EA Sports College Football 26 releases top 25 toughest places to play

The 2026 college football season is still two months away from kicking off. But fear not, college football fans, you can still get your fix digitally with the highly-anticipated 2026 edition of the revived EA Sports’ College Football franchise, EA Sports College Football 26, set to be released July 10.

Alabama’s Ryan Williams and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith are on the standard cover, while a slew of college football head coaches and players, along with former stars, are on the deluxe edition, which will be released digitally on July 7.

In the meantime, EA Sports’ College Football 26 has unveiled several key aspects of the newest edition, including updated gameplay that will feature a revamped homefield advantage and 2,800 new plays with 45 new formations. As part of that, EA Sports recently provided an updated look at the game’s Top 25 Toughest Places to Play. Check them out below:

1. Tiger Stadium, LSU

Even famed Alabama coach Bear Bryant hated Tiger Stadium, known colloquially as “Death Valley,” after once describing it as “the worst place in the world for a visiting team — it’s like being inside a drum.”

Given that resounding endorsement, and a stadium capacity of more than 102,000, EA Sports once again tabbed LSU’s Tiger Stadium as the toughest place to play in College Football 26. And given all the iconic games that have taken place in Baton Rouge, especially at night, it’s hard to argue with that particular assessment.

2. Beaver Stadium, Penn State

A scene from the 2021 Penn State Whiteout game.

A Beaver Stadium “White Out” is unlike anything fans will experience anywhere else in college football, as much of the 106,000-seat stadium is filled by a cascade of white that can even impact opposing teams.

And EA Sports’ College Football 26 certainly does the iconic scene justice, creating an untenable situation that will have a gamer’s controller shaking uncontrollably as the crowd chants “WE ARE PENN STATE” in unison.

3. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State

Coming off the Buckeyes’ first national championship in a decade, “The Shoe” is bound to be rocking again in 2025. And based on these rankings, it’s safe to expect that will also be the case in the game.

Ohio Stadium is best known for its memorable fan engagement moments, including the home fans chanting “O-H” and “I-O” across the 102,000-seat stadium. And few things in college football beat the iconic scene of the Ohio State Marching Band’s sousaphone player dotting the “I” in during the pregame “Script Ohio” drill performance, which is also in the game.

4. Sanford Stadium, Georgia

The home of the Georgia Bulldogs is best known for its iconic privet hedges — thus the stadium’s nickname “Between the Hedges — and is routinely considered one of college football’s loudest and most intimidating atmospheres, especially when the red LED stadium lights are flashing at night.

With a seating capacity of just over 93,000, Sanford Stadium has a more intimate feel for home and visiting fans alike. And let’s not forget about Uga, Georgia’s legendary live mascot who has his own air-conditioned dog house on the home sideline.

Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium (courtesy UA Athletics)

The Crimson Tide’s on-campus stadium in the heart of Tuscaloosa has undergone some significant changes in recent years, including the unveiling of Saban Field to honor recently-retired Alabama head coach Nick Saban prior to the 2024 season.

But every game at Bryant-Denny Stadium begins with the legendary “Walk of Champions,” as Alabama fans from all over surround the newly-remodeled North end zone and welcome the Crimson Tide players into every game.

6. Memorial Stadium, Clemson

The second “Death Valley” on this list lands just outside the Top 5, but make no mistake, Clemson’s Memorial Stadium remains one of the most difficult road environments in all of college football.

And it all begins with the iconic scene of Tigers players and coaches touching Howard’s Rock and then running down The Hill, which will now include Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney famed pregame sprint now that real-life coaches are a new feature in CFB 26.

7. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida

The home of the Florida Gators is colloquially known as “The Swamp,” and given Gainesville’s regular 100-degree humidity through the first half of the regular season, it more than lives up to its nickname.

Of course, while it’s difficult to translate that humidity into the game, The Swamp’s infamous reputation as one of college football’s most difficult road stadiums will translate, especially given the sinkhole-like atmosphere that tends to trap crowd noise. And don’t forget about “Mr. Two Bits,” an iconic tradition that is going on its 75th year.

8. Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Oklahoma

Oklahoma, Sooner Schooner (BRYAN TERRY-THE OKLAHOMAN/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Known locally as “the Palace on the Praire,” the bowl-shaped home of the Sooners is turning 100 in 2025 and has gone under several important renovations in recent years, including a state-of-the-art scoreboard in the North end zone.

But when it comes to the actual gameday experience, few scenes in college fotoball can beat the iconic Sooner Schooner celebration after every Oklahoma score, as two white ponies lead a small wagon across the field whenever the Sooners score a point.

9. Autzen Stadium, Oregon

Built in 1967, Autzen Stadium is among one of the newer stadiums on this list, providing a more modernized look compared to some of its elder peers. And with a stadium capacity of less than 60,000, it’s also one of the smallest.

But it’s that small and intimate environment that also makes the home of the Oregon Ducks one of the loudest in college football, especially when the crowd noise reverberates up-and-down the stands to creates the “Autzen bounce.”

10. Michigan Stadium, Michigan

EA Sports rounds out its updated Top 10 with the legendary “Big House,” the third-largest stadium in the world with a capacity of more than 107,000 — though it still holds the NCAA single-season record for average home attendance at 112,252 fans per game set in 2012.

Even in the game, the Big House remains one of the more iconic stadiums in college football, with more than 105,000 maize and blue-laden fans create a deafening environment that makes even getting in plays difficult for the opposition. Just ask Ohio State’s Ryan Day.

Texas A&M’s Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

11. Kyle Field, Texas A&M

12. Neyland Stadium, Tennessee

13. Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Texas

14. Doak S. Campbell Stadium, Florida State

15. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin

16. Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina

17. Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn

18. Husky Stadium, Washington

19. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa

20. Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah

21. Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame

22. Carter-Finely Stadium, NC State

23. Boone Pickens Stadium, Oklahoma State

24. Spartan Stadium, Michigan State

25. Davis Wade Stadium, Mississippi State

— On3’s Pete Nakos contributed to this report.

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