Top 25 college football stadiums – Rose Bowl, Michigan and more

The Swamp. The Big House. The Granddaddy of them all.

Whether you’re a fan of Death Valley (the orange and white version or purple and gold), Touchdown Jesus or just playing between the hedges, you understand the unique experience college football’s stadiums provide.

So we asked 14 of our college football writers to rank the best stadiums in the sport. No parameters, no criteria. Writers were asked to submit their top 20 stadiums in order. We then awarded points: 20 for first-place votes, 19 for second and all the way down to 1 point for a stadium voted No. 20.

In all, 42 different stadiums received at least one vote, allowing us to build a Top 25 (this is college football, after all) for fans to form a travel bucket list or just venues to try out in EA Sports College Football 25.

And certainly a list to debate (this is college football, after all).

So with apologies (and a nod) to the Kibbie Dome on the campus of the University of Idaho at No. 26, here are ESPN’s Top 25 stadiums in college football.

1. Tiger Stadium, LSU Tigers, est. 1924

Points: 247

Soaking up the atmosphere on a Saturday night in Tiger Stadium is pure nirvana for football fans, and it’s hardly just the football game. The food at all the tailgating spots is divine, and we’re talking about dishes from gumbo to shrimp boils to jambalaya being stirred in giant pots by fans hydrating with cold beverages and sporting their purple and gold attire (and, yes, beads too).

Mike the Tiger, LSU’s live mascot, roams around in his spacious zoo-like enclosure just north of the stadium. He used to hang out on the field in his cage on wheels just outside the opponents’ locker room, but no longer leaves his habitat to go inside the stadium for games. Having opened in 1924 and now with a capacity of 102,321, Tiger Stadium has been listed as one of “America’s Most Treasured Stadiums” by the Historic Stadium Caucus. And when the Golden Band From Tigerland hits those first four notes upon stepping onto the field for pregame festivities, there’s nothing else quite like it. — Chris Low

2. Rose Bowl, UCLA Bruins, est. 1922

Points: 209

Broadcaster Keith Jackson used to marvel (repeat it in his legendary voice) about the majestic San Gabriel Mountains hovering in the distance at the Rose Bowl. Good luck finding a more picturesque backdrop for any football stadium on the planet, especially at sunset. Sure, the stadium is old and in need of…