NCAA Football 09 top 25 toughest places to play
by 
Something I neglected to add into my impressions from the community event was the list of the toughest places to play in NCAA Football 09. It was hard to judge how much difference there is from playing at a difficult venue compared to a mild one. QB composure seemed to be the most significant aspect of realizing the effects regardless of where you were playing, and it may be that the more intimidating the environment the more rattled opposing QBs can get. Here are the top 25 toughest places to play in the game.
#1 LSU
#2 Florida
#3 Ohio State
#4 Penn State
#5 Tennessee
#6 Oklahoma
#7 Oregon
#8 Wisconsin
#9 Virginia Tech
#10 Nebraska
#11 USC
#12 Texas
#13 Michigan
#14 Texas A&M
#15 Notre Dame
#16 Georgia
#17 Florida State
#18 Alabama
#19 Auburn
#20 West Virginia
#21 Clemson
#22 Arkansas
#23 Colorado
#24 Boise St.
#25 South Carolina
June 4, 2008 at 1:32 pm
[quote comment="23838"][quote comment="23834"][quote comment="23832"]OREGON WVU ARKANSAS BOISE ST SOUTH CAROLINA ALL OVER SYRACUSE? R U KIDDING ME? I know we have been bad recently but none of those teams have had the history we have had.[/quote]
Are YOU serious, you really think Syracuse should be in the top 25?[/quote]
Syracuse is a top 20 team all time so I don’t get why not? I mean the dome is louder then any other stadium when the team is good. Its just recently we have been bad. But in terms of hard places to play the dome is definitely up there if you want to go by history what should be the important thing here.[/quote]
First off, Mount Union, which is a D3 powerhouse would run all over Syracuse, where did u get off by saying Syracuse is an all-time team? they don’t produce NFL talent, such as a school like Ohio State and LSU. And since when does History have ANYTHING to do with how hard it is to play there? Ohio State is much louder and crazier, heck, even michigan(( I hate saying that)) is a better place to watch a game. ALSO, Syracuse gets NO BIG TIME recruits, just because Marvin Harrison and Mcnabb went there and had an average season if ur comparing them to OSU or LSU, doesn’t mean you can put them as an all time great team. Thats a joke.
June 4, 2008 at 3:15 pm
y iz UGA so low
number one on tha game and large on campus field
wat iz wrong wit yall
gahhh
June 4, 2008 at 5:40 pm
[quote comment="23928"][quote comment="23838"][quote comment="23834"][quote comment="23832"]OREGON WVU ARKANSAS BOISE ST SOUTH CAROLINA ALL OVER SYRACUSE? R U KIDDING ME? I know we have been bad recently but none of those teams have had the history we have had.[/quote]
Are YOU serious, you really think Syracuse should be in the top 25?[/quote]
Syracuse is a top 20 team all time so I don’t get why not? I mean the dome is louder then any other stadium when the team is good. Its just recently we have been bad. But in terms of hard places to play the dome is definitely up there if you want to go by history what should be the important thing here.[/quote]
First off, Mount Union, which is a D3 powerhouse would run all over Syracuse, where did u get off by saying Syracuse is an all-time team? they don’t produce NFL talent, such as a school like Ohio State and LSU. And since when does History have ANYTHING to do with how hard it is to play there? Ohio State is much louder and crazier, heck, even michigan(( I hate saying that)) is a better place to watch a game. ALSO, Syracuse gets NO BIG TIME recruits, just because Marvin Harrison and Mcnabb went there and had an average season if ur comparing them to OSU or LSU, doesn’t mean you can put them as an all time great team. Thats a joke.[/quote]
Last time I check Syracuse has just as many Hall of Famer’s as OSU(6)(LSU only has 3). SYR all time has a decent win percentage, good amount of wins, and a national championship. As a football factory Syracuse is a top 10(NFLN had us at
. I said top 20 team all time and I didn’t compare us to OSU or who ever. But take r all time team with JIM BROWN ART MONK MARVIN HARRISON JOHN MACKEY LARRY CSONKA AND I LIKE R CHANCES AGAINST WHAT EVER TEAM LSU/OSU THROW OUT ON THE FIELD.
