Big 12 football stadium rankings: Utah, BYU and Colorado rise above

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From the mountain range of Utah to the country roads of West Virginia and the bounce house in Orlando, the Big 12 has a wide arrange of stadiums that contribute to what makes college football so special.

Some of the most hallowed grounds in college football reside in the Big 12, with a great blend of history in stadiums more than a century old, to those that have struck fear in opponents the moment their feet touches the surface. Plus, the Big 12 may own the title of having the most scenic backdrops that make for stunning visuals when taking in a game.

There is no correct way to rank stadiums, but there are several factors that go into them: tradition, aesthetics, gameday atmosphere and of course, home field advantage. Using a mix of it, this is where every Big 12 stadium ranks:

1. Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah

At 51,444 strong, Rice-Eccles Stadium stands alone as the best in the Big 12. Not only is it a picteresque stadium that hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic opening ceremonies, but it is a fearsome place to play for opponents. The Mighty Utah Student Section rocks the stands and its rare to have an empty seat. Utah is 47-13 at home since 2016, and somehow, the energy turns up if its a night game; the Utes are 29-6 under the lights in the past 10 seasons. All of it is why former Washington coach Chris Petersen said "it's what college football should be."

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2. LaVell Edwards Stadium, Brigham Young

The largest stadium in the Big 12 in terms of capacity (63,470) certainly makes it feel like it. LaVell Edwards Stadium has an intimidating presence where it feels like the crowd is right on top of you, and BYU has done a great job of making it a full experience where the crowd is always engaged, whether it's doing a stripe out or letting mascot Cosmo's shenanigans hype everyone up. Plus, that view of Y Mountain is just unbeatable. You can hike to the logo. It's short but very steep.

3. Folsom Field, Colorado

The third-highest stadium in college football at an elevation of 5,360 feet, Folsom Field really is one-of-a-kind. It's nestled into the campus, with great architecture and the view of the mountain range is so pristine. One of the best traditions in the Ralphie Run gets the crowd going, and how tight the stadium is packed into the campus amplifies the noise when everyone is making their presence known. A credit for Deion Sanders for injecting life back into Folsom and filling every seat in.

4. Boone Pickens Stadium, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State has a created a unique home field advantage, with tight sidelines and the "Paddle People" causing a frustrating amount of noise for opponents. Also, a great experience is always in store since it was named the best stadium in a USA TODAY Sports analysis of online reviews. Bonus point for this being where the tarps off tradition began, sparking a nationwide movement when the Cowboys were at their lowest point. When they return the prominence, the home crowd will again have a big influence.

5. Jack Trice Stadium, Iowa State

Not many people may know Jack Trice Stadium is the second biggest stadium in the Big 12 at a capacity of 61,500, but you don't need much time there to realize it. Fans show up big for the Cyclones hours before hand with a great tailgate, and it extends into the stadium. Iowa State has never been seen as a college football powerhouse, but it can compete with anyone when its on its home turf. The design is excellent and perfect for ball.

6. Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, Kansas State 

There's nothing little about the stadium in the "Little Apple." Bill Snyder turning Kansas State from laughingstock to Big 12 stalwart was thanks to getting people to buy into the program. Recent renovations have made this place look brand new, while still maintaining the charm it has held for decades. The Wildcats once had a 26-game home win streak and have won nearly 70% of home games in the past 10 seasons.

7. Galaxy Stadium, Texas Tech 

The Red Raiders fully embrace the Wild West persona, turning its stadium into a cauldron of chaos for every game day. There aren't many other venues that can be as hostile as this one. If opponents aren't getting their ears rattled, they also gotta avoid tortillas flying at them (which is an excellent tradition). The Spanish Renaissance-inspired design is a real cool touch and the double T scoreboard is extremely creative.

8. Mountain America Stadium, Arizona State 

A historic place that's hosted a Super Bowl and the NFL's Cardinals, Mountain America Stadium continues to look just as good in present day. Renovations have really spruced it up and the view of Tempe Butte (A Mountain to locals) stands out in the background. If opponents aren't feeling the effects of the Arizona desert, they got to deal with one of the best student sections in the conference that turn up the intensity to the same level of the temperature.

9. Amon G. Carter Stadium, TCU 

When you proudly call the land you're on as "Hell’s Half Acre," you know it's not going to be a pleasant experience for outsiders. The stadium design is built to be menacing, and it does the trick. Its secret ingredient? The hypnotoad, which makes Horned Frogs just as scary as the animal shooting blood out of its eyes. Also, watch out for that Frog Horn. It's quite loud.

10. Milan Puskar Stadium, West Virginia

Blessed by John Denver himself, West Virginia has a nice facility to call home. The Mountaineers haven't been able to make a real home field advantage recently as the team has struggled, but that doesn't take away the shine this place is able to light. Plus, the wins are worth waiting for to gather in a spectacular singalong of "Country Roads, Take Me Home."

11. Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati 

One of the oldest stadiums in college football, Nippert Stadium has an odd yet very effective layout that doesn't take away from the legacy of the building. Despite being one of the smallest stadiums in the conference, it's design helps raise the noise levels. It's been an intimidating place for every conference Cincinnati has been in, now the next step is to make it a scary place for Big 12 foes.

12. McLane Stadium, Baylor

Baylor opened up a beautiful stadium on the banks of the Brazos River, and while everything is aesthetically pleasing, it lacks the soul the Bears had at Floyd Casey Stadium. There are several complaints about tailgating and the energy is missing big time, which is partly why Baylor doesn't have a major home-field advantage. The Baylor Line before the games helps not make it a totally dull environment.

13. Acrisure Bounce House, Central Florida

UCF's quick rise to the power conferences is apparent in its stadium, which doesn't have the look of a big-time program's venue. What it lacks in looks it makes up for in vibes, as long as the Knights are good. Still, UCF has a great home field advantage, a whopping 50-15 (76.9%) record in the past 10 years at the Bounce House.

14. Casino Del Sol Stadium, Arizona

Arizona has boosted its stadium tremendously to keep up with the times, but it hasn't been able to sustain the intensity to match it. The Tucson heat can be brutal and results in less-than-ideal crowds, especially if the program isn't performing to high levels. The Wildcats are barely over .500 in the past decade at home, but if there's hype, this place can be electric and pull off an upset or two.

15. David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Kansas

It's rare for a school's football stadium not be its top attraction, but that's the case at Kansas. Booth Stadium has seen it's fair share of empty crowds, opposing fan takeovers, but that's to be expected when a program is in the dumps for most of the time − Kansas is 25-37 at home since 2016. The Jayhawks wish it could replicate the inside of Allen Fieldhouse. The stadium used to be a bad sight, but recent massive upgrades are what saved the stadium from being in last.

16. TDECU Stadium, Houston

In a busy city with plenty to do, Houston has an uphill battle to make it's place something, and it hasn't been very successful so far. Even when the Cougars had a great year last season, there were still plenty of empty seats that caused frustration for the loyalists, especially since it's one of the newest venues in the league with its first game coming in 2014. It's too inviting for road fans to come through and takeover, and Houston needs to try and revive the energy in TDECU Stadium.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big 12 football stadium rankings: Utah, BYU and Colorado rise above

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