Ranking all 18 Big Ten football stadiums from youngest to oldest

With the recent conference expansion, the Big Ten is now home to some of the oldest and most famous football stadiums in the world.

Those are, in no particular order, Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium, Michigan Stadium, Ohio Stadium, Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, UCLA’s Rose Bowl, USC’s L.A. Memorial Stadium, Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium, Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium, and so on.

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Related: Ranking all 18 Big Ten football stadiums from smallest to largest

When non-Big Ten football history is also considered, such as the L.A. Memorial Coliseum’s Olympic events, Super Bowl and World Series, plus the Rose Bowl’s annual Rose Bowl Game, the conference’s repertoire is further bolstered. If one were to rank the college football conferences by the history of their members’ stadiums, the Big Ten would boast the prohibitive No. 1 slot.

For a look at that history, which in many cases is more than 100 years old, here is every Big Ten football stadium ranked from youngest to oldest.

18. Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium (Northwestern)

Aug 31, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; A general view of the temporary Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium where the Northwestern Wildcats will play the Miami (Oh) Redhawks in a football game. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 12,023

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Opened: 2024 (temporary)

Northwestern demolished old Ryan Field before the 2024 season. It currently plays in this temporary lakefront stadium, at least until the weather starts to turn in November, when it moves to the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field. The new Ryan Field is set to open in 2026. It will have little trouble besting the old version.

17. Huntington Bank Stadium (Minnesota)

Oct 29, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Pregame between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 50,805

Opened: 2009

Minnesota’s stadium is on the newer side. The Gophers played at their own Memorial Stadium from 1924 to 1981, when they moved to the nearby Metrodome. Huntington Bank Stadium, an on-campus venue, also hosted the Minnesota Vikings for two years.

16. SHI Stadium (Rutgers)

Oct 2, 2021; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; A general view of the field at SHI Stadium before the game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 52,454

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Opened: 1994

Rutgers’ campus has plenty of history — it hosted the first recorded intercollegiate football game, between then-Rutgers College (Rutgers) and the College of New Jersey (Princeton). The site of that game is not where modern-day Rutgers plays football, however. The 30-year-old SHI Stadium doesn’t have much history.

15. Autzen Stadium (Oregon)

Oct 18, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; General view of Autzen Stadium between the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 54,000

Opened: 1967

Autzen is one of the most beautiful college football stadiums. Its atmosphere also swings above its weight with only a 54,000-seat capacity. This venue should be one of the Big Ten’s toughest to win at for as long as Dan Lanning is leading the Ducks.

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Get more (Oregon) news, analysis, and opinions on Ducks Wire

14. Memorial Stadium (Indiana)

Oct 20, 2018; Bloomington, IN, USA; A view of the north end zone before the game between the Indiana Hoosiers and Penn State Nittany Lions at Memorial Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 52,626

Opened: 1960 (Oct. 8)

Memorial Stadium saw the best season in its 65-year history in 2024, as the Hoosiers went 11-1 during the regular season (8-0 at home) and reached the College Football Playoff. Its opening year is tied with one other stadium, the two separated by only a month.

13. Beaver Stadium (Penn State)

Sep 18, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; A general view of Beaver Stadium prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 106,572

Opened: 1960 (September 17)

Beaver Stadium may hold the crown for the best stadium atmosphere in college football. For those skeptical of the stadium’s impact, find the highlights of its 2024 CFP game against SMU. At 106,572, it is also the second-largest stadium in the sport.

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Get more (Penn State) news, analysis, and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire

12. SECU Stadium (Maryland)

Nov 19, 2022; College Park, MD, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes punter Michael O’Shaughnessy (96) warms up before their game against Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Credit: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

Capacity: 51,802

Opened: 1950

2025 will be the 75th year for Maryland at SECU Stadium. In addition to Maryland football, the stadium hosted the USFL’s Baltimore Stars in 1985, plus 10 Division I NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships.

11. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa)

Nov 12, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; A general view of Kinnick Stadium before the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 69,250

Opened: 1929

Kinnick Stadium is one of the Big Ten’s better venues. It is one of an incredible total of 11 Big Ten stadiums built before 1930. Thanks to Iowa’s classic identity and dominant defense, it is one of the toughest places to play, especially at night.