June 4, 2008 at 5:42 pm
But your right though we are tied for 4th all time in NFL Hall of Famers but we don’t produce NFL Talent. Lol. loL LOL.
June 4, 2008 at 5:45 pm
[quote comment="23895"]Why is Nebraska higher than Michigan when Michigan had the same amount of home wins that Nebraska had total?(5)[/quote]
They don’t base the ratings on last year alone, a lot depends on history, crowd attendance, hostility and record at home over the span of the last couple years. And anytime Appalachian St beats you at home it’s hard to put Michigan in the top 10. Granted Nebraska was terrible last year but who gives a crap, play in dynasty and raise their rating up in that game mode.
June 4, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Go CANES!!!!!!!!!
June 4, 2008 at 7:01 pm
As a tried and true badger fan i will honestly say we dont belong number 7…if the ranking was based on games that started after 6pm..then yea we are as loud and raucous as anyone..period..however early games are a joke..not that loud at all til JUMP AROUND and a close game late..
The fact that someone even mentioned the CUBS on this site gets me angry…GO BREWERS!!
June 4, 2008 at 9:44 pm
How is Alabama ranked so low(or high depending on how you look at it)? 18th!? Your talking about one of the most diehard fan bases in America! I know we have stunk on the football field lately, but that should be a tribute to the loyalty of the fans. We have sold out every home game since 1988. That includes crappy 1-AA teams as well. We also packed BDS with 92,138+ in a Spring Game. Come on, EASPORTS. I dont think that Bryant-Denny is the toughest place to play, but we should be in or around the top ten.
June 4, 2008 at 10:09 pm
[quote comment="23976"]How is Alabama ranked so low(or high depending on how you look at it)? 18th!? Your talking about one of the most diehard fan bases in America! I know we have stunk on the football field lately, but that should be a tribute to the loyalty of the fans. We have sold out every home game since 1988. That includes crappy 1-AA teams as well. We also packed BDS with 92,138+ in a Spring Game. Come on, EASPORTS. I dont think that Bryant-Denny is the toughest place to play, but we should be in or around the top ten.[/quote]
Yeah UL MONROE seemed so intimidated. Bama is lucky to be on the list. The spring game will forever be the highlight of bama’s 2007 season….Go Dawgs one and done in OT
June 5, 2008 at 6:34 am
what are u guys crying about, oklahoma is better than oregon, nebraska, syracuse, wvu combined.
June 5, 2008 at 9:19 am
Pasta,
Have you heard anything on the number of stadiums that will be included in the game this year? I see in your previous screenshots that Navy’s Jack Stephens Field was included where last year it was just a generic stadium.
June 5, 2008 at 9:34 am
[quote comment="23982"]what are u guys crying about, oklahoma is better than oregon, nebraska, syracuse, wvu combined.[/quote]
Syracuse’s all time team would destroy OU’s all time team. Nuff Said. Stop running a Donut shop in b-ball.
June 5, 2008 at 9:38 am
[quote comment="23982"]what are u guys crying about, oklahoma is better than oregon, nebraska, syracuse, wvu combined.[/quote]
Better than Oregon? This list isn’t based on team ratings, but on the teams fan base at home games. Oh, but if it were, is that why you lost at Autzen Stadium 2 years ago?
GO DUCKS!!
June 5, 2008 at 9:41 am
[quote comment="23992"][quote comment="23982"]what are u guys crying about, oklahoma is better than oregon, nebraska, syracuse, wvu combined.[/quote]
Better than Oregon? This list isn’t based on team ratings, but on the teams fan base at home games. Oh, but if it were, is that why you lost at Autzen Stadium 2 years ago?
GO DUCKS!![/quote]
EVERYONE knows that Oklahoma got screwed by the refs that game shouldn’t even count.
