25 for 25: The Top 25 Best Opposing Stadiums

September 16, 2025 Ben Whitehead

Since 2001, Troy has gone 103-37 at The Vet, winning 73.5% of its games. Based solely on win percentage, that would make Veterans Memorial Stadium the 31st hardest place to play in the country.

We all know The Vet is the best stadium in the country, but what about the other places Troy has had the opportunity to play? I looked at every venue Troy has played during its FBS era.

To ensure this didn’t just become a biggest stadium list, I based findings on four different categories: Stadium Capacity, Stadium Aura/Atmosphere, Troy’s Record, and the team’s Home Winning Percentage since 2001 (or whenever they started playing football, if applicable). Win percentage does not include the 2025 season.

A quick couple of caveats before starting: the only stadiums capable of being listed here are on-campus stadiums, so no shared-use, NFL facilities, or Frankenstein-ed baseball stadiums will make the cut. It should also be noted that P4 teams will have much higher win totals due to college football’s scheduling being heavily weighted in their favor (i.e. 8 or even 9 home games to a G6’s 6). This is why I focused on win percentage rather than win totals.

Honorable Mentions

With one notable and understandable exception, no team with a home win percentage since 2001 less than .621% could be considered a Top 25 Opposing Stadium. Such venues include:

NC State’s Wayne Day Family Field at Carter-Finley Stadium
Coastal Carolina’s Brooks Stadium
Western Kentucky’s Houchens Industries – L.T. Smith Stadium at Jimmy Feix Field
Arkansas’ Frank Broyles Field at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
Virginia’s The Carl Smith Center, home of David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium
Utah State’s Merlin Olson Field at Maverik Stadium
Southern Miss’ M.M. Roberts Stadium (Sorry, USM Burnerverse!)
Iowa State’s Jack Trice Stadium
Army’s Michie Stadium
Texas State’s Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium
New Mexico State’s Aggie Memorial Stadium

The Most Honorable of Mentions: Heaven, Idaho

It may look like the sarcophagus covering the reactor at Chernobyl, but it isn’t hard to wax poetic about the Kibbie Dome. Though Troy only played at the Vandals’ Home Dome twice, it won both matchups and got to experience one of the best little stadiums in the country.

How can you not love floating goalposts in an airplane hangar?

#25 Navy – Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium – Annapolis, MD

It may not be on the banks of the Hudson like its hated rival’s, but Navy has one of the best small stadiums in the country. Troy has only taken one trip there, losing in 2011, but it’s hard to not appreciate this 34,000 seat venue.

One of my favorite features of the stadium is the “GO NAVY” on each of the upper decks.

The Midshipmen have gone 85-42 at home since 2001, giving them a respectable .669 win percentage. This is probably due to the intimidation factor of having a Blue Angel right outside the stadium.

#24 Georgia Tech – Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field – Atlanta, GA

A lot can and has been said on the debate between college towns vs colleges in metro areas, but it’s safe to say that Bobby Dodd Stadium is one of the finer venues based in a city. Not only are you able to see the Atlanta skyline from your seat, you are actually sitting in history.

BDS is the oldest continuously used on-campus stadium in all of FBS. Over the past 25 years, GT has amassed a 66.9% win rate, going 94-57.

Unfortunately for Troy, its only trip to Bobby Dodd was a defeat at the hands of former coach Chan Gailey. One of Tech’s 94 wins was one of its best ever, the Miracle on Techwood Drive, when the Yellow Jackets ran back a blocked field goal to beat the #9-ranked Florida State Seminoles.

More importantly, we got this reaction from former Georgia Southern coach Paul Johnson:

While not Bobby Dodd technically, the site of the stadium was also the site of the infamous highest scoring football game of all time, Georgia Tech 222 – Cumberland 0. All 51,913 can enjoy a game on the Flats and then cross the road to hear the three best words in Georgia: “What’ll ya have?”.

#23 Arkansas State – Centennial Bank Stadium – Jonesboro, AR

From the ACC to one of Troy’s Sun Belt brethren, the Red Wolves underwent a stadium renovation about 10 years ago and it really focused the look of the stadium.

Rather than trying to build out an entire bowl, ASU set its sights on expanding sideline seating, while also adding in a few more seats in the end zone. It gives the stadium a big time feel without having to have 75,000 seats.

Oh, yeah, did we mention the waterfalls?

Being conference mates allowed Troy to play in The Vault more than most of the other stadiums on this list. The Trojans and Red Wolves (and sometimes Indians) split the series 5-5 since the Trojans joined the Belt in 2004.

Particularly during the Great Coaching Carousel of Freeze/Malzahn/Harsin/Anderson, the Red Wolves showed their teeth at home, helping to build their home record to a 69.9% win rate (93-40).

#22 BYU – LaVell Edwards Stadium – Provo, UT

It’s truly a shame that Troy has only been to Provo once (and a shame it lost). BYU knew what it was doing when it build its stadium there. Talk about gorgeous.

This is also our first instance of just how cool it can look when everyone in your stadium gets on board with a stripe-out.

The Cougars have a 104-36 home record, which is a whopping 74.2% win rate. Neither The Mountain West, Independency, nor the Big 12 could slow down the Cougars at home.

#21 Wisconsin – Camp Randall Stadium – Madison, WI

There is just something about the red roof of the Wisconsin Field house right beside this stadium in the heart of Madison, Wisconsin, that just feels like it was taken right out of ancient Rome. Camp Randall Stadium is the oldest stadium in the Big Ten Conference, in use since 1917.

The best-known tradition at Wisconsin is its use of the song “Jump Around” by House of Pain.

Beginning in 1998, Wisconsin has played the song after the third quarter for almost every game since it began. During the song, the student section (and really anyone who wants to) will jump around, as the song suggests.

Considering the Badgers’ record in Camp Randall, I’m surprised that the song hasn’t inspired a “House of Pain” moniker for the stadium itself. They have a 78.2% win rate in Madison with a 126-35 win-loss record, including one win over the Trojans.

#20 Oklahoma State – Boone Pickens Stadium – Stillwater, OK

Oklahoma gets all the national attention, but Oklahoma State has quietly become one of the most solid teams since 2001 and it’s in large part thanks to Boone Pickens Stadium. The Cowboys are 115-41 at home (73.7% win rate), including two over Troy.

I personally prefer to remember when they came to Troy instead.

Troy’s 2008 trip to “The Boone” actually set an attendance record of 52,463, which has since been surpassed many times over.

#19 Louisiana – Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium – Lafayette, LA

Cajun Field is actually the originator of “The Swamp”, using it in 1988, a full four years before Steve Spurrier brought it to Florida. While Gators only get out alive there, the Cajuns don’t fare too badly themselves.

Since 2001, Louisiana has won 63.9% of its home games, with an 85-49 record.

Cajun Field has been undergoing a renovation to reduce capacity and improve the fan experience. The Ragin’ Cajuns opened the new version of the stadium at the beginning of the 2025 season against Rice.

Troy has actually played in Lafayette 16 times dating back to 1946, but since 2001, the Trojans and Cajuns have split the series at 5 games a piece.

Thankfully, the new renovations have fixed a glaring issue with the bleachers, where the visitors side extended farther than the home side on the open end. This gave the stadium a very asymmetrical look.

#18 Missouri – Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium – Columbia, MO

Troy has been to “The Zou” three times and returned without a win each time. That’s the trouble when you travel to the third largest stadium in Missouri. You leave in misery.

Editor’s note: Boo.

The 62,621 in attendance tend to be a raucous crowd, which helps to give the Tigers a 70.9% win rate at home (110-45). The giant block M is one of the stadium’s most striking details.

It is 90 feet wide by 95 feet high and was carved in 1927 out of stone and was whitewashed. My other favorite detail from the stadium is the diamond “MIZZOU” in the endzone, a unique piece of the stadium’s mystique.

#17 Georgia Southern – Allen E. Paulson Stadium at Evans Family Field – Statesboro, GA

“The Prettiest Little Stadium in America” is certainly that. The best part about the Sun Belt in the past few years is that almost every team has a stadium that is very unique to its own culture.

The Eagles’ home is no different, embodying a lot of what Erk Russell preached when he resurrected the program. Since joining the Sun Belt, Georgia Southern has hosted Troy 5 times, winning 3.

Over that period, Georgia Southern has amassed a 45-18 record, a .714 winning percentage.

That doesn’t tell the full story though. Paulson Stadium opened in 1984 and Southern has a 221-51 home record since the program returned. That’s an 81.4% win rate.

If the winning gets too much for you, just go have a dip in Beautiful Eagle Creek (or a drainage ditch, if you’re an App State fan).

#16 Kansas State – Bill Snyder Family Stadium – Manhattan, KS

Not many stadiums can pull off the “Oh, you thought this was a castle? Nah, we’re playing football here!” aesthetic quite like Kansas State’s. The biggest show in the Little Apple rarely disappoints, unless Ron Prince is the coach.

Another Big XII program that never quite got the shine they deserved because it was stuck in the Texas/OU orbit, the Wildcats have quietly built a stellar home field advantage, going 117-46 since 2001 (71.7% win rate).

Troy has travelled there twice and lost both times unfortunately, most recently in 2023. The 2003 trip immortalized Troy in the pregame train hype video:

One of the more unique traditions in Bill Snyder Family Stadium is its annual Harley Day, where over 100 Harley-Davidson motorcycles are paraded around the field led by the K State mascot dressed in biker gear on his own bike.

#15 Iowa – Kinnick Stadium – Iowa City, IA

Troy travelled to Kinnick Stadium for the first time in 2024, losing the effort. Iowa’s Big Ten school has won a stunning 75.7% of its games (112-39) under the stewardship of Coach Kirk Ferentz.

Kinnick Stadium itself is the only college football stadium named for a Heisman Trophy winner (Nile Kinnick, 1939). It is also home to one of college football’s newest traditions, “The Hawkeye Wave”.

Starting in 2017, with the opening of the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, when the clock hits zero at the end of the first quarter, all 69,250 fans, as well as, players, coaches, and officials, turn towards the hospital and wave at the children and their families watching the game.

From a heartwarming tradition to one that really just speaks to the pettiness of college football, we have to talk about Iowa’s visitors’ locker room. Iowa’s PINK visitors’ locker room.

Legendary Iowa coach Hayden Fry ordered the walls be painted pink when he was hired back in 1979. In 2005, the lockers, toilets, and nearly anything else that could be was also changed to pink.

#14 Marshall – Joan C. Edwards Stadium – Huntington, WV

The only stadium in West Virginia that the Trojans have ever visited, Joan C. Edwards Stadium is home to the Marshall Thundering Herd. “The Joan” is one of only two stadiums in the country named for women (the other being South Carolina).

Troy is 1-1 in Huntington, which is much better than most who travel to the mountains. The Herd have a 73.7% win rate on a 107-38 record at home since 2001.

#13 Mississippi State – Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field – Starkville, MS

Admittedly, this is the one that aura and atmosphere helped the most. The Bulldogs are only 89-71 at home since 2001 (55.6% win rate), but they have been one of Troy’s most consistent opponents since the move to FBS.

Going 1-3 in Starkville overall, this was the site of Troy’s first SEC win 25 years ago. This team and place just have a special place in my heart.

Davis Wade Stadium is the 2nd oldest on-campus stadium in all of FBS and the 4th oldest in all of college football. Between Mike Leach’s tenure there and the CLANGA, CLANGA, CLANGA of the cowbells, Davis Wade is a truly special place to be.

#12 FSU – Bobby Bowden Field at Doak S. Campbell Stadium – Tallahassee, FL

For being only a two hour and 45 minute drive from each other, it’s a bit surprising these two teams haven’t played more than once since Troy moved to FBS. That 2006 matchup saw Troy completely unfazed by Chief Osceola and Bobby Bowden.

In fact, were it not for a late interception, Troy would’ve likely left Doak Campbell Stadium with a victory, silencing the 67,277 in attendance.

The Seminoles have created quite the home atmosphere with the War Chant ringing throughout the stadium. This has given them a 71.7% win rate (112-44) since 2001. Not great, but also not bad considering how low FSU has gotten over some of those years.

#11 South Carolina – Williams-Brice Stadium – Columbia, SC

This might come as a surprise to some folks, but the Gamecocks have a pretty rocking stadium when things are going well. “Willy B” is the home of Sandstorm and Also sprach Zarathustra (the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey).

The long running saying about Williams-Brice is that “If it ain’t swayin’, we ain’t playin’.” This is due to the east side upper deck noticeably swaying during a 1983 game vs the other USC, an eventual 38-14 Gamecock win.

Troy is unfortunately 0-4 in Columbia (including one on my wedding day), but the Gamecocks suffer no such trouble in their home stadium. They are 111-54 since 2001 for a 67.2% win rate. When all 77,559 South Carolina fans are feeling it, this is the place to be.

#10 Miami – Miami Orange Bowl – Miami, FL

Admittedly, this one does bend my rules a bit, but I would argue that it is one of the most iconic stadiums Troy has ever set foot in. While it is well-known for the Dolphins, the stadium was opened in 1937 for the Hurricanes.

From 1985-1994, Miami set the record for the longest home winning streak at 58 games.

The stadium hosted five Super Bowls and every Orange Bowl game from 1938-1995 (along with the last in the stadium in 1999), was the home stadium for the 1972 Undefeated Miami Dolphins, and most importantly, featured prominently in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

When Troy faced off against the ‘Canes in 2001, they faced off against the greatest college football team ever assembled. From 2001 until Miami’s last season there in 2007, the Canes were 36-9, winning 80% of their games.

#9 Ohio State – Ohio Stadium – Columbus, OH

Ohio Stadium is simply put one of my favorite stadiums from a purely architectural perspective. Its façade gives the impression that you are about to enter a modern day version of the Roman Colosseum.

“The House that Harley Built” was opened way back in 1922 and was named for Chic Harley, the first major player to bring notoriety to Ohio State.

The Horseshoe’s 102,780 seat capacity makes it the fourth largest on-campus stadium in America and provides potentially the best environment to be the home team this Millennium. Since 2001, Ohio State has a winning percentage of .910 built off of a staggering 153-15 record.

It’s truly a shame that Troy’s 2008 loss was its only venture to Columbus.

#8 App State – Kidd Brewer Stadium – Boone, NC

“The (northern) Rock” might just be one of the most scenic places to play in all of college football. Unfortunately, the great views can’t often be seen from your seats in the 30,000 seat stadium.

App only made the jump to FBS in 2014, but its dominance at Kidd Brewer has not relented. The Mountaineers have a 56-11 record since the FBS move, giving them a 83.5% win rate.

Troy has unfortunately been unable to get in the win column (0-4) in Boone since the regular season matchup between the two schools in 2000.

#7 Boise State – Albertsons Stadium – Boise, ID

The Smurf Turf.

What started out as a bit of a joke to most in college football when it was installed has become one of the most dangerous places to play. Boise has a 89.4% win rate in Albertsons Stadium with a record of 136-16.

In fact, the Blue was so daunting to opponents that for about two years in the 2010s, Boise couldn’t even wear fully blue uniforms for Mountain West games.

Troy’s only trip to the Smurf Turf resulted in a 24-13 Boise win, but the two teams never played again and definitely did not have a return game in The Vet.

#6 Tennessee – Neyland Stadium – Knoxville, TN

There’s not many places in the country that can truly be called cathedrals of college football, but I would wager that Neyland Stadium on the banks of the Tennessee River makes the top 5. Everything from the Volunteer Navy parking boats clear across the river to one of its special “Checker Neyland” games, the Tennessee experience is unlike any others.

Poor coaching hires the past 15 years have dampened the aura of Neyland, but it still has a 68.4% win rate (115-53). Troy’s only visit to Knoxville came in 2012 against the Derek Dooley-led Vols.

Troy would go toe-to-toe with the Vols, falling 55-48. The game would produce a number of records that day:

103 combined points were the most ever scored in Neyland
UT needed 718 yards of Total Offense to beat Troy (currently tied for 3rd)
Tyler Bray’s 530 yards of offense broke Peyton Manning’s 1997 record and is still the most offense in Vols’ history and is 2nd in Passing Yards
Tyler’s Bray’s 5 touchdowns are tied for 2nd in Vols’ history.

I could go on, but suffice it to say, there’s a reason Troy hasn’t been allowed back into the friendly confines of Neyland Stadium.

#5 Georgia – Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium – Athens, GA

Going to Athens is admittedly special to me. Most of my mother’s side of the family are Dawgs and getting to go there with all of them was a special experience.

It hasn’t been so nice for Troy between the hedges. Troy is 0-2 all time there, including the 66-0 drubbing in 2014, which is to date the last time the Trojans were shut out.

Whether Mark Richt or Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs have created an environment that is hard to win. The Dawgs are 130-20 this millennium, giving them a .866 winning percentage at home.

#4 Clemson – Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium – Clemson, SC

Full disclosure, I am typing this a day after the 2025 matchup with the Tigers, so let’s get this over with.

They are 137-25 since 2001 (84.5% win rate) in their version of Death Valley.

Troy is 0-3 when it should be 2-1. Moving on.

#3 Nebraska – Tom Osbourne Field at Memorial Stadium – Lincoln, NE

Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium holds a special place in the hearts of every Trojan, as this was the hallowed ground upon which the FBS journey started. Along the way we have been privileged to learn many things about the Huskers.

The stadium is nicknamed “The Sea of Red” due to the fans flooding the seats with their red attire.

Fans bring in red balloons which are released after the Huskers score their first touchdown. It took them until nearly three minutes were left in the second quarter of the 2018 matchup.

They also hold the record for the most consecutive sellouts (404, as of 9/7/25) which started all the way back in 1962.

The Trojans are 1-4 against the Huskers in Lincoln and since 2001, Nebraska is 112-53 for a .678 winning percentage.

#2 LSU – Tiger Stadium

The definitive Death Valley. Another modern colosseum. They keep mentioning that it’s hard to play night games here, but Troy has won once and only lost the other two by a combined 13 points. The less said about 2008, the better.

For other less-experienced programs, the Tigers do have an otherworldly ability to win their games at home. LSU is 140-24 since 2001, good for a .853 winning percentage.

#1 Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, FL

The Swamp is without a doubt one of the toughest places to play, even when Jim McElwain was there. Bias here, but it is the best non-Troy stadium that I have ever attended.

The way the middle section of the stands are all one piece (very similar to LSU’s) allows the sound to stay locked inside the stadium. This makes it incredibly hard for opposing teams (including Troy in its two trips), giving the Gators a 121-34 record in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

While it’s only a 78% win rate, it proves that more often than not, only Gators get out alive.

Let me know your thoughts on the ranking and how you would rank your own Top 25 on Twitter or here in the comments.