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Get more (Iowa) news, analysis, and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire

10. Michigan Stadium (Michigan)

Sep 4, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; General view Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the game between the Western Michigan Broncos and the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 107,601

Opened: 1927

There is an argument for Michigan Stadium as one of the more overrated venues in the Big Ten. It is more than 107,000 seats that span further and further away from the field itself, where the top row may find itself in another zip code. That aside, the venue’s history is second-to-none. Remarkably, the conference’s 10th-oldest stadium is nearly 100 years old.

Get more (Michigan) news, analysis, and opinions on Wolverines Wire

9. Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue)

Sep 26, 2015; West Lafayette, IN, USA; A general view before the game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Bowling Green Falcons at Ross Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 57,236

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Opened: 1924

Ross Ade Stadium was a dangerous place for top-ranked teams for a few years during the Jeff Brohm era. The nearly 60,000-seat venue helped the ‘Spoilermakers’ develop their name. New coach Barry Odom is tasked with returning the program to that form after it experienced two poor years under Ryan Walters.

8. Memorial Stadium (Illinois)

Dec 5, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; A general view during the first half in a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 60,670

Opened: 1923 (Nov. 3)

Illinois’ Memorial Stadium is one of four venues that opened in 1923. It’s also one of three stadiums with its name in the conference. In all likelihood, the 2025 season could see Illinois’ best results in the venue since its undefeated seasons in 1923 and 1927.

7. Memorial Stadium (Nebraska)

Nov 24, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; A general view of the game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 85,458

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Opened: 1923 (Oct. 20)

Here is the third Big Ten stadium to open in 1923, plus the conference’s third ‘Memorial Stadium.’ The program has sold out 403 consecutive home games dating back to 1962, the longest sellout streak in NCAA history for any sport. As seen above, those sellouts are still far from full capacity.

Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis, and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire

6. Spartan Stadium (Michigan State)

Oct 24, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; A view inside Spartan Stadium before the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 75,005

Opened: 1923 (Oct. 6)

Spartan Stadium edged Nebraska and Illinois’ Memorial Stadiums by just a few weeks. The venue was one of the toughest places to play in the Big Ten for several years during the Mark Dantonio era. Spartan fans hope that Jonathan Smith is close to bringing the program back to that level.

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Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis, and opinions on Spartans Wire

5. L.A Memorial Coliseum (USC)

Apr 15, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A general view of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before the USC Trojans Spring Game . Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 77,500

Opened: 1923 (May 1)

While the L.A. Memorial Coliseum technically opened on May 1, 1923, it did not host a game until Oct. 6 of that year. In addition to USC football, it has hosted two Summer Olympics (1932 and 1984 — plus another upcoming in 2028), the Los Angeles Rams (1946-79, 2016-19), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-61), a Super Bowl (I) and more. It is by far the conference’s most historic venue.

Get more (USC) news, analysis, and opinions on Trojans Wire

4. Rose Bowl Stadium (UCLA)

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; A general overall view of a CFP quarterfinal between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Capacity: 89,702

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Opened: 1922 (October 28)

When only college football is considered, the Rose Bowl’s history is second-to-none. It hosted four BCS National Championship Games (2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013 seasons), four CFP semifinals (2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023 seasons and one quarterfinal (2024 season). In addition, it also hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup final, which Brazil won over Italy in penalty kicks.

Get more (UCLA) news, analysis, and opinions on UCLA Wire

3. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)

Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; General view before the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 102,780

Opened: 1922 (October 7)

Ohio Stadium is synonymous with Big Ten football. Part of that is the strength of the Buckeyes’ program, which has won nine national titles (1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 and 2024). Another is the venue’s history, which is older than just two in the Big Ten.

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Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis, and opinions on Buckeyes Wire

2. Husky Stadium (Washington)

Sep 24, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; General view of Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium as the Husky Marching Band performs before a game between the Stanford Cardinal and Washington Huskies. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Capacity: 70,138

Opened: 1920

This inclusion is a bit surprising, given Washington’s recent move to the conference. Husky Stadium is known as one of the most beautiful venues in the sport. It is not synonymous with the other 100-year-old-plus stadiums in the conference. But the numbers don’t lie.

Get more (Washington) news, analysis, and opinions on Huskies Wire

1. Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin)

Sep 14, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; General view of Camp Randall Stadium during the first quarter of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Wisconsin Badgers. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Capacity: 80,321

Opened: 1917

Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium claims the crown as the oldest venue in the Big Ten. The name comes from the history of the ground on which it stands, which was a Union Army training camp during the Civil War. Of course, its ‘Jump Around’ tradition has become one of the sport’s best.

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Big Ten football stadiums ranked by age entering the 2025 season