Where Ben Hill Griffin ranks among college football's best stadiums

Very few topics in college football are more certain to create healthy debate than ranking the sport’s best stadiums.

Saturdays in the fall are about more than just the game — it’s about the traditions, pageantry, atmosphere, and success associated with a program, all of which contribute to what makes a stadium special. Some fans value the visual appeal of a venue and amenities, while others prioritize the traditions surrounding game day.

USA TODAY Sports’ latest ranking of the nation’s top college football stadiums is sure to spark debate, with the SEC leading all conferences in representation and the Big Ten close behind. Among the 25 stadiums selected is Florida‘s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as the “Swamp.”

“Florida fans singing Tom Petty’s ‘I Won’t Back Down’ before the fourth quarter might be a new tradition,” the authors begin. “It’s also peak college football. The Swamp can roar with the best of them, even if the Gators haven’t matched their glory years in recent seasons. Consider last season: Florida went 4-2 at home, including an upset of Texas, and 0-6 away.”

Here’s where the Gators’ home stadium stacks up against the best stadiums in college football.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium comes in ranked No. 10, behind its SEC counterparts LSU (No. 1) and Texas A&M (No. 4). Florida was also ranked behind another string of SEC teams, with Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama ranked at Nos. 6, 7, and 9, respectively.

The Swamp also got the nod over Auburn (No. 15) and Oklahoma (No. 17) to round out the top 20. Texas (No. 22) and South Carolina (No. 25) rounded out the top 25 rankings for the remaining SEC teams.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Where Ben Hill Griffin ranks among college football’s best stadiums