EA Sports College Football 25 names 7 Big Ten schools as toughest places to play – Michigan's won at all but one recently

The Michigan Wolverines were included in the top 25 home-field advantages in the new EA Sports College Football 25 video game, which releases on July 19 worldwide. The Big House in Ann Arbor comes in at No. 16 overall among 7 Big Ten schools included.

Ohio State leads the way at No. 4 overall with Penn State and Wisconsin at 6th and 7th, respectively. Oregon, one of the Big Ten’s newest members, comes in at No. 11 overall. Iowa and Michigan State round out the Big Ten’s representation with Iowa and Michigan State at No. 20 and No. 22, respectively.

So what exactly is EA’s Homefield Advantage? They lay it out on the official site blog:

We laid out the significant impact that Homefield Advantage can have on the outcome of games in EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 during our Gameplay Deep Dive Campus Huddle. Audio and in-game modifiers such as blurred routes, incorrect play art, confidence and composure affects, and screen shaking are some of the immersive impacts away teams and players will be forced to contend with. 

But not all Homefield Advantages are created equal. The Development Team worked to compile a list of the Top 25 Toughest Places to Play, factoring in historical stats such as home winning %, home game attendance, active home winning streaks, team prestige, and more.

One of the interesting quirks is that Michigan has won at each of the venues listed, except for new member Oregon, over the last three years.

No. 4: Ohio Stadium – Ohio State

You will not find many Michigan fans who argue with how hard it is to win in Columbus. Before its 45-23 beatdown in 2022, the Wolverines had not won at Ohio Stadium since the 2000 season. Say what you will about Buckeye fans, but they are a rowdy group and heading to Columbus is heading into a snake pit. For Michigan fans, the venue has lost a bit of the mystique around it given they snapped a losing streak a few years ago, but it is undoubtedly the toughest venue on the schedule in 2024.

No. 6: Beaver Stadium – Penn State

If a venue on the list deserves to be above Ohio State, it might be Penn State from a pure atmosphere perspective. While the Nittany Lions have been a notch below the Big Ten’s elite over the last few seasons, anytime a trip to Happy Valley materializes on the schedule, the first thing folks do is cross their fingers it is not a White Out game. Michigan is 3-2 at Penn State in its last five trips, including a 20-17 win in 2021 and a 24-15 win last season.

No. 7: Camp Randall Stadium – Wisconsin

Wisconsin is similar to Ohio State in that before a few seasons ago, Michigan had not won there in two decades. A 38-17 blitzing of the Badgers in 2021 snapped a 20-year winless streak in Madison, which has developed a reputation for being one of the toughest venues in the Big Ten. However, Wisconsin is not quite what it has been of late, and the No. 7 rating relative to their recent on-field performance does not feel truly indicative of how intimidating a place it is to play. Still a classic.

No. 11: Autzen Stadium – Oregon

Oregon has won the only game in Eugene between the Ducks and Wolverines in series history, a 31-27 victory in 2003. This ranking might fall in the underrated category overall with the potential to shoot up the rankings with much of the Big Ten having to travel to the Pacific Northwest to take on a program that head coach Dan Lanning has rolling. Michigan makes its first trip back to Oregon in 2026 and will host the Ducks at home in 2024.

No. 16: Michigan Stadium – Michigan

Michigan has developed a reputation for being a bit underwhelming as a home atmosphere over the years, but the boxes on each sideline and new scoreboards installed in 2023, along with a new sound system, have helped the team create one of the best home-field advantages in the conference. The Wolverines have not lost a home game since the COVID season in 2020 and have rolled most of their opponents over the last three years, and the home crowds for the big games have created some all-time environments in Ann Arbor. You can make the argument the Big Ten schools ahead of them belong, but 16th feels too low.

No. 20: Kinnick Stadium – Iowa

Once nicknamed the place “Top Five Teams Go To Die,” Kinnick has slid a bit in recent seasons given the program’s decision to opt out of playing offense. The traditions are still phenomenal, headlined by the wave to the children’s hospital, but there has been a little bit more breathing room for opponents there in recent seasons. Michigan won a physical, identity-developing game early in 2022 in a 27-14 bar fight in J.J. McCarthy’s first road start.

No. 22: Spartan Stadium – Michigan State

It’s pretty remarkable Michigan State managed to sneak into the top 25 of this list, and it might be solely on the merits of Sparty as a mascot. Since 2015, U-M is 3-1 in East Lansing and most recently grabbed a 49-0 victory over the Spartans last season. However, MSU fans have always shown a willingness and desire to support a winner and good Spartan teams have led to some incredibly intimidating home atmospheres at times over the last decade or so. They hate Michigan with every fiber of their being, and when they have a team good enough to compete against them, it can be an incredibly tough place to play.