Top 10 'Scariest' Home Venues In College Football

The day of spooks and scares is upon us, boys and girls, and with Halloween falling on a Friday this year, I am, naturally, in full-fledged college football mode.

So, I thought, what better way to celebrate Halloween and the eve of another fantastic slate of college football than to marry the two into a look at the ten "scariest" stadiums in college football.

This isn't to say these places are haunted or anything, just more of a ranking of the ten toughest places to play with a Halloween twist.

And just to add a disclaimer, because I know I will be getting some angry emails about this one: this has more to do with how intimidating the venue is, not how good the team that plays there is.

Yes, Georgia and Alabama have been virtually unbeatable at home, but that has as much, if not more, to do with how good the teams are than it does how intimidating their stadiums are.

We have a lot to get into, so let's get started!

10. Rice-Eccles Stadium (Utah)

Ask anyone who has had the displeasure of their team having to play here, and they will tell you that Rice-Eccles is a house of horrors.

It's the smallest stadium on this list by only a few thousand, but the fans are rabid and always show up regardless of record (a theme that is prevalent throughout this list).

The way the seating is arranged makes it feel as though Ute fans are standing on top of the players on the field, which can be pretty nerve-wracking.

 Don't expect the wins to come easy in Salt Lake City, regardless of the strength of the visiting team.

9. Camp Randall (Wisconsin)

The Wisconsin Badgers are in a bit of a free-fall as of late, but that hasn't stopped Camp Randall from being one of the more intimidating venues in the country.

We all know about the "Jump Around" tradition that takes place in the fourth quarter, but this bad boy is buzzing pretty much from the word "go."

I would expect nothing less from a bunch of boozed-up Wisconsinites, but it really is a testament to the football-rich culture in Madison.

I can't wait to see the Badgers get back to being a great football program again, because when Camp Randall is at full power, it is a sight to behold.

8. Autzen Stadium (Oregon)

The second-smallest venue on the list, Autzen Stadium can go blow-for-blow with any atmosphere in college, most of which are nearly twice its size.

The decibels that are produced within the walls of Autzen defy the capacity by a wide margin, and its reputation as a loud, intimidating environment was cultivated long before guys like Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert, and Dillon Gabriel suited up in Eugene.

Just ask guys like Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh how much fun it was to travel to the wet and wild world of the "Autzen Zoo."

But remember, "it never rains in Autzen Stadium."

7. Williams Brice Stadium (South Carolina)

It doesn't get much better than a Saturday night in Columbia, South Carolina, watching the Gamecocks take the field while 80,000 of your closest friends wave their towels to the dulcet tones of "Sandstorm" by Darude.

Williams-Brice Stadium is sort of a "best kept secret" of the SEC, as many fans outside the conference may point to other venues within the conference before their mind shifts to the Palmetto State.

But make no mistake about it, The Cockpit is, pound-for-pound, one of the best atmospheres in all the land.

Regardless of how much South Carolina may struggle from year to year, they are an extremely tough out at home thanks to the magic of Williams-Brice.

6. Jordan Hare Stadium (Auburn)

While the Auburn Tigers have fallen on hard times since the days of Cam Newton and Nick Marshall, they are nearly unbeatable within the friendly confines of Jordan Hare Stadium (pronounced Jerr-den, don't ask why).

Winning a night game at Auburn basically equates to trying to escape a supermax prison with a blindfold on, as War Eagle is seemingly invincible thanks to their brand of home cooking.

As is the case with most of the rest of the venues on this list, the fans are usually whipped up into a frenzy here, and the steep seating at Jordan Hare makes for a supremely intimidating wall of sound.

Let me put it to you this way: there is a reason even a guy like Nick Saban had such a hard time winning here.

5. Ohio Stadium/"The Horseshoe" (Ohio State)

I waffled between the Big House and this venue, so Buckeye fans will be happy to know their home stadium made it out on top (I'll see you in my email inbox, Michigan men).

The Horseshoe is a cathedral of college football, with 102,000 raving Bucknuts ready to lose their minds on every down.

The sea of red in the stands can make even the savviest veteran players piss themselves in fear, and the architecture evokes thoughts of the gladiator sports of the old world, which is fitting because Ohio State is usually slaughtering whoever steps foot in their domicile.

4. Neyland Stadium (Tennessee)

With it being Halloween, I thought it would be fitting to include a school who once referred to their legendary former coach, Phil Fulmer, as "The Great Pumpkin."

But in all seriousness, Neyland Stadium is a legitimate haunted house for opposing teams, as the Vols can lean on their nearly 102,000 orange and white, checker-clad fans to bring the noise every Saturday. 

As is the case with most of the venues on this list, Neyland is an older stadium with plenty of charm to go with its intimidating atmosphere.

A night game in Knoxville should be a bucket list item for anyone who calls themselves a college football fan, just don't expect to make it out with a victory.

3. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium/"The Swamp" (Florida)

Dubbed "The Swamp" by legendary coach Steve Spurrier in 1992, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is one of the single scariest venues in all of college football.

90,000 Gator fans sit right on top of the field, which is usually clocked at over 100 degrees during a day game.

The humidity and noise create such an oppressive environment that I've personally seen opposing players from teams based in cooler climates like Utah puking on the sidelines (and this was during a night game).

One of the coolest traditions in the sport is when the fans honor Gainesville native Tom Petty by singing his 1989 hit single, "I Won't Back Down," before the start of the 4th quarter.

Do yourself a favor and get down to The Swamp soon, but remember, "only Gators get out alive."

2. Beaver Stadium/"Happy Valley" (Penn State)

All you need to know about Beaver Stadium comes from that clip above.

It's such an infamous moment of crowd noise in college football that people are still talking about it more than six years later.

Over 100,000 incensed Penn State fans, decked out in white, chanting in unison as the bleachers literally sway and shake to the beat of the PA system.

I don't need to say anything more, as you can see for yourself that "Happy Valley" is not-so-happy for the visitors.

1. Tiger Stadium/"Death Valley" (LSU)

The passion. The noise. The humidity.

It is my unbiased opinion that Tiger Stadium is the single most intimidating home venue in the country.

If the game takes place during the day, your team might just have a chance at survival, but a night game in Death Valley means almost certain defeat.

Over 100,000 screaming Cajuns make this venue a special one, and while they are hospitable during the tailgate, once you step inside the walls of Tiger Stadium, they are ready for war.

If you're an SEC fan and you see a night game in Baton Rouge on your schedule, you know it's safer to assume a loss until proven otherwise, which I have done, correctly, for most years since 2009 (the last time my Gators won a night game in Death Valley).

You can squabble about every stadium between two and ten on this list, but you will never change my mind who the true number one is.