The Definitive List of Loudest NCAA Football Stadiums

College football stadiums are more than just venues for games; they are historical monuments, architectural wonders, and physical and spiritual containers of pride and disappointment. While the economic impact of stadiums is often negligible and they can divert public resources, their intangible benefits are undeniable. Determining the "best" college football stadiums is subjective, considering factors like capacity, championships, reputation, atmosphere, and the ineffable feel of game night. Here's a countdown of some of the loudest and most iconic stadiums in college football, capturing the essence of what makes these venues special.

The Ranking

25. The Cotton Bowl

Located in Dallas, Texas, the Cotton Bowl has a capacity of 92,100. It is the eleventh-largest college football stadium in the country. Although it is not the home stadium of any particular college team, the Cotton Bowl was the site of the Cotton Bowl Classic from 1937 to 2009, imbuing it with significant history.

24. Spartan Stadium (Michigan State)

A general view of a flyover after the National Anthem before the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Youngstown State Penguins at Spartan Stadium.

23. Boone Pickens Stadium (Oklahoma State)

A general view of Oklahoma State Cowboys stadium during the second half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Boone Pickens Stadium.

22. Carter-Finley Stadium (North Carolina State)

A general view of Carter-Finley Stadium during the second half kickoff between North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Connecticut Huskies.

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21. Notre Dame Stadium

Also known as "The House that Rockne Built," Notre Dame Stadium is quintessentially college football.

20. Rice-Eccles Stadium (Utah)

A general view of Rice-Eccles Stadium at the start of the fourth quarter between the Utah Utes and the Arizona Wildcats.

19. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa)

A general view of Kinnick Stadium before a game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Northwestern Wildcats.

18. Husky Stadium (Washington)

The University of Washington in Seattle proudly proclaims Husky Stadium to be the "greatest setting in college football." Overlooking Lake Washington and Mount Rainier, the stadium offers a unique and picturesque game-day experience. Husky Stadium's volume was measured at 133.6 decibels back in 1992, which was the loudest recorded volume at a college stadium at the time. Opened in 1920, it has a capacity of 70,083. A key element to the noise level is the construction of the stadium. The bulk of the fans are located under cantilevered roofs that keep in the noise.

17. Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn)

Fans rush the field after the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium. In 2013, Jordan-Hare stadium was the site of what became known as the "Kick Six," when Auburn’s Chris Davis returned a missed field goal for a game-winning touchdown.

16. Williams-Brice Stadium (South Carolina)

A general view of before the game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Clemson Tigers at Williams-Brice Stadium. Williams-Bryce Stadium is known for its intense atmosphere, reaching a decibel record of 133.6 dB.

15. Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin)

A general view of Camp Randall Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Wisconsin Badgers. The home of the Wisconsin Badgers is the oldest stadium in the Big Ten. It's the oldest stadium in the conference and the fifth biggest. This noise reaches a crescendo when the loudspeakers blare "Jump Around" and the fans happily oblige. Built in 1917, it has a capacity of 75,822 and a highest recorded decibel level of 106.

14. Doak Campbell Stadium (Florida State)

A general view of Doak Campbell Stadium before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Florida State Seminoles.

13. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (Texas)

A view of the stadium and UT fans during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Playoff First Round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Although the Lincoln Riley years have been somewhat underwhelming, USC boasts one of the most decorated football traditions in NCAA history.

12. Neyland Stadium (Tennessee)

A general view of Neyland Stadium during the fourth quarter of a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores.

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11. Kyle Field (Texas A&M)

A general view of the fans prior to the start of the game between and the New Mexico Lobos and the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. A record 110,633 packed into the Kyle Field bleachers in 2014 to watch the Aggies take on the Ole Miss Rebels (the Aggies would lose 35-20). The 110,633 fans in attendance for A&M's contest against Ole Miss in 2014 remains the SEC's all-time attendance record. Apart from its size, Kyle Field is one of the best college football stadiums because of the Aggies’ dominance at home. In the nineties, the Aggies lost just four time at Kyle Field-four times! It’s football in Texas. Since joining the Southeastern Conference in 2012, the Aggies have secured a 72.6 winning percentage at home, proving the atmosphere at Kyle Field in Bryan-College Station, Texas, is one of the most electric cathedrals in college football. The stadium has witnessed many memorable moments, including the program's toppling of No. 1 Alabama in 2021, and many of the 106,815 in attendance rushing the field to celebrate. Heading into his second year at the helm for the Aggies, Elko seeks to put a stamp on Texas A&M's claim of having the most exhilarating atmosphere in college football by defeating the best programs the country has to offer. Kyle Field has the nickname “Home of the 12th Man,” and rightfully so. Never seen anything quite like this. Easily 10,000 people at Kyle Field tonight for Texas A&M's "Midnight Yell" practice. Football sure does mean a lot to these people in the Lone Star State. Texas A&M Aggies fans have always been known for their ability to make noise. So, it comes as no surprise that they actually have "yell practice." Kyle Field has long been considered one of the most challenging places to play on the road. The noise definitely plays a part in that. Opened in 1927, Kyle Field boasts a capacity of 110,633 and a highest recorded decibel level of 126.

