ESPN recently named its top 25 college stadiums, and two Texas universities made the list.
The sports media organization had 14 writers select and rank their top 20 favorite stadiums — without criteria and parameters. ESPN then assigned points based on these rankings: 20 points for a first-place vote, 19 for a second-place vote, and so on, down to 1 point for a stadium ranked 20th. In total, at least 42 stadiums received at least one vote.
To little surprise, the Texas universities that clinched a spot are Texas A&M University at No. 13 and the University of Texas in Austin at No. 25.
Here’s what they said about the stadiums.
No. 13: Kyle Field, Texas A&M University Aggies
With 91 points combined, Kyle Field ranked among the Top 15 college football stadiums in the U.S. It’s not necessarily because the stadium is all that impressive, however.
ESPN writer Dave Wilson wrote mostly about the traditions and the spirit from the stands.
“It doesn’t take long to notice things are different at Kyle Field. Instead of cheerleaders, there are Yell Leaders who organize coordinated yells for fans, including the largest student section in America at more than 36,000 strong,” he wrote. “The weekend begins with Midnight Yell on Friday nights, where the Aggies practice said yells in Kyle with thousands of their friends.”
He also commended the Aggies’ Corps of Cadets and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band for their “intricate halftime shows.
“It all adds up to one of the most unique game-day experiences in the country, with the largest stadium in the SEC (102,733) providing a raucous, memorable setting on Saturdays,” he concluded.
No. 25: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, University of Texas Longhorns
DRK came in with only 38 points to claim the last spot on the list, though Wilson commended fans for progress, stating, “The game-day setting in Austin has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years.”
He recognized pregame festivities on Bevo Boulevard and free Longhorn City Limits concerts each home game.
“Inside, LED lights bathe more than 100,000 fans in burnt orange while fans watch the Longhorns on Campbell-Williams Field, named for Earl and Ricky, Texas’ two Heisman Trophy winners,” he wrote. “Add in a ‘Texas Fight!’ chant and a performance by the 400-member Longhorn Band — the ‘Showband of the Southwest’ — playing Big Bertha II, the biggest bass drum in the world, and you’ve got yourself a Texas-sized party.”
These are the top 25 college football stadiums
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Rose Bowl, UCLA Bruins
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Michigan Stadium, Michigan Wolverines
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Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Beaver Stadium, Penn State Nittany Lions
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Husky Stadium, Washington Huskies
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Ohio Stadium, Ohio State Buckeyes
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Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin Badgers
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Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama Crimson Tide
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Neyland Stadium, Tennessee Volunteers
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Memorial Stadium, Clemson Tigers
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Michie Stadium, Army Black Knights
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Kyle Field, Texas A&M Aggies
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Autzen Stadium, Oregon Ducks
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Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech Hokies
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Memorial Stadium, Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn Tigers
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Sanford Stadium, Georgia Bulldogs
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Doak S. Campbell Stadium, Florida State Seminoles
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Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida Gators
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Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Ole Miss Rebels
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Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, USC Trojans
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Kidd Brewer Stadium, Appalachian State Mountaineers
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Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Oklahoma Sooners
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Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Texas Longhorns
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas A&M and UT Austin rank among ESPN’s top 25 college stadiums
Austin American-Statesman
