team led by Zach Wilson.
23. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (Arkansas)
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So far, this is the choice that we have struggled with the most. When the Razorbacks are good, Razorback Stadium can be electric. However, Arkansas has lingered in mediocrity for more than 10 years (since Bobby Petrino left town). Arkansas is 27-45 since 2018 and has lost 22 times at home during that stretch. Does that sound like the 23rd toughest place to play? We don’t think so.
22. Spartan Stadium (Michigan State)
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When you think about tough stadiums in the Big Ten, Spartan Stadium isn’t one of the first places to come to mind. While the Spartans have a good home crowd, there is not much of an intimidation factor for opponents unless poor weather is also having an impact on the game. Aside from State’s stellar 2021 season (11-2, undefeated at home), the team has lost three or more games at home each year since 2019.
21. Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame)
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Yes, we are also surprised to see Notre Dame come in at No. 20. The Irish have built a bit of a reputation of being overrated, but their home-field advantage is certainly deserving of a spot higher than this. Notre Dame’s crowd is rather loud more often than not, and the team has a top-10 winning percentage at home the past decade. The Irish have lost four games at home in the past five years by a combined 21 points.
20. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa)
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Kinnick Stadium has one of college football’s best gameday atmospheres. Extra credit should be given to the fans for their continued passion despite having to watch a historically inept offense. The black and yellow stadium is consistently loud and Iowa’s stout defense seems to play a level or two higher in front of the home fans. Kinnick is a bit underrated.
19. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (Texas)
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As the Longhorns continue to rise nationally, the team’s home stadium is becoming more and more difficult to play in. In addition to having rowdy fans when the occasion calls for some extra noise, Texas is a tough team to beat at home when accounting for the heat that visiting teams must deal with. Texas was undefeated in Austin in 2023, and its two losses in ’22 came to No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 TCU by a combined eight points.
18. Rice-Eccles Stadium (Utah)
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Whoever was in charge of ranking the 25 Toughest Places to Play in the new video game must not watch much West Coast football. Utah is home to “the MUSS” — one of the best student sections in the country — and the Utes are nearly unbeatable on their home turf. Utah is 27-2 at Rice-Eccles the past five years, and haven’t lost at home with star QB Cam Rising on the field.
17. Lane Stadium (Virginia Tech)
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The creators of College Football 25 might have been feeling a bit nostalgic when putting Virginia Tech at No. 17. While the Hokies “Enter Sandman” entrance is iconic, Lane Stadium has not been a tough place to play for years. The Hokies have posted two winning seasons since 2018 and hasn’t finished with more than eight wins. At home, Tech has lost 12 times since ’19.
16. Michigan Stadium (Michigan)
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There are not 15 tougher places to play than The Big House. The defending champions regularly play in front of more than 100,000 fans. The entire crowd comes together to sing “Mr. Brightside”. Michigan is undefeated at home the past three seasons. There are certainly more hostile crowds in college football, but 15 stadiums are more difficult to play in? No chance.
15. Williams-Brice Stadium (South Carolina)
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“Willy B” is an underrated stadium. South Carolina’s homefield has often been said to be one of the best environments in the SEC and its fans become deafening when opponents are facing a critical down. Adding to the intimidation of playing in “Willy B”, the East upper deck is known to sway when fans begin jumping up and down. The Gamecocks may be average, but their stadium is certainly no cakewalk.
14. Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn)
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When Auburn plays host to a rival or a top team in the SEC, Jordan-Hare Stadium is electric. The Tigers have had numerous marquee wins in front of their fans including the unforgettable ‘Kick Six’ against Alabama in 2013. In recent years, Auburn has fallen off a bit within the SEC — but Jordan-Hare has remained a tough place to play. Eight of their 12 home losses since 2019 have come against ranked opponents, with last year’s 31-10 loss to New Mexico State being the only bad defeat.
13. Neyland Stadium (Tennessee)
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The Volunteers had the SEC’s highest average attendance in 2023 with more than 100,000 fans coming to Neyland Stadium each game. Tennessee saw a dip in support in 2021, but it has seen the fans return in droves as the product on the field has improved. The Vols have lost just four games at home since 2021 — two of which came against No. 1 Georgia.
12. Memorial Stadium (Clemson)
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From 2015 to 2019, Clemson won two National Championships and played in four National Championship Games. During that time, the Tigers were nearly unbeatable at home (and on the road). Clemson’s lone home-loss came by one point. From 2020 to 2023, the Tigers have been more vulnerable on the field but remain tough to beat at home. Death Valley has witnessed two losses in the past four seasons — a one-point loss to South Carolina and an overtime loss to Florida State.