June 5, 2008 at 10:07 am
[quote comment="23993"][quote comment="23992"][quote comment="23982"]what are u guys crying about, oklahoma is better than oregon, nebraska, syracuse, wvu combined.[/quote]
Better than Oregon? This list isn’t based on team ratings, but on the teams fan base at home games. Oh, but if it were, is that why you lost at Autzen Stadium 2 years ago?
GO DUCKS!![/quote]
EVERYONE knows that Oklahoma got screwed by the refs that game shouldn’t even count.[/quote]
Last time I check Oregon hasn’t won a national championship in football so who cares!You gotta have at least 1 before
you can talk shyt!
June 6, 2008 at 9:47 am
they should make it depend on the games. Like if 2 undefeated teams are playing each other or thursday night games then the home team should have a bigger home field advantage.. Rutgers gets pretty crazy on the thursday night games.. Louisville 2 yrs ago and USF last year. Cuse should be at like 25 just because of the history of how crazy that dome gets even though they have been sucking lately. Also, i’d put PSU over OSU
June 6, 2008 at 10:42 am
Why do you need a Natty Title to claim a WIN? Last time I checked, Oklahoma had a chance to win with a last second field goal, and OREGON blocked it! How is that not a legit win? …Oh I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be on this forum. Oregon hasn’t won a national title yet. Guess I’ll leave now.
June 6, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I am surprised Hawaii isn’t listed. Their fans are nuts. Not to mention, the travel from the main land to the island brings on fatigue. Even the best teams struggle at Hawaii…..
June 6, 2008 at 2:55 pm
umm… first off… syracuse fans y is history have to do with anything in the top 25 toughest places to play?? seriously tell me… syracuse may have history but idky anybody would wanna go to a syracuse game and watch them get pounded by some no name team. and oklahoma fans… did oregon win the game or was is oklahoma?? idc if u got screwed… stuff happens and oklahoma had plenty of chances to win but they didnt cuz oregon made big plays at the end of the game… and oregon at #7 is perfect couldnt be happier
June 7, 2008 at 9:07 am
I guess we all have to get used to Oklahomo making excuses for themselves. I mean, they’re Oklahoma… we should all bow down to their greatness. Oregon didn’t even deserve to be on the same field as those GODS. I was at that game, and I actually had to go to church the next day to ask for forgiveness for upsetting the Oklahoma Football God’s. They are just THAT holy… Please. I can’t stand fans that make excuses for a loss. YOU LOST THE GAME. PERIOD. Oregon had to score a late touchdown, recover an onside kick, score again, and then block a late field goal for the win! Bad officials aside, OREGON BEAT OKLAHOMA!! Not the refs! GET OVER YOURSELVES! Stoops will forever be one of my most hated coaches in college football. Behind Pete Carol (USC) and Rick Neuheisle (now UCLA). They are the butt hole of our football society.
June 7, 2008 at 9:45 am
The Refs admitted they made the wrong call on the onside kick, which Oregon should have been called for illegal touching, it should have been Oklahoma’s ball.Not to mention the horrible pass interference call…Not that I am an Oklahoma fan or even care about Oregon because they are a joke and Georgia would rape them and any other pac-10 team. Oregon’s Athletic director doesn’t even have a college degree…joke of a program.
June 8, 2008 at 2:26 pm
“Even the best teams struggle at Hawaii…..”
Too bad the only decent team that’s played at Hawaii in recent memory is Boise State. It’s kind of hard to judge the toughness of the stadium as a result.
June 9, 2008 at 6:54 am
oregon sucks in both sports, they never won a national title in football and has not even went to 20 bowl games yet in their career. oklahoma has over 40 bowl game appearances. 7 national championships, and oregon running a donut shop, i bet oregon gets a lot of business cuz they will never win a national championship. Go OU!
June 9, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Theres no place like dome. The Carrier Dome is by far one of the best stadiums to watch a game in so stop hating. Also when the team was good in the 80’s 90’s , and early 00’s the dome was rocking .
June 10, 2008 at 8:04 pm
wow… i didnt no that oklahoma fans whined so much…. oh well i guess its oklahoma
June 15, 2008 at 6:33 am
THIS IS CRAP UOFL SHOULD BE IN THE TOP 25 HARDEST PLACE TO PLAY I MEAN Notre Dame DIDNT MOVE DOWN AND THEY SUCKED AND WEST VIRGINA MOVED 5 SPOTS DOWN AFTER HAVEING A REALLY GOOD YEAR THATS WHAT I HATE ABOUT THE GAME IF YOUR A BIG TIME PROGRAM NO MATTER HOW BAD YOU SUCK YOULL ALWAYS BE IN THE TOP 30 BEST TEAMS I MEAN PENN STATE AND SOUTH CARILINA COME ON THEY ALWAYS SUCK AND WHY IS LSU NUMBER 1 ON HARDEST PLACE TO PLAY THAT SHOULD BE FLORDIA
June 15, 2008 at 6:38 am
BUT AT LEAST LOUISVILLE WILL KILL ALL OF YOU ALL IN BASKETBALL THIS NEXT YEAR SINCE WE ARE STARING OUT IN THE TOP 4 AND HAVE THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NATION COMING TO US WHO WON HIGHSCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Samardo Samuels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND ALL OF THIS BIG FOOTBALL TEAMS SUCK IN BASKETBALL
I MEAN NOT ONE OF THOSE TEAM ARE EVER ANY GOOD AT BASKETBALL
June 17, 2008 at 11:11 pm
you got to be kinding me LSU cant do anthing there the first team to win it last year with 2 lose’s UF they can barely win at home by 3 points usally there record at home is barely over .500 ohiostate cant when a Title they shoud be at the very bottom if anything even if they belong on this list true toughest places to play #1 texas #2 usc #3 Oklahoma #4 Virginia Tech #5Florida State #6 Georgia #7 Florida #8 Notre Dame #9 Tennessee #10 Alabama #11 Clemson #12 Auburn #13 LSU #14 Texas A&M #15 Miami Fl. there is your true top 15
June 18, 2008 at 6:38 pm
u 4got one… oregon… prolly the loudest stadium
June 19, 2008 at 8:37 am
Are you guys serious, i know its a forum, but this has been like this for some time now, and no it never changes, not even after 100 years. This is how it is and how its going to be but we could write to EA and let em know that while playing dynasty this should be changed yeah!
Oh btw, Go GA bulldogs!!
June 19, 2008 at 8:39 am
Well Florida actually had a good year in College football and College Basketball right? 2 championships right. I was about to move to KY lol
June 21, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Florida is by far the loudest stadium in college football. I have been to Ohio State and Michigan and LSU and they dont compare to Florida.
June 24, 2008 at 7:14 pm
[quote comment="25377"]you got to be kinding me LSU cant do anthing there the first team to win it last year with 2 lose’s UF they can barely win at home by 3 points usally there record at home is barely over .500 ohiostate cant when a Title they shoud be at the very bottom if anything even if they belong on this list true toughest places to play #1 texas #2 usc #3 Oklahoma #4 Virginia Tech #5Florida State #6 Georgia
#7 Florida #8 Notre Dame #9 Tennessee #10 Alabama #11 Clemson
#12 Auburn #13 LSU #14 Texas A&M #15 Miami Fl. there is your true top 15[/quote]
Are u kiddin me UF #7???? What the heck u got usc #2 for. The staduim capacity is 92,000 there average attendance last year was 81,283. #13 Lsu they only had a tremor during a home game. This list u have is whack. Top there in my book goes like this…
1. UF nothing beats 90,000 fans giving u a gator chomp when u run into the SWAMP.
2.LSU Death Valley at night is a great venue.
3. Penn State, Happy Valley, the Night game where they played Ohio State in 2005, where the whole student section wore white tees unbelievable.
