Biggest college football stadiums: Which programs have the largest by capacity?
The new 12-team College Football Playoff has a big change in 2024, with the higher seed of first-round matchups hosting the game at their home field.
That means college football will play games with national championship implications at some of the sport's most iconic venues for the first time in recent memory. The change also sparks one thought:
Which programs have the largest stadiums in terms of capacity in college football?
Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas and Penn State have some of the most revered stadiums in the country, and their fanbases will certainly be rocking for each of their CFP games.
Here are the top 10 biggest college football stadiums, as of the 2024 season:
Biggest college football stadiums
Here are the 10 largest college football stadiums, according to the NCAA:
1. Michigan (Michigan Stadium) 107,601
Michigan Stadium, the home of the Wolverines more commonly known as "The Big House," is not only the largest college football stadium but also the largest stadium in general in the United States.
"The Big House" is also the third-largest stadium in the world.
The Wolverines won't be hosting a CFP game in 2024, but the next time they do, road teams are going to face a huge disadvantage with a likely deafening crowd.
2. Penn State (Beaver Stadium) 106,572
Big Ten programs do stadiums a little bit different than the rest of college football, as Penn State comes in at No. 2 in college football with a capacity of 106,572.
Penn State hosts No. 11 SMU in the first round of the CFP, and the Mustangs are going to face one of the toughest tests out there: Beaver Stadium for a big game.
The Nittany Lions' fanbase is one of the best in college football, and will be out in full force for Penn State's first-round game.
3. Ohio State (Ohio Stadium) 102,780
Another Big Ten program comes in at No. 3, with a capacity of 102,780. Ohio Stadium will also host a College Football Playoff game this season, as the Buckeyes invite Tennessee for a first-round game.
It'll be a battle between two of the biggest fanbases in college sports, as No. 8 Ohio State hosts the No. 9 Vols for a spot against No. 1 Oregon in the CFP quarterfinals.
Part of the allure of Michigan-Ohio State, perhaps the best rivalry in college football, is both teams rotate between two of the biggest stadiums in the world each season.
4. Texas A&M (Kyle Field) 102,733
Slightly smaller than Ohio State's stadium, the first non-Big Ten stadium comes in at No. 4, as Kyle Field can seat 102,733 fans.
Texas A&M's stadium underwent renovations to make it the largest stadium in the SEC in 2013, with the cost reaching $450 million upon the Aggies' move from the Big 12.
Kyle Field, home of Texas A&M's "12th Man," has been the host of some of the most deafening games in the SEC, and gives the Aggies a massive advantage, especially in games against where Texas A&M is an underdog.
5. LSU (Tiger Stadium) 102,321
The second biggest stadium in the SEC is at LSU, as Tiger Stadium holds 102,321 fans. One of two stadiums nicknamed "Death Valley" in college football (hello, Clemson) is one of the most threatening road atmospheres in college football.
The Tigers won't be hosting a CFP game in 2024, but when and if they do, it'll certainly be tough for the opposing team.
6. Tennessee (Neyland Stadium) 101,915
Tennessee's Neyland Stadium is the third consecutive SEC stadium in the top 10 and is among the hardest places to play for road teams given the Vols' ravage fan base, especially at night.
Neyland Stadium was also the host of one of the best atmospheres in recent memory, when Tennessee upset Alabama at home in 2022, as 100,000 fans stormed the field after the Vols defeated the Crimson Tide for the first time since 2006.
"Dixieland Delight," a song made famous by being played at Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium, blared over the stadium speakers as fans tore down the goalpost.
Electric.
7. Alabama (Bryant-Denny Stadium) 101,821
There aren't many better atmospheres in college football than when the Crimson Tide play "Dixieland Delight" over the stadium speakers after the third quarter.
Nearly the entirety of Bryant-Denny Stadium screams the song, which especially goes crazy in a close game or with an Alabama lead. That, paired with a light show on the stadium lights, creates a deafening crowd.
Bryant-Denny Stadium hosts 101,821 fans, which ranks fourth in the SEC and seventh in college football.
8. Texas (Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium) 100,119
Texas, which used to have the biggest non-SEC or Big Ten stadium in college football, is, of course, now in the SEC.
Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium helms 100,119 fans, and is the second largest stadium in Texas behind in-state rival Texas A&M. It's also the fifth consecutive SEC stadium on the top 10 list of biggest stadiums.
The Longhorns, who traveled to Texas A&M in their first SEC season, hosts the Aggies in 2025 and will be likely one of the best matchups in college football.
9. Georgia (Sanford Stadium) 92,746
The first stadium on the list to not have a capacity over 100,000 is Georgia's Sanford Stadium, with hosts 92,746 fans.
Georgia is the sixth consecutive SEC stadium in the top 10. "It means more" in the SEC, of course.
10. UCLA (Rose Bowl) 91,136
UCLA used to have the largest stadium in the Pac-12, and the only stadium in the top 10 from the conference. However, the Bruins are now in the Big Ten.
UCLA plays at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, although hardly ever gets remotely close to capacity for its home games like the bowl game does.
Still, the Bruins get to call one of college football's most iconic stadiums home.