ChatGPT ranks the most intimidating Big Ten football stadiums to play in
From SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey, to Husky Stadium in Seattle Washington, the Big Ten stretches from coast to coast.
With the conference’s latitude comes different stadium environments, different histories and unique traditions in every case.
Related: You might be surprised where Wisconsin football is on ESPN’s early 2024 SP+ rankings
Late last summer, I ranked the toughest road environments in the Big Ten after the conference’s new additions. Now that the 2023 season has concluded and the conference officially has 18 members, I decided to check the list with some outside counsel.
That is where ChatGPT comes in. I asked the OpenAI language model to rank the 18 Big Ten football home atmospheres by the most intimidating to play in — obviously including new additions USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington.
Here is what the ChatGPT responded:
Ryan Field (Northwestern)
Where I ranked it: No. 18
Agreement here. Northwestern’s football stadium resembles a high school stadium more than a college one. The long grass and sleepy atmosphere may be intimidating, but not for the normal reasons.
SHI Stadium (Rutgers)
Where I ranked it: No. 15
Rutgers doesn’t have much history in this building, or success for that matter. It just seems like a normal stadium.
The toughest part here is having to travel to New Jersey.
Memorial Stadium (Illinois)
Where I ranked it: No. 11
Starting to get some disagreement here. I’ve seen Memorial Stadium have some life in a late-season, cold-weather environment when Illinois is competitive. Maybe the model disagrees.
Memorial Stadium (Indiana Hoosiers)
Where I ranked it: No. 14
The biggest story here is why so many Big Ten football stadiums can be named Memorial Stadium (Illinois, Indiana and Nebraska).
But I don’t have much of an opinion here other than picturing Ohio State entering a night game atmosphere and winning by 60.
Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue)
Where I ranked it: No. 10
I’m a bit higher on Purdue’s stadium than the model. The place can get rowdy when the “Spoilermakers” are up to their usual tricks. I think it’s an underrated tough place to play.
SECU Stadium (Maryland)
Where I ranked it: No. 12
Maryland’s building seems to be tough when the team is good; the issue is that’s never the case after the month of October.
Husky Stadium (Washington)
Where I ranked it: No. 8
The model doesn’t appear to be high on West Coast football, despite the absolute beauty of this stadium. I will say the stadium is rising in the ranking after terrific showings during the 2023 season.
Autzen Stadium (Oregon)
Where I ranked it: No. 4
I’ll throw a flag on this one. Autzen Stadium feels like an absolute nightmare to visit, especially with Oregon currently operating like one of the best programs in the country. The capacity isn’t massive, but the place is frightening.
Rose Bowl (UCLA Bruins)
Where I ranked it: No. 16
Remember, this is not for the Rose Bowl itself, it’s for UCLA games that nobody attends. ChatGPT is wrong on this one. This atmosphere is nonexistent.
Huntington Bank Stadium (Minnesota)
Where I ranked it: No. 13
It’s an average atmosphere. My most vivid memories of the stadium are Blair Walsh missing a 26-yard field goal to lose a playoff game for the Minnesota Vikings, and Jack Coan and Quintez Cephus shredding the Minnesota defense in the final week of the 2019 regular season.
Spartan Stadium (Michigan State)
Where I ranked it: No. 6
I’m terrified of Spartan Stadium, but maybe that’s because the Badgers can’t win there. The building was a nightmare to visit during the Mark D’Antonio era. We’ll see what Jonathan Smith brings to the table.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (USC)
Where I ranked it: No. 17
ChatGPT is way off on this one. Yes, the Coliseum gets going when USC is at the peak of its powers. But it’s been 20 or more years since that was the case. All I see now are empty seats and terrible defense.
This can change if Lincoln Riley brings the program back to Pete Carroll-era energy. I just don’t think that’s going to happen.
Memorial Stadium (Nebraska)
Where I ranked it: No. 7
My only thought here is I wonder if ChatGPT is aware Nebraska’s sellout streak is one of the more fraudulent things in sports.
Other than that, it’s a terrifying place to play when the program is succeeding, which it will be soon under Matt Rhule.
Kinnick Stadium (Iowa)
Where I ranked it: No. 3
Slight disrespect for Kinnick Stadium here, especially given how it delivers every Saturday regardless of how atrocious the team’s offense is.
If I had to pick one Big Ten road night game I wouldn’t want to play, it’s at Iowa.
Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin Badgers)
Where I ranked it: No. 5
Agreement here. Camp Randall is an elite atmosphere for any game that matters, especially when it’s at night.
As I previously wrote, the building does get rocking when *insert star running back* plows forward for seven yards and a first down.
Michigan Stadium (Michigan)
Where I ranked it: No. 9
Strong disagreement here. Michigan Stadium is the single most overrated venue in college football.
It’s just big, that’s it. And it stretches so far out that the sound escapes.
Beaver Stadium (Penn State)
Where I ranked it: No. 1
I ranked this as the No. 1 venue in the Big Ten, let alone college football. I’ll accept it as No. 2 as long as No. 1 isn’t Michigan Stadium.
Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)
Where I ranked it: No. 2
I flipped No. 1 and No. 2, but overall a good job by the model in ranking these stadiums.
