30 Best College Football Stadiums of All-Time
By Duncan Smith
Aug 30, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; General view of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium during the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
17. Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Norman, Oklahoma
Capacity: 82,112
Record attendance: 86,031, in a 2012 game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
What makes it great: The home of the Oklahoma Sooners, Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is the 15th largest college stadium in the United States. It is also the second largest stadium in the Big 12, behind only Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, home of the University of Texas Longhorns in Austin, Texas.
The playing surface of the stadium is named Owen Field, after former Sooner coach Bennie Owen, who raised the funds to build the stadium. Because the playing surface and the stadium are two separate entities, the formal description would be to say that a game is actually played in the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at Owen Field. Try and say that three times fast.
Greatest game played: The Bedlam Series is the name of the rivalry between Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Oklahoma has dominated the series, which dates back to 1904. In the 109 meetings between the two programs, the Sooners have an 84-18-7 lead in the all-time series. While Oklahoma has continued to beat up on the Cowboys, going 9-2 in their last 11 games, Oklahoma State has climbed the ranks and in recent years has been very competitive. Oklahoma State has been the higher ranked team in four of the last five meetings.
Likely the best game in the rivalry, at least among those played in Norman, was played on November 24th, 2012. The Sooners were actually ranked higher, at number 13, and the Cowboys were ranked 21st.
On that day, in a back-and-forth shootout, in which Oklahoma’s star quarterback Landry Jones threw for 500 yards and three touchdowns and completed 46 of 71 passes, the Sooners escaped with a 51-48 overtime victory.
Next: Sanford Stadium