Where Tennessee's Neyland Stadium is ranked on ESPN's list of the Top 25 college football stadiums
Tennessee Football’s Neyland Stadium is the 10th best college football venue in America, according to a recent top-25 ranking from ESPN. Fourteen college football writers were polled and ranked LSU’s Tiger Stadium No. 1.
Also ahead of Neyland on the ranking was the Rose Bowl (No. 2), Michigan Stadium (No. 3), Notre Dame Stadium (No. 4), Penn State’s Beaver Stadium (No. 5), Washington’s Husky Stadium (No. 6), Ohio State’s Ohio Stadium (No. 7), Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium (No. 8) and Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium (No. 9).
Other SEC stadiums in the top 25 were Texas A&M’s Kyle Field at No. 13, Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium at No. 17, Georgia’s Sanford Stadium at No. 18, Florida’s Ben Hill Griffen Stadium at No. 20, Ole Miss’ Vaught-Hemingway Stadium at No. 21, Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at No. 24 and Texas’ Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at No. 25.
Neyland Stadium is also home to one of the most renowned entrances in college football
ESPN’s Chris Low on Neyland Stadium:
“Members of the Vol Navy set sail as early as the middle part of the week for Neyland Stadium, which sits on the banks of the Tennessee River. The stream of orange-clad banners flying from boats floating down the river is matched only by the mass of orange that engulfs Peyton Manning Pass to watch the Vols’ players and coaches make their way down the hilly street and into the stadium. For years, Neyland Stadium has owned one of the largest capacities in the sport, and it is now listed at 101,915 after some renovations over the years.
“Constructed in 1921 as Shields-Watkins Field (now the name of the playing surface), Neyland Stadium is also home to one of the most renowned entrances in college football. The Pride of the Southland Marching Band forms a giant ’T’ for the players and coaches to run through just before kickoff, and the end zones are painted in orange-and-white checkerboards. And one other thing: You’re liable to hear the band crank up ‘Rocky Top’ about 100 times a game.”
Tennessee has sold out 13 straight games at Neyland Stadium
Josh Heupel has helped get Neyland back to being its best. The Vols have sold out 13 straight home games in Knoxville, dating back to the 63-6 win over Akron on Sept. 17, 2022.
Heupel’s teams are 18-4 at home over the last three seasons. The Vols went 5-3 at home in 2021, Year 1 for Heupel and his staff, then won 12 straight home games, going 7-0 in Knoxville in 2022 and starting 5-0 in 2023, before a home loss to Georgia.
The sellout streak should continue this season, with season tickets sold out for a second straight year, with 70,500 sold, and a waiting list that in May was at 15,000, according to Tennessee.
Tennessee led the SEC in total home attendance (713,405) and average home attendance (101,915) last season. The Vols were ranked third and fourth nationally in those categories, respectively.
