Posted on July 2, 2025
Rankings are subjective and are sure to draw criticism.
Rarely does a sportswriter get to take it and dish it out in a single sitting, but that’s exactly what we do here.
Each of us provides a ranking of the Top CFB venues in the West, and the other asks questions. Then our roles are reversed.
We call it Serious Fun.
Read along as we debate our respective rankings of the Top College Football Stadiums in the West and have some fun along the way.
Nick’s Stadium Rankings
1. Washington (Husky Stadium, Seattle)
2. Oregon (Autzen Stadium, Eugene)
3. BYU (LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo)
4. San Diego State (Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego)
5. UNLV (Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas)
6. Colorado (Folsom Field, Boulder)
7. Colorado State (Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins)
8. Arizona State (Mountain America, Tempe)
9. Utah State (Maverik Stadium, Logan)
10. Utah (Rice-Eccles, Salt Lake City)
11. USC (LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles)
12. UCLA (Rose Bowl, Pasadena)
13. Boise State (Albertsons Stadium, Boise)
14. Cal (California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley)
15. Oregon State (Reser Stadium, Corvallis)
16. Stanford (Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto)
17. Air Force (Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs)
18. Wyoming (War Memorial, Laramie)
19. Arizona (Arizona Stadium, Tucson)
20. Fresno State (Valley Childrens’ Stadium, Fresno)
21. Washington State (Martin Stadium, Pullman)
22. Nevada (Mackay Stadium, Reno)
23. San Jose State (CEFCU Stadium, San Jose)
24. New Mexico (University Stadium, Albuquerque)
25. Hawai’i (Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu)
Nick’s Questions for Stephen
Nick: How do you have a nearly $2 billion NFL stadium last on your list? Or is that exactly why?
Stephen: That certainly has a lot to do with it.
It is the Raiders’ home and it is an is an indoor stadium. A $2 billion NFL stadium is a great place to hold a conference championship game or host the Natty.
But, for the permanent home of the Rebels, it is just a sterile indoor building without any juice.
Nick: I’m surprised to see the Rose Bowl in the No. 5 spot. How come you put it in your top five?
Stephen: It is an iconic and historic stadium!
And yes I know, this sounds like I’m talking against my Allegient Stadium argument, but the Rose Bowl is special.
Growing up in the midwest as Big Ten guy that stadium has some reverence as one of the cathedrals of sport—think Fenway Park, Churchill Downs . . .
The Rose Bowl is in that same category. Plus, the sunsetting with the San Gabriel mountains over the Rose Bowl is a thing of beauty.
Nick: What’s your most underrated stadium on your list? I like that you had Air Force in the No. 8 spot.
Stephen: You know, Falcon Stadium is eloquently majestic! The mountains in view, the tiered bowl I just really dig it.
So, yeah, maybe that is my most underrated, but, I also think Reser Stadium could also take that spot. It gets loud and has a great look aesthetically.
Nick: Why do you have Arizona State at No. 24?
Stephen: You know, it just doesn’t do it for me. I am not a fan of it and never really have been.
Nick: Most people would agree with you on California Memorial Stadium but it just doesn’t do it for me.
Did it almost sneak into your Top 5?
Stephen: I love the foothills overlooking it. I love the fact that fans can sit out there and watch the game.
There is just something cool about it.
And yes, I was definitely tossing around putting it into the Top 5.
Nick: Anything else you’d like to add?
I’ll admit the stadium I may have overrated is Hawaii.
T.C. Ching Athletics Complex is not great (and only temporary until New Aloha opens in 2028) but it is in Hawaii and that is hard to keep it out of the Top 15.
Stephen’s Stadium Rankings
1. Washington (Husky Stadium, Seattle)
2. Oregon (Autzen Stadium, Eugene)
3. BYU (LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo)
4. Colorado (Folsom Field, Boulder)
5. UCLA (Rose Bowl, Pasadena)
6. Cal (California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley)
7. Utah (Rice-Eccles, Salt Lake City)
8. Air Force (Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs)
9. Oregon State (Reser Stadium, Corvallis)
10. Boise State (Albertsons Stadium, Boise)
11. Washington State (Martin Stadium, Pullman)
12. Hawai’i (Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu)
13. Colorado State (Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins)
14. Arizona (Arizona Stadium, Tucson)
15. San Jose State (CEFCU Stadium, San Jose)
16. Wyoming (War Memorial, Laramie)
17. Nevada (Mackay Stadium, Reno)
18. New Mexico (University Stadium, Albuquerque)
19. USC (LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles)
20. Stanford (Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto)
21. Utah State (Maverik Stadium, Logan)
22. San Diego State (Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego)
23. Fresno State (Valley Childrens’ Stadium, Fresno)
24. Arizona State (Mountain America, Tempe)
25. UNLV (Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas)
Stephen’s Questions for Nick
Stephen: My biggest surprise from your list is having WSU at No. 21. Knowing you, I was expecting to see that higher.
What is your biggest issue with Martin Stadium?
Nick: Martin Stadium is like a worse version of Reser Stadium.
It would be a lot higher on my list if Washington State had better attendance for their games.
For most of the stadiums on this list I tried to rate them strictly off ambience, but the Cougars faithful didn’t show out in meaningful games last season.
I think of the San Jose State game in particular.
I’ll always love my Cougs, but we can do better, and we will.
Stephen: We agree on our Top 3 and I feel pretty confident we can’t get too much of an argument from folks about those three.
For you, what is it that gives Husky Stadium the edge over the rest of the field?
Nick: Washington is just the perfect mix of everything football. A passionate fanbase, a beautiful view, and decent enough weather.
And obviously there’s sailgating.
I don’t feel like LaVell Edwards Stadium is quite on the level of Autzen or Husky Stadium, but it’s close.
I’m more of a tree kind of guy, but UW’s field has an intimidation factor to it. Husky Stadium is a historic venue for a reason.
Stephen: Other than UNLV, our biggest difference is San Diego State. You have the nice shiny new Snapdragon Stadium at No. 4.
What do you like about it so much?
Nick: I love the red and grey seating of the stadium. I’m also a fan of the red, black, and grey color combination.
Stylistically, the entire venue looks good, from the Aztecs end zone design, to the green and brown backdrop.
The weather is also perfect year round. I feel the city of San Diego is a tad overrated, but this stadium is legit.
Stephen: I’ll also ask you about what stadium you think is the most underrated? I also really like your pick of CSU at seven (I’m a sucker for mountain view).
Nick: I’m going to give you a few features I feel are underrated at a couple different locations.
One of my favorites is the track around Nevada’s field. I like the way it looks.
I’m also a huge fan of Wyoming’s end zone art.
And Colorado State has a newish stadium and one of the most underrated fanbases in the country. They show up for a team who’s been historically average.
Writes about football and basketball as a Senior Writer and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Show” for SuperWest Sports.
