Oklahoma State Snubbed From ESPN's Top 25 College Football Stadiums

The Cowboys are one of the best home teams in the country, but that is not enough to get them into the top 25.
Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II (0) celebrates with fans after a Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Oklahoma State won 27-24.
Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II (0) celebrates with fans after a Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Oklahoma State won 27-24. / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY

Oklahoma State did not make the cut for ESPN’s top 25 college football stadiums.

Over the past few seasons, OSU has been one of the best home teams in the country, losing only two times at Boone Pickens Stadium in the past three years. However, success at home does not necessarily translate to being one of the best stadiums in the country, at least according to ESPN’s ranking.

For the rankings, ESPN polled 14 of its college football writers and had them rank their top 20 stadiums. Every first-place vote was worth 20 points, every second-place vote worth 19 and so on. LSU’s Tiger Stadium earned the top spot on the list, with the Rose Bowl and Michigan Stadium rounding out the top three.

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OSU’s Boone Pickens Stadium was one of the 42 teams to receive a vote but did not crack the top 25. Instead, the Cowboys’ home finished 36th with 14 points. Colorado, BYU, Utah and West Virginia joined OSU as the five Big 12 teams to receive votes but not make the top 25.

Recent Big 12 departures Oklahoma and Texas each made the list, but not by much. OU’s Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium was No. 24, while Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium was No. 25. 

In fact, OU and Texas were the closest the Big 12 got to making the top 25, as no team currently in the conference made it in. Former members Nebraska and Texas A&M made an appearance, but the SEC seemingly dominated the list.

The Cowboys will make their next visit to a top-25 stadium in 2025 when they travel to Autzen Stadium to begin their home-and-home with Oregon. However, there is still a chance for the Cowboys to play in one this season if they make the College Football Playoff.


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Ivan White

IVAN WHITE

Ivan is a sports media student at Oklahoma State University. He has covered OSU athletics since 2022 and also covers the OKC Thunder for Inside The Thunder and Thunderous Intentions.