June 27, 2008 at 10:41 am
I just wanted to throw out some quotes about Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. Some of the best came from cal players
“It’s static noise. You can’t hear anything. You go up and down the line, your wide receivers, your running backs, your tight ends, nobody can hear. Nobody.”-Nate Longshore
“I think the shear size of that place [Neyland Stadium] was intimidating,” said California quarterback Nate Longshore. “It was amazing to see a stadium that big.”
“Tenneesse is hard place to play and there were 108,000 orange fans in the stadium,” remembered DeCoud.
“As a coach, I’ve been a part of teams that traveled to LSU, Florida State, and Texas and almost every other place in the country that could be considered one of the toughest places to play as a visiting team. But when I was at Notre Dame, we went down to Knoxville for a night game in 1999 and the Tennessee crowd that night was the most impressive that I ever faced. Neyland Stadium was just electric.” -Bob Davie, ESPN Game Analyst and former head coach at Notre Dame.
Thats the greatest stadium i’ve ever been in. I used to think the Coliseum in Los Angeles was, but that Tennessee stadium-there’s just something different about it. Just the aura around it. I always thought Tennessee fans were classy. It’s just a first-rate place and it’s been sold out every time I’ve been in it. I believe it’s one of those places in college football where you say, “It’s one of the key bench marks of what college football is supposed to be.”-Former Souther Cal, UNLV, and LA Rams head coach John Robinson
So thanks
June 29, 2008 at 3:41 am
uf is the hardest place to play hands down ….. if the heat doesn’t get you the gators will .
the crowd combined with their proximity and the bowled-in shape of the stadium concentrate the noise at field level, making The Swamp one of the loudest stadiums in sports.
the crowd combined with their proximity and the bowled-in shape of the stadium concentrate the noise at field level, making The Swamp one of the loudest stadiums in sports.
GO GATORS
June 29, 2008 at 3:43 am
Game-day temperatures at field level have been known to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) with high humidity. (This was the impetus for a University of Florida researcher to develop Gatorade as a way to combat dehydration.) Teams from cooler climates sometimes wither in the heat, while the Florida players have become accustomed to it due to daily practices.
June 30, 2008 at 6:24 pm
LSU is the toughest turn your speakers up and watch this video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0N1iUV-yIIY
In 1998, Sport Magazine named Tiger Stadium “the most feared road playing site in America,” and in 1996, ESPN named LSU’s pre-game party the best in all of America. Those surveys supported the previous polls by Gannett News Service in 1995, The Sporting News in 1989 and the College Football Association in 1987 that depict Tiger Stadium as the most difficult place for a visiting team to play.
In 2002, after a 33-10 non-conference win over Miami (Ohio), Miami coach Terry Hoeppner said of Tiger Stadium, “that’s as exciting an environment as you can have. I thought the crowd was a factor for us because we had communication problems we haven’t had at Michigan and Ohio State.”
After a victory before a national television audience on ESPN in 2001, ESPN sideline reporter Adrian Karsten said, “Death Valley in Baton Rouge is the loudest stadium I’ve ever been in. There are very few stadiums in America worth a touchdown, but the Bayou Bengals certainly have that advantage in Tiger Stadium”
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?id=3044646
“That place makes Notre Dame look like Romper Room.” former Southern California All-American Brad Budde.
http://www.lsu.edu/highlights/033/football.html
July 2, 2008 at 10:14 am
you got anything that isn’t 10 years old???
July 6, 2008 at 5:15 pm
How can NCAA 2009 list LSU as a tougher place to play than The Swamp? In God’s great earth I have never been to any place louder than Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. My ears literally bled when the crowd noise was at its height. Ive been to games at both stadiums and the swamp is 3 times louder than death valley. Plus in the swamp, the fans sit closer to the field than anywhere else. In addition I don’t see how EA SPORTS can make LSU a tougher place to play than Florida Field considering the both lost one home game each last year. Shame on EA SPORTS for trying to dethrown Florida Field as the toughest place for an opposing team to play.
