30 Best College Football Stadiums of All-Time
By Duncan Smith
Aug 30, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; General view during the first half of the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
1. Michigan Stadium
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Capacity: 107,601
Record attendance: 115,109, on September 7th, 2011, in a 41-30 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
What makes it great: Steeped in history and tradition, we have come to Michigan Stadium. There are big stadiums, and then there are BIG stadiums. The Big House is the biggest of them all. Michigan Stadium is the biggest stadium in the United States and the second largest stadium in the world. It plays host to the winningest college football program in history, and it is our pick as the greatest college football stadium in all the land.
Greatest game played: Michigan’s greatest rival Ohio State has visited The Big House countless times over the 111 meetings in the 118 years that the rivalry has existed. “The Game” has decided the Big Ten championship 22 times, acting as a de facto championship game. The meeting between the Wolverines and the Buckeyes on November 22nd, 1997, was one of those games.
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Michigan came into the game undefeated and ranked first in the country in the AP Poll and second in the coaches poll before the game, and Ohio State was fourth in both polls. The Wolverines emerged victorious by a 20-14 score thanks in large part to the efforts of the legendary Charles Woodson, that season’s Heisman Trophy winner. Woodson caught a 37 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Griese, in addition to making an interception and returning a punt 78 yards for another touchdown.
Michigan went on to defeat Washington State in the Rose Bowl, and won a share of the national championship.