The Big 12 might not be the SEC or Big Ten when it comes to overall athletic tradition, but when it comes to college football, it is no slouch. Several iconic programs, brands and stadiums call the Big 12 home. With the middle of the offseason in full swing, it is the perfect time to evaluate the off-field qualities that make college football unique.
Earlier this month, we ranked the Big 12’s 16 football stadiums, as well as the conference’s top home and road uniforms, its best helmets and which stadiums hold the largest crowds. With so much change around the Big 12 in recent years, the conference looks and feels a lot different, and if we are being honest, has lost some of its luster with Oklahoma and Texas no longer in the fold.
Still, several storied programs are helping shape the identity of the new-look Big 12 — and Colorado is leading the charge. A founding member of the conference in 1996, the Buffaloes are back to where they belong and shining in nearly every aesthetic category. They boast the Big 12’s best stadium, the sixth-best home uniform, the fifth-best road uniform and the second-best helmet. Under head coach Deion Sanders, Colorado has reemerged as a nationally relevant brand.
We have another ranking to dive into: evaluating the Big 12’s toughest venues to visit. College football is all about the atmosphere, so which teams take advantage of a raucous crowd?
Here are our power rankings of the Big 12’s 16 stadium atmospheres.
16. David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium (Kansas Jayhawks)
Capacity: ~40,000 (47,233 before recent renovations)
Stadium rank: 14
It is challenging to rank Kansas, as it has not played any games at its renovated stadium yet. If it resembles the renderings, the Jayhawks’ home venue will likely move up this list next year.