July 11, 2008 at 10:12 am
“Thoughts on my first trip to the Swamp: It was NOT the awe inspiring crowd I have ever witnessed. Was it Loud? Yes. Was it the best? NO. LSU’s Death Valley is at least as loud” -Wally Hall, Ark-Dem Gazzette.
July 14, 2008 at 12:54 pm
yea i al pretty sure that Mizzou didnt lose at home last year so how are they not in the top 25 and kansas is…that makes NOOOOOOOOOOOOO sense!!!!!!!!!
July 14, 2008 at 6:32 pm
i think the list is pretty good except for south carolina and boise?
July 14, 2008 at 9:25 pm
one point to make. how many games did tennessee lose at neyland? zero. just ask “the team that was robbed a chance at the national championship” how tough it is at neyland.
July 15, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Oklahoma is close to where they should be. They could be a bit higher, but im not going to complain with 6th. Oklahoma has lost 2 games at home since 1999 so Im pretty sure that merits a top ranking.
July 17, 2008 at 10:26 pm
im all right with the list, the only thing is that rocky top i think is a bit to high. Its definitely not tougher than georgia. And maybe oregon should be higher too. That little stadium can really rock
August 6, 2008 at 1:17 am
Oregon at #7?….. Thats an insult. We recorded the loudest screams in NCAA history (127.1 Decibels against USC) and we’re number 7? Those stadiums may be four times larger, but by god they’re not louder. I’ve been to multiple stadiums and the difference is astounding. I’m offended. Oregon should be at least 5th. If not 3rd.
August 12, 2008 at 4:22 pm
For all of you Boise State haters… Why don’t you come to a game at Bronco Stadium? When was the last time you ever heard of teams complaining about the noise factor at a 33,000 capacity stadium? That happens every game in Boise. 33,000 sounding like 90,000? That is what other teams say. Check out the record! No likes to play in Boise, because they usually loose! Oh that’s right. Your team is too chicken to come get embarrassed on the smurf turf. People always complain that Boise State has a weak schedule. NO ONE WILL PLAY US! That is the plain and simple fact. CHICKENS!!! The big schools don’t want to be embarrassed like OU was. GO BRONCOS!!!
August 18, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Alright, let’s get serious and get straight. Iowa should be in this list, somewhere in the middle at the LOWEST. Kinnick Stadium is in the top 25 merely by size, and has a much, much tougher atmosphere than many larger stadiums with more storied programs (e.g., sweet tea-sippin’ Texas.) Not only is there a much higher concentration of actual, full-throated fans than at more elite programs that pack in old donors who pay big money to come sit on their hands, but the configuration of the stadium puts the crowd about eight feet from the sideline at any point, so the 70,585-strong crowd is literally on top of the field. And with all the legendary tailgating and pregaming in Iowa City, voted the best city in college football for gameday atmosphere in 2006, you know the crowd is ready to go. Do we win every game at home? Of course not; no one does. But Kinnick is one of the most feared stadiums in the Big Ten, and is certainly more intense than many stadiums on this list.
August 19, 2008 at 8:14 am
I played for Ole Miss in the 04 and 05 seeasons and let me say this, florida and LSU aren’t the toughest places to play in… its GEORGIA you cupcakes who sit in the stands shut up, those announcers don’t know shit, get the players comments that what matters, Georgia should be number 1 end of discussion
August 19, 2008 at 9:39 pm
[quote comment="23882"]In regards to NEBRASKA, Im obviously biased as a HUSKER fan but… in NEBRASKA’s case a sellout does in fact mean SELLOUT! There is not an empty seat in the house I promise you… we get there early and stay late… Ask anyone who has been to a game here, if you get a win here you’ve done something special & you will be cheered for it leaving the field! (By HUSKER fans!) & while weve had a few down years, we still deserve to be on this list about right where we are… which is not to say other teams dont.[/quote]
So Nebraska sells out that dont make it a tough place to play. The only list Nebraska should be in the top 25 is on the list of stupid fans. The only team to them is Nebraska and every other team sucks. Yeah and cheer for the other team whatever.