Top ten Big Ten football stadiums ranked by the steepest stands

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Sometimes we run across things we didn't know we needed, but it's still interesting nonetheless. The Big Ten has some of the most iconic stadiums in the world, but there's things that go into them that you may not think of. Of course, being loud, big, and scenic can play into the fan experience, but what about how steep a stadium is?

Many will tell you that coming out in a stadium that seems to rise above you is more intimidating, and then there's the acoustics that go along with noise not being able to escape and instead bouncing around. For instance, Michigan fits more butts in seats than any stadium in the country, but the large bowl-like configuration doesn't keep the ears ringing like Ohio Stadium does when things are at a fever pitch (pardon the pun).

Here is a ranking of the top ten Big Ten football stadiums based on how steep they are, thanks to Rankrly. The website uses the median of each stadium's steepest supported sector rakes. Do what you will with this information …

No. 10 – Rose Bowl – UCLA

Median Score | 23.41 degrees

Steepest Sector | 23.53 degrees

National Rank | No. 68

The Rose Bowl is iconic, but it's not very steep, and with the surrounding San Gabriel Mountains and how they look at sunset, that's a good thing. The ease of the slope allows those who sit a little higher up to see the sun show off as the evening turns to dusk.

No. 9 – Ross-Ade Stadium – Purdue

Median Score | 25.87 degrees

Steepest Sector | 26.74 degrees

National Rank | No. 53

They've made some nice changes to Ross-Ade Stadium over the years, but it's not a big venue that's intimidating. Add the fact that the team hasn't been very competitive, and there's little boost the team gets from home games.

No. 8 – Autzen Stadium – Oregon

Median Score | 29.39 degrees

Steepest Sector | 32.72 degrees

National Rank | No. 32

Autzen Stadium is an exception. It's a small stadium by comparison and isn't very steep either, but it's extremely loud, largely because there is an overhang that the sound reverberates off of. If you haven't been, it is indeed a pretty cool venue to watch a game.

No. 7 – Kinnick Stadium – Iowa

Median Score | 31.99 degrees

Steepest Sector | 36.40 degrees

National Rank | No. 23

Kinnick Stadium is steep enough compared to the rest of college football, but it sits near the end of the pack in the Big Ten. It's a hard place to play, and it's one of those stadiums that go down into the ground when you enter through the gates.

No. 6 – Camp Randall Stadium – Wisconsin

Median Score | 32.14 degrees

Steepest Sector | 34.20 degrees

National Rank | No. 22

Now we are getting close to the top 20 steepest stadiums in all of college football. Camp Randall is an old, historic venue, and you can really feel how steep it is when the stands start bouncing during "Jump Around" at the end of the third quarter.

No. 5 – Memorial Stadium – Illinois

Median Score | 32.45 degrees

Steepest Sector | 33.13 degrees

National Rank | No. 20

Illinois' Memorial Stadium is steep — in the top 20 of the country — but many probably wish it were closed in and steep. It's known for having quite the wind tunnel that causes chaos with passing games.

No. 4 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – USC

Median Score | 32.88 degrees

Steepest Sector | 33.34 degrees

National Rank | No. 18

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has seen Olympics, World Cup matches, and much more in addition to college football games. It's clear the top deck is much steeper than the bottom, but it still checks in as one of the steepest in the Big Ten.

No. 3 – Memorial Stadium – Indiana

Median Score | 33.72 degrees

Steepest Sector | 35.73 degrees

National Rank | No. 15

With Indiana now becoming one of the best programs in the country, fans are now starting to show up, and not just visiting fans like before. As they do, they'll have to find their seats in a stadium that is one of the top fifteen steepest in the country.

No. 2 – Beaver Stadium – Penn State

Median Score | 34.40 degrees

Steepest Sector | 36.09 degrees

National Rank | No. 13

It doesn't take much to see how steep parts of Beaver Stadium are. We'll see how things change with the expansion that'll make it top in capacity, but for now, there's nothing like seeing a whiteout at night, and somehow you have to think the steep bleachers make that setting even more intimidating.

No. 1 – Ohio Stadium – Ohio State

Median Score | 36.78 degrees

Steepest Sector | 37.15 degrees

National Rank | No. 3

We've heard many opposing teams talk about how the seats seem to rise straight up when you are on the field and how intimidating that can be in Ohio Stadium. When things are hopping in the 'Shoe the configuration can keep that sound layered onto the field as well. Only two other stadiums are steeper: (2) Amon G. Carter Stadium (TCU) and (1) Neyland Stadium (Tennessee). Something tells me you can't tell much of a difference.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Top ten Big Ten football stadiums ranked by the steepest stands

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos