Ranking the greatest home field advantages in the Pac-12
By Cody Tyo
As Washington Football braces for another Pac-12 season, here’s our take on the toughest places to play in Pac-12 football, ranked from first to twelfth.
In terms of passionate college football fans, the Pac-12 may be a step or two behind the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12. However, Pac-12 programs today are playing at a higher level than ever before, and football in the West continues to become more and more competitive. That makes defending the Pac-12 title all the more difficult for the Washington Football team
This year, the national title is within the grasp of three Pac-12 schools if prognosticators are correct: USC, Washington, and Stanford are all expected to have good seasons this year. To do so, let’s examine the football teams, and determine which truly have the greatest home field advantage.
1. USC
2016 record at home: 6-0
USC closed out the 2016 season on fire, and finished undefeated at home on the year. The Trojans took all three of their losses on the road, but couldn’t be touched at home in Los Angeles. USC also claimed the highest average attendance in the conference to solidify its spot at the top of the list.
Whether it’s the pageantry before the game, the classic feel of the Coliseum, or the bright lights of Los Angeles, this stadium has its visitors intimidated the second they step foot on the grass. As the 2017 season hype is already mounting for the Trojans, defending home field next year will be as important as ever.
2. Washington
2016 record at home: 6-1
Standing on the shores of Lake Washington just north of downtown Seattle, it’s easy to admire Husky Stadium for its views. Don’t let the “Greatest Setting in College Football” fool you–this place is brutal to teams that dare to play there. It’s a big advantage for the Washington Football team.
Husky Stadium’s “jaws”–actually designed to shield the crowd from inevitable rain–help bounce noise back onto the field. Third downs at Husky Stadium are as loud as anywhere, and Washington‘s defense feeds off it.
The Seattle Seahawks claim one of the loudest home stadiums in the NFL, and heartbroken SuperSonics fans still rep green and yellow all over the city. That same Seattle intensity is felt at Washington football games, and helped UW power its way to the College Football Playoff.
3. Oregon
2016 record at home: 3-3
The Ducks, despite playing their worst season in years, still command respect when playing in Eugene. Oregon scraped together three of its four wins at home last year and maintain their place as one of the toughest places to play in the nation.
Autzen Stadium has a maximum capacity of just 54,000, but the relatively intimate setting plays to Oregon’s advantage. Fans feel close to the field and are able to have a real impact on what happens on the field.
4. Utah
2016 record at home: 4-2
Utah is unrecognized for its home field atmosphere. Despite holding only about 46,000, Rice-Eccles Stadium is as loud as any in the Pac-12. Another factor is the elevation at Salt Lake City–4,226 feet–which can wear down opposing defenses.
Utah fans are passionate about their football, and it is only a matter of time before the newcomers to the conference gain a hatred for the other teams in it. The BYU-Utah rivalry series is among the most heated in the country
5. UCLA
2016 record at home: 3-3
UCLA is another team with a record that doesn’t reflect just how tough it is to play at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins play their home games at one of the most iconic venues in sports, reason alone for visiting teams to feel rattled.
The Rose Bowl also has a high capacity at just under 93,000, allowing for the noise levels to amp up if the Bruins need it. One handicap to UCLA’s potential to be tougher at home is the stadium’s distance from campus: about a 30 minute drive without traffic. Despite this, UCLA ranked second in the conference and 23rd in the nation last year in average attendance.
6. Colorado
2016 record at home: 6-0
This other Pac-12 newbie is becoming very tough to beat at home as well. The Buffs were the only other team aside from USC to go undefeated at home last year, leading them to the Pac-12 championship game.
Elevation may play a role in this case as well, given that Folson Field sits 5,430 feet above sea level. Boulder is also arguably the best college town in the conference, providing the Buffs with a steady supply of rowdy fans on Saturdays.
7. Stanford
2016 record at home: 4-2
The Cardinal have taken on a road warrior role over the past two seasons, combining to go 9-2 away from home. Still, Stanford Stadium is no easy venue to play in as passionate Cardinal supporters flock to Palo Alto consistently.
Stanford finished 4-2 on their own turf last season in what felt like a down year for the west coast powerhouse. Losing star running back Christian McAffrey will obviously hurt the Cardinal, but it’s tough to imagine a Pac-12 without Stanford competing for a title.
8. Arizona State
2016 record at home: 4-2
The Sun Devils have been frustrated in the middle of the pack for a few seasons, but still manage to play well at home in Tempe. The desert is always a difficult environment for other Pac-12 teams to play in and that trend stayed true last season.
ASU won a combined nine games at home over the last two years. Sun Devil Stadium still doesn’t have the capacity (56,000) or the noise to rank among the conference’s greatest home field advantages.
9. Washington State
2016 record at home: 5-2
Playing in Pullman gets a bad rep, but it may be with good cause. Washington State’s Martin Stadium holds just under 33,000–the lowest capacity in the conference. The Cougars are also accustomed to playing in blizzards and below freezing temperatures, which may actually play to their advantage against other Pac-12 teams.
WSU played well in Pullman the last two seasons, accumulating nine wins and competing for a north division title both years. Although Martin Stadium isn’t the loudest or the largest, the Cougars still have a chance to make some noise in the Pac-12 this season.
10. Oregon State
2016 record at home: 4-3
Struggling for what feels like decades, Oregon State has not fared much better at home. Reser Stadium is the second smallest in the conference with a capacity of 44,000, and does not typically get filled due to down seasons for the Beavers.
Oregon State did show some life last season though, and managed a winning record in Corvallis. Some experts say this team is a sleeper to compete in the Pac-12 north this year, giving OSU fans something to be excited about.
11. Cal
2016 record at home: 4-2
Playing at California Memorial Stadium just doesn’t strike fear into Cal‘s opponents. Although the stadium’s capacity is respectable at over 62,000, Cal football does not quite have the same energy and passion as some of its conference counterparts.
The stands are often less than full, and noise levels are typically at a comfortable level for visiting offenses. With the departure of several key pieces, Cal may see this trend continue into next season.
12. Arizona
2016 record at home: 3-4
Arizona is definitely a better team at home, with all three of its 2016 wins coming in Tucson last year. However, the Wildcats were the only team in the Pac-12 below .500 on their home turf.
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Playing in the desert heat goes in Arizona’s advantage, especially against teams from further north such as the Washington football team. Arizona Stadium still has plenty of work to do before climbing a few spots on these rankings.