10. Autzen Stadium

A general view of the Pac-12 Championship game between the UCLA Bruins and the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Autzen Stadium in Eugene has a capacity of 54,000, which is small for college football standards, but the low seats give the place an intimate and up-close feel. And that makes it all the more electric for Ducks fans and intimidating for the opposing team. Autzen Stadium, during a 2007 game against USC, produced a noise level of 127 decibels. Oregon's mighty crowd is surely an advantage for the Ducks: But is Autzen Stadium the loudest? Certainly, the success on the field over the past few years adds to the excitement on game day, which is not lost on Oregon coach Dan Lanning. “This place is so special. I think every one of us longs for fall,” said Lanning. “It's an opportunity to be there in the stadium during a football game.” A look at the Top 10 loudest stadiums in college football from FanBuzz reveals that Autzen Stadium still reigns as one of the best. More good news, in their first year in Big Ten conference play, the Ducks play just one away game (Wisconsin) at a top-10 noisiest stadium. The Oregon Ducks' stadium has the smallest capacity on this list, with attendance topping out around 60,000 which includes standing-room-only crowds. Notably, the fans are extremely close to the field. The field is also sunken, creating a bubble of noise. Going forward, any discussion of stadium expansion includes trapping crowd noise to the extent possible. Simply put, on a per-person basis, Ducks fans make more noise than just about anybody. As Oregon prepares to enter Big Ten conference play this fall, the noise level is likely to increase and challenge LSU for the noisiest stadium in the country. Opened in 1966, Autzen Stadium has a capacity of 60,000 and a highest recorded decibel level of 127.

9. Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

A general view of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium during the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Oklahoma Memorial Stadium belongs in this list because Oklahoma has a bit of both-the historical legacy and modern prominence.

8. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Florida)

A general view of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field during the second half between the Florida Gators and Utah Utes. Also known as The Swamp, University of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium once recorded a noise level of 115 decibels. To put that in perspective, that’s about as loud as a jet engine, which are typically recorded at 110-140 decibels. Opened in 1930, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium has a capacity of 88,548 and a highest recorded decibel level of 115.0 dB.

7. Memorial Stadium (Clemson)

A general view of the stadium prior to the game against the Boston College Eagles ad the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium. Clemson’s Memorial Stadium and LSU’s Tiger Stadium compete for the rights to the “Death Valley” moniker. The dBs likely weren’t that loud during the 2023 season, but historically, Memorial Stadium, home of the Clemson Tigers, has been a tough and loud place to play. Opened in 1941, Memorial Stadium has a capacity of 86,092 and a highest recorded decibel level of 132.8.

6. Neyland Stadium (Tennessee)

General view of Neyland Stadium during the fourth quarter of a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores. Neyland Stadium in Knoxville seats 101,915, and it’s got a reputation as being one of the most boisterous football fields in the NCAA. In 2023, during the Volunteers’ home match-up against Georgia, the Tennessee faithful set a noise level record: the stadium’s volume was recorded at 137 decibels. This is a stadium with over 100,00 seats-the fifth-largest stadium in the United States. Opened in 1921, Neyland Stadium has a capacity of 101,915 and a highest recorded decibel level of 125.4.

5. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)

A general view of over 100,000 fans attending the Ohio State Spring Game at Ohio Stadium. The Gray team won the game 17-14. Known as "The Horseshoe," Ohio State's stadium is simply deafening. Following renovations to add luxury suites, capacity has dropped from 110,000 to a little over 102,000. The third-largest stadium in college football, Ohio Stadium, can house well over 100,000 fans. And although Ohio Stadium hasn’t broken any decibel records, here, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The design-there’s a reason it’s called “The Horseshoe”-is iconic, the Ohio faithful are legendary, and the Buckeyes’ football legacy is up there with the best in the country. In 1974, Ohio Stadium was designated a historical landmark by the National Register of Historic Places. Opened in 1921, Ohio Stadium has a capacity of 102,780.

4. Beaver Stadium (Penn State)

An overall view from inside Beaver Stadium as the Penn State Nittany Lioons run onto the field prior to the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. This could be confusing to some given the Ducks’ long-time rival, the Oregon State Beavers. This is not a typographical mistake, Beaver Stadium is in Happy Valley, not the Willamette Valley, and is the second-largest stadium in North America, behind Michigan’s “Big House.” You may know about the whiteout that happens at Penn State, but there’s more to that than just a unifying outfit. In 2003, a study was done on the stadium to ensure it could handle the impact of fans’ jumping. Opened in 1959, Beaver Stadium has a capacity of 106,572 and a decibel record of 122.0 dB.

3. Tiger Stadium (LSU)

A general overall view of Tiger Stadium during a game between the LSU Tigers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Also known as Death Valley or simply The Bayou, Tiger Stadium has a capacity of 102,321, which makes it the fifth largest NCAA stadium overall. Tiger Stadium tops the list. The stadium is up over 100,000 people now, and they make a ton of noise. Hence the nickname "Deaf Valley." The Tigers won the national title over Clemson a few years back, and they’ve always been an exciting team to watch. Opened in 1924, Tiger Stadium has a capacity of 102,321 and a highest recorded decibel level of 130.0 dB.

2. Michigan Stadium (Michigan)

A general view of the kick off between the Michigan Wolverines and the Bowling Green Falcons in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Michigan’s home stadium, with a capacity of 107,601, is the largest college football stadium in the country. That doesn’t automatically make it one of the best college football stadiums, but the magnitude of that number does make for a pretty convincing argument.

1. Sanford Stadium (Georgia)

An overall view of Sanford Stadium during the game between the UAB Blazers and the Georgia Bulldogs. In their home game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Nov. 2. It's been called college football's loudest game.

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