11. Autzen Stadium (Oregon)
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This may be the most egregious ranking yet in College Football 25. Perhaps Autzen Stadium is getting dinged for only having a capacity of 60,000, but you can’t find 10 tougher places to play in the country. Oregon’s fans are deafening throughout the game and every game since 1999 has been sold out. The Ducks have lost two games at Autzen since 2018 — an overtime loss to No. 7 Stanford in ’18 and a three-point loss to No. 25 Washington in ’22.
10. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Florida)
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While the Gators have fallen on hard times (by their standards) in recent years, “The Swamp” remains one of the most intimidating stadiums in the nation. Like Oregon’s Autzen Stadium, we believe Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is rated too low. Florida’s fans create some truly incredible noise even when the team is struggling. Recently, the crowd showed out in the 2022 season opener against No. 7 Utah. When the Gators are firing on all cylinders, this stadium is arguably a top-3 environment.
9. Doak S. Campbell Stadium (Florida State)
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The Seminoles are in a similar position to the rival Gators. When they are good, Doak S. Campbell Stadium turns into a house of horrors for visitors. Even when Florida State is mediocre, it remains one of college football’s best venues. From the pregame rituals (above) to FSU’s War Chant, Doak can spook opponents before they even walk out of the tunnel.
8. Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Oklahoma)
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Are we sure about this? Oklahoma has consistently put a good product on the field for decades, but its home field has never felt particularly daunting. The Sooners have been great at home other than in 2022 — two losses — but when thinking of college football’s most challenging venues, Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium never comes to mind. Perhaps joining the SEC will take Oklahoma’s home crowd to a new level.
7. Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin)
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“I came to get down, I came to get down
So get out your seat and jump aroundJump around (jump around)
Jump around (jump around)
Jump around (jump around)
Jump up, jump up and get down
Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!”
Before the fourth quarter begins, Camp Randall becomes a madhouse. Other than that? The stadium isn’t too frightening. Top 25, sure. No. 7? Absolutely not.
6. Beaver Stadium (Penn State)
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It’s a simple concept, but Penn State’s ‘White Out’ games are intimidating, to say the least. Beaver Stadium comes to life at night and quickly becomes deafening with over 100,000 fans screaming their heads off. When the in-house DJ opts to play “Mo Bamba”, the stadium shakes. Beaver Stadium is a must-visit as a fan and a nightmare for any opponent that steps on the turf.
5. Sanford Stadium (Georgia)
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The Georgia Bulldogs are currently the top program in the nation. As a result of their incredible string of success, Sanford Stadium has gotten plenty of attention. The Bulldogs are known to have a great fanbase, but the gameday atmosphere has ticked up with Kirby Smart leading the team to National Championships. Georgia is 44-4 at home under Smart and has won 13-straight games at home against ranked opponents. The results can’t be argued, but we still have doubts that Sanford is worthy of No. 5.
4. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)
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Ohio State doesn’t lose very often whether it is playing at home or on the road. Since 2018, only two teams have walked into Ohio Stadium and handed the Buckeyes a loss — Oregon and Michigan, respectively. “The Shoe” is historic, big, and has a certain aura that can weigh on teams hoping to defeat the Buckeyes. Night games at “The Shoe” are particularly daunting.
3. Tiger Stadium (LSU)
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Tiger Stadium should be No. 1. There is no debating this. College Football 25 disrespected LSU by saying its home is the third-toughest place to play. Night games in Death Valley are unmatched. Word cannot do this stadium justice. Here’s to betting EA fixes this mistake for the 2026 edition of the game.
2. Bryant-Denny Stadium (Alabama)
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With Nick Saban in charge of the program, Alabama was the undisputed king of college football for more than a decade. Of course, it goes without saying that the Crimson Tide didn’t lose many games at Bryant-Denny Stadium during Saban’s tenure. From 2008 to 2023, Alabama lost a total of six games at home. That is a pretty ridiculous stat.
1. Kyle Field (Texas A&M)
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The last time Texas A&M finished a season undefeated at home in a non-COVID season (2020 with limited crowds) was 1999. Wins and losses are not the only things that determine a tough place to play, but something should be said for A&M’s inability to do what so many other elite programs do. College Station certainly can get very loud, but we wouldn’t say Kyle Field is even one of the five toughest places to play. Do better, EA.
