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College football 26 toughest stadium rankings says no to Hogs, yes to more cowbell

When EA Sports released its first college football video game in over a decade, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium ranked in the top 25 hardest home-field advantages in the game. In College Football 26, that’s no longer the case. Arkansas football dropped from College Football 26 toughest places to play Arkansas didn’t make the cut […]

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When EA Sports released its first college football video game in over a decade, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium ranked in the top 25 hardest home-field advantages in the game. In College Football 26, that’s no longer the case.

Arkansas football dropped from College Football 26 toughest places to play

Arkansas didn’t make the cut this year, but to be fair, it was shocking they made it in the first place. Over the last ten seasons, Arkansas has accumulated a home record just above .500 (35-34). Still, it wasn’t the most criticized choice, with Texas A&M coming in first place last year. Fans pointed out that the Aggies had recently lost to Appalachian State when the list was released, and it appears that EA Sports has righted their wrongs. Kyle Field now sits at No. 11.

However, the new ranking has its share of problems. The last five are especially heinous. Norte Dame comes in at No. 21, which is completely ridiculous. The Fighting Irish may be overrated most seasons, but they’re still excellent and have only had 12 losses in Notre Dane since the 2015-16 season.

It’s completely unrealistic to sandwich Notre Dame Stadium between Rice-Eccles Stadium (Utah) and Carter-Finely Stadium (NC State). No. 2022, 23, and 25 are off-the-wall picks, too, but for a different reason. With NC State at No. 22 and Oklahoma State at No. 23, they don’t exactly scream “terrifying home environments.”

Sure, Cowboy fans are basically on top of the players on the sideline, but Arkansas, which is annually a bottom-third SEC, nearly wiped the floor with them in Stillwater until the Hogs shot themselves in the foot. And OK State fans can’t quite claim the environment helped because Arkansas continued to do it all season, including at home.

Mississippi State comes in at No. 25, but let’s be real—it’s just because of the cowbells. EA Sports has taken too much advice from Christopher Walken. We, in fact, don’t need more cowbells. Davis Wade Stadium is hard to play in because opposing players can’t hear themselves talk, but that hasn’t stopped them from beating Mississippi Stat. The Bulldogs have a slightly higher home winning percentage (.588) than Arkansas.

Why does it matter?

In College Football 26, home-field advantage isn’t just cosmetic—it’s game-changing. Just like in College Football 25, EA Sports is turning up the intensity by making crowd energy and stadium atmosphere directly impact gameplay, only more so for its newest edition.

Players on the road will face a wave of immersive challenges like distorted play art, jittery screen shakes, blurred routes, and drops in confidence and composure. The rankings now carry real weight, as playing in a top-tier environment could rattle even the most composed athletes, just like on a real Saturday in the fall.

College Football 26 toughest places to play top 25 rankings

Tiger Stadium: LSU
Beaver Stadium: Penn State
Ohio Stadium: Ohio State
Stanford Stadium: Georgia
Bryant -Denney Stadium: Alabama
Memorial Stadium: Clemson
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium: Florida
Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memoria Stadium: Oklahoma
Autzen Stadium: Oregon
Michigan Stadium: Michigan
Kyle Field: Texas A&M
Neyland Stadium: Tennessee
Darrel K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium: Texas
Doak S. Campbell Stadium: Florida State
Camp Randall Stadium: Wisconsin
Williams-Brice Stadium: South Carolina
Jordan-Hare Stadium: Auburn
Husky Stadium: Washington
Kinnick Stadium: Iowa
Rice-Eccles Stadium: Utah
Notre Dame Stadium: Notre Dame
Carter-Finley Stadium: NC State
Boon Pickens Stadium: OK State
Spartan Stadium: Michigan State
Davis Wade Stadium: Mississippi State

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Brent Blum Named Director of NIL Development for Iowa State

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Arizona State AD Graham Rossini commits to retain all varsity sports

Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini