EA Sports College Football 25: Toughest Places to Play Rankings and Analysis

[Dawgfan1]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

Yeah thinking on it a bit more I would be pretty shocked if it didn't update in dynasty. In past NCAAs the Toughest Places to Play ranking determined your school's Stadium Atmosphere pitch grade, since this game will also have pitch grades changing over time I would expect it to work the same way for the stadium rankings.

[Pokes404]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

I fully realize that this is a subjective ranking ... but man:


Lane Stadium/Virginia Tech: #17
W/L since 2018: 22-16
Top 25 Wins: 2
Top 10 Wins: 1


Spartan Stadium/Michigan St: #22
W/L since 2018: 22-15
Top 25 Wins: 2
Top 10 Wins: 2


Boone Pickens Stadium/Oklahoma State: Not Ranked

W/L since 2018: 32-7
Top 25 Wins: 11
Top 10 Wins: 4



I'm not even trying to argue that those stadiums shouldn't be in the Top-25 because I'm sure they have great environments. But when you look at the numbers it sure seems like BPS should've slipped in the Top-25 somewhere. It's been since 2019 that we lost multiple home games. These two teams have lost at least 2 home games every season except one during that same stretch (Michigan St in 2021 when they went 6-0 at home).


I hope Spartan and Hokie fans don't take this as me taking shots at them. I really don't mean to, and I sure as Hell would be nervous about having to go play a game there. I also realize that BPS being a smaller venue (54,100 capacity) for a major conference is going to drop us down the rankings right off the bat. But at some point, I feel like the numbers should play a factor in determining "toughest places to win."


It doesn't really matter at the end of the day. The rankings are probably fluid (hopefully so), so 2 years into Dynasty they will all be different anyway. But still, it's a little head scratching as I just kind of assumed we'd be somewhere in the 18-25 range.

[offensive_junkie]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

LSU should be #1. PSU #2. Where is Tennessee? A&M at 1 is hilarious.

Not hilarious at all. There have been several sports writers who have also labeled this place as the loudest. These are not team rankings. We are talking stadium capacity, stadium build, fan base and then team’s success or whatever opponent they are playing.

[Scott]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

I fully realize that this is a subjective ranking ... but man:


Lane Stadium/Virginia Tech: #17
W/L since 2018: 22-16
Top 25 Wins: 2
Top 10 Wins: 1


Spartan Stadium/Michigan St: #22
W/L since 2018: 22-15
Top 25 Wins: 2
Top 10 Wins: 2


Boone Pickens Stadium/Oklahoma State: Not Ranked

W/L since 2018: 32-7
Top 25 Wins: 11
Top 10 Wins: 4



I'm not even trying to argue that those stadiums shouldn't be in the Top-25 because I'm sure they have great environments. But when you look at the numbers it sure seems like BPS should've slipped in the Top-25 somewhere. It's been since 2019 that we lost multiple home games. These two teams have lost at least 2 home games every season except one during that same stretch (Michigan St in 2021 when they went 6-0 at home).


I hope Spartan and Hokie fans don't take this as me taking shots at them. I really don't mean to, and I sure as Hell would be nervous about having to go play a game there. I also realize that BPS being a smaller venue (54,100 capacity) for a major conference is going to drop us down the rankings right off the bat. But at some point, I feel like the numbers should play a factor in determining "toughest places to win."


It doesn't really matter at the end of the day. The rankings are probably fluid (hopefully so), so 2 years into Dynasty they will all be different anyway. But still, it's a little head scratching as I just kind of assumed we'd be somewhere in the 18-25 range.

As a Texas fan, I think OSU should be on there.

[canes21]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

For those that think A&M is there only for marketing purposes, what was your experience like at Kyle Field that makes you feel that way?

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[dylanrocks83]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

There is some good discussion here, but does this really need its own day all by itself? I wish they’d give us all 134 teams ranked so the rest of us fans of schools outside the top 25 could have something to think/talk about.

[bwiggy33]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

In the article it says that the rankings are subject to change in future updates. I do hope these rankings are also updated in each user’s dynasty depending on game results. I still think this is a really cool feature. Going to be a cool experience going into some of these stadiums as the away opponent.


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The rankings are said to be dynamic in your dynasty. I forget which article or video it was in but it was stated that these will change in-season. I really wish I could remember where I saw it but there are so many articles and podcasts from the guys who played the game that it's hard to remember. Matt Brown also said the crowd attendance is dynamic in dynasty.

