College Football Reporter Jenny Taft Names Best Stadium in the Big Ten

Starting her list at No. 5, Taft chose Autzen Stadium, home of the Oregon Ducks. Located in Eugene, Oregon, Autzen has a reputation for its electric game-day environment. Taft noted that she “loves the atmosphere,” though she admitted it has been a while since her last visit. With a capacity of just over 54,000, the venue is relatively small by Big Ten standards, but its compact design amplifies the noise, making it one of the most intimidating stops for visiting teams.

At No. 4, Taft selected Beaver Stadium, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions. With room for more than 106,000 fans, it stands as one of the largest stadiums in college football. Taft described Penn State’s famous “White Out” as “something special and unique to college football,” calling the atmosphere unforgettable. However, she also added with a laugh that the stadium is “just kind of hard to get to,” a nod to its remote location in State College, Pennsylvania.

At No. 3 on Jenny Taft’s list was Ohio Stadium, home of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Located at 411 Woody Hayes Drive in Columbus, the iconic venue is better known as “The Shoe.” Taft has covered more games there than at any other stadium in the country, and she calls the Buckeyes’ fan base “special.” The atmosphere has only grown stronger in recent years, with Ohio State cementing its place as a perennial powerhouse and defending national champion.

Coming in at No. 2 was the legendary Michigan Stadium, better known as “The Big House.” Situated on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, it is the largest stadium in college football, seating more than 107,000 fans. Since opening in 1927, the Big House has become one of the sport’s most iconic venues. Taft reflected on her first trip there, saying it was the moment she “really understood the magnitude of college football.”

Topping her rankings at No. 1 was Camp Randall Stadium, home of the Wisconsin Badgers. Built in 1917, the stadium now hosts more than 80,000 fans in Madison. Known for its big-time energy, Camp Randall is perhaps most famous for the crowd erupting into “Jump Around” between the third and fourth quarters. Taft called it “the best” and added simply, “you can’t compete with it.”

Taft putting this together certainly had Big Ten fans talking, and while it was all for fun, it really shows how unique and historic the Big Ten and their venues are in the landscape of college football.