USA Today Sports ranked the “unfriendliest” stadiums in college football ahead of the 2025 season, factoring in “records, traditions and environments to list the 25 most inhospitable stadiums in the FBS.”
Memorial Stadium, where Clemson will host LSU in Week 1 on Aug. 30 (7:30 p.m., ABC), landed in the top five – at No. 5 – in the ranking.
“To some, this is the “other” Death Valley. That’s way underselling how Memorial Stadium can wobble the knees of any visiting opponent,” USA Today wrote. “Clemson recently had a 40-game home winning streak, the longest in ACC history, before it was snapped late in the 2022 season. The program also has a memorable tradition of running down The Hill toward the field and rubbing Howard’s Rock to gain “the mystical powers it is supposed to give Clemson players,” the school says.”
Clemson will travel to LSU’s Tiger Stadium in 2026, and that venue tops the USA Today list at No. 1.
“Former Arkansas running back and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Darren McFadden once said of Death Valley: “The fans are relentless.” That’s especially true for night games, when “the sun has found its home in the western sky,” as the public address announcer says inside Tiger Stadium. After LSU fans spend the day sucking down hooch, they’re in no mood to take prisoners,” USA Today wrote.
South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium — where the Gamecocks have lost each of their last five home games against the Tigers across the 2015-23 seasons — checked in at No. 17 in the USA Today ranking.
Clemson travels to Williams-Brice Stadium on Nov. 29 (12 p.m., ABC or ESPN).
“The Gamecocks peck above their weight at Williams-Brice, long one of the SEC’s and broader college football’s most underrated venues. The place roars to life when Darude’s “Sandstorm” plays and fans wave white towels chanting, “U-S-C! U-S-C!”” USA Today wrote.
Along with Clemson, two other ACC venues made the USA Today ranking – Florida State’s Doak Campbell Stadium (ranked No. 20) and Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium (No. 21).
“Doak can be listless, as during last year’s dismal 2-10 finish,” USA Today wrote. “But it’s also been the site of several legendary wins against some of the most high-profile opponents in the country and continues to rank among the unfriendliest venues for visitors when the Seminoles are rolling. Overall, FSU is 322-109-4 at Doak Campbell (74.5%).”
Added USA Today of Lane Stadium: “Start with the best introduction in college football: Virginia Tech takes the field to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” quickly setting the tone for what can often be the scariest place to play in the ACC. While the home-field advantage has taken a hit this decade, the edge provided by Lane Stadium helped put Tech on the map under legendary coach Frank Beamer.”
As for the teams that are tasked with traveling to Clemson’s Death Valley this fall, the Tigers’ 2025 schedule will once again feature a full seven-game home slate – LSU (Aug. 30), Troy (Sept. 6), Syracuse (Sept. 20), SMU (Oct. 18), Duke (Nov. 1), Florida State (Nov. 8), and Furman (Nov. 22).