[Pokes404]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

There is some good discussion here, but does this really need its own day all by itself?

We're getting stuff all week, including a deep dive tomorrow. I'm not going to complain. At least EA put something out when they said they were going to. The Madden guys would kill to be able to say that.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

There is some good discussion here, but does this really need its own day all by itself? I wish they’d give us all 134 teams ranked so the rest of us fans of schools outside the top 25 could have something to think/talk about.

So now the complaint is that we *are* getting info?

[UtahUtes32]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

Utah at #18, I had expected them to debut in the top 25, good to see...


In the west, at least, they are commonly considered #3 toughest behind Oregon and Washington.



Surprised to see Boise in the top25, but their home record speaks for itself.

[Ky3217]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

I fully realize that this is a subjective ranking ... but man:


Lane Stadium/Virginia Tech: #17
W/L since 2018: 22-16
Top 25 Wins: 2
Top 10 Wins: 1


Spartan Stadium/Michigan St: #22
W/L since 2018: 22-15
Top 25 Wins: 2
Top 10 Wins: 2


Boone Pickens Stadium/Oklahoma State: Not Ranked

W/L since 2018: 32-7
Top 25 Wins: 11
Top 10 Wins: 4



I'm not even trying to argue that those stadiums shouldn't be in the Top-25 because I'm sure they have great environments. But when you look at the numbers it sure seems like BPS should've slipped in the Top-25 somewhere. It's been since 2019 that we lost multiple home games. These two teams have lost at least 2 home games every season except one during that same stretch (Michigan St in 2021 when they went 6-0 at home).


I hope Spartan and Hokie fans don't take this as me taking shots at them. I really don't mean to, and I sure as Hell would be nervous about having to go play a game there. I also realize that BPS being a smaller venue (54,100 capacity) for a major conference is going to drop us down the rankings right off the bat. But at some point, I feel like the numbers should play a factor in determining "toughest places to win."


It doesn't really matter at the end of the day. The rankings are probably fluid (hopefully so), so 2 years into Dynasty they will all be different anyway. But still, it's a little head scratching as I just kind of assumed we'd be somewhere in the 18-25 range.

This is largely skewed by MSU having some down years recently, not to mention last year's debacle. Spartan Stadium is an incredibly difficult place for away teams to play when Michigan State is good

[UtahUtes32]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

The Michigan fans in my friend group are not pleased with this list in general lol

Granted, I've only been to a game at the big house one time, but it wasn't the loudest stadium I've ever been in. I've been to home games at Oregon, Utah, BYU, TCU and Michigan. UM is behind Oregon in my 1-game, small sample size experience.

[canes21]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

Let me preface this by saying I understand the community is made up of many unique individuals, but I do find it funny that in general the community is questioning why Bama and UGA are so high and then using records at home to question why some teams are even on the list at all.

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[Pokes404]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

This is largely skewed by MSU having some down years recently, not to mention last year's debacle. Spartan Stadium is an incredibly difficult place for away teams to play when Michigan State is good

That's true, and that's why I'm not lobbying for you guys to be out of the ranking. But the fact remains, if you look back at the home records for the past 21 seasons (2002-present) to more fairly dilute any recency bias:


Michigan St Home W/L: 97-50
Michigan St Home W%: 65.9%

Oklahoma St Home W/L: 112-34
Oklahoma St Home W%: 76.7%



It isn't like we've just had a good couple of years recently. We've been really tough to beat in Stillwater for 2 decades now. And again, our stadium capacity is smaller, so I'm not trying to lobby for us being in the top-10 ... or even in the Top-15. But somewhere in the 18-25 range seems pretty fair in my extremely biased opinion lol.

[Ky3217]

Re: EA Sports College Football 25 Toughest Places to Play

That's true, and that's why I'm not lobbying for you guys to be out of the ranking. But the fact remains, if you look back at the home records for the past 21 seasons (2002-present) to more fairly dilute any recency bias:


Michigan St Home W/L: 97-50
Michigan St Home W%: 65.9%

Oklahoma St Home W/L: 112-34
Oklahoma St Home W%: 76.7%



It isn't like we've just had a good couple of years recently. We've been really tough to beat in Stillwater for 2 decades now.

That's fair. I'll admit that I'm a bit unfamiliar with OK State as a program (outside of the GOAT RB)