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I've been to almost half of Big 10 stadiums on game day (6 + a B1G Championship in Indianapolis), and I hope to attend each within the next few years.
Best game day atmosphere was definitely UofM in Ann Arbor (been there twice).
Second best was Wisconsin, followed by MSU and OSU tied for third. Two worst are UIUC (where I attended) and Purdue. OSU may have been similar to Wisconsin but our experience was a bit worsened by rowdy fans... My group had beer poured on us multiple times... I still plan to go back!
Anyway, I definitely want to go to a Nebraska and Penn State game as I think they could rival Michigan.
I've lived in several Big Ten states....as far as the football experience....IMO, nothing comes close.
There are at least 4 other Big 10 schools/programs with as much to offer on game day as Wisconsin. The difference? Those 4 have a history of being good before the 1990s. This also contributes to the traditions and history of being the best college town on Saturdays. This is something Wisconsin is severely behind the likes of Penn St, Ohio St, Michigan and Nebraska.
I've been to almost half of Big 10 stadiums on game day (6 + a B1G Championship in Indianapolis), and I hope to attend each within the next few years.
Best game day atmosphere was definitely UofM in Ann Arbor (been there twice).
Second best was Wisconsin, followed by MSU and OSU tied for third. Two worst are UIUC (where I attended) and Purdue. OSU may have been similar to Wisconsin but our experience was a bit worsened by rowdy fans... My group had beer poured on us multiple times... I still plan to go back!
Anyway, I definitely want to go to a Nebraska and Penn State game as I think they could rival Michigan.
I've been to almost half of Big 10 stadiums on game day (6 + a B1G Championship in Indianapolis), and I hope to attend each within the next few years.
Best game day atmosphere was definitely UofM in Ann Arbor (been there twice).
Second best was Wisconsin, followed by MSU and OSU tied for third. Two worst are UIUC (where I attended) and Purdue. OSU may have been similar to Wisconsin but our experience was a bit worsened by rowdy fans... My group had beer poured on us multiple times... I still plan to go back!
Dont think I could agree more with this for the Big 10... spot on!
Anyway, I definitely want to go to a Nebraska and Penn State game as I think they could rival Michigan.
Dont think I could agree more with this for the Big 10... spot on!
I've been to almost half of Big 10 stadiums on game day (6 + a B1G Championship in Indianapolis), and I hope to attend each within the next few years.
Best game day atmosphere was definitely UofM in Ann Arbor (been there twice).
Second best was Wisconsin, followed by MSU and OSU tied for third. Two worst are UIUC (where I attended) and Purdue. OSU may have been similar to Wisconsin but our experience was a bit worsened by rowdy fans... My group had beer poured on us multiple times... I still plan to go back!
Anyway, I definitely want to go to a Nebraska and Penn State game as I think they could rival Michigan.
I'm also trying to make it to all of the BIG Ten stadiums, but I only get to one a year since I'm on the West Coast, so I'm on a slower time frame. I'm a Wolverine fan, so I can't give an unbiased opinion on Ann Arbor. Some years I go back to Ann Arbor rather than a road game.
I've had an awesome time at every Michigan away game I've been to, even Northwestern and Purdue. Schools tend to show up for the Michigan game, even when Michigan isn't that great, so the atmosphere tends to be good. The same schools might not have as good of an atmosphere if it were a MAC team in town. I've been to 7/14 Big Ten Stadiums, will hit up my 8th next month when I go to Illinois.
Other teams I've been to non-Michigan games at:
LSU
Rice
Texas
Texas A&M
USC
Of these, LSU had the best atmosphere, Rice had the worst, and the other 3 were good but not as good as LSU. The caveat is the Texas game I went to was against a cupcake when Texas finished top-5, so a better opponent may have upped the atmosphere (or if it had been 20-30 degrees cooler that day).
I've been to almost half of Big 10 stadiums on game day (6 + a B1G Championship in Indianapolis), and I hope to attend each within the next few years.
Best game day atmosphere was definitely UofM in Ann Arbor (been there twice).
Second best was Wisconsin, followed by MSU and OSU tied for third. Two worst are UIUC (where I attended) and Purdue. OSU may have been similar to Wisconsin but our experience was a bit worsened by rowdy fans... My group had beer poured on us multiple times... I still plan to go back!
Anyway, I definitely want to go to a Nebraska and Penn State game as I think they could rival Michigan.
I was generally thinking that most of the Big Ten schools would fit with the OP's criteria. My guess is that a few of them are in some combination of too large of metro areas and not enough spirit (Maryland, Rutgers, possibly Northwestern and Minnesota) or might not care enough about football games (like you had mentioned Illinois and Purdue; I'm guessing Indiana might also fall under that category.) Columbus is a bit too big, but it's home to a blue blood school, so they can get away with it.
I think the college towns in places where College football is all the state has (no pro sports team, few or no major cities, etc.) For example Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska lives and breathes Huskers football. It feels like the place shuts down outside of football season. Also I watched that game against UC Boulder; Huskers fans took over Folsom Field and turned it red.
They sure did!
Quote:
Originally Posted by IowanFarmer
There are some truly laughable selections on that SI list. Columbia MO is a great college town, but their football is average at best, and has declined a lot with their move to the SEC. They lost all of their regional rivalries, and their fans just aren't that passionate.
Same for Boulder.
Madison, Austin, and College Station are all deserving entries based on my experience.
For Boulder, I think it's just the general "coolness" of the town rather than the football.
For Boulder, I think it's just the general "coolness" of the town rather than the football.
Boulder is an example of a once "big time" environment that is a ghost of what it once was. When the Buffs were elite and filling up Folsom it was a great environment. Ralphie running the field is incredible to see live. The crowds were always wild because they could drink beer. And the "coolness" of the town and the mountains just topped it off.
Like many pro towns, when the college team drops off, the enthusiasm drops off and gets focused on the pro team if they are any good.
However, any college team that gets real good usually has a great environment while they are good.
Manhattan, Kansas was incredible when K-State was elite about 20 or so years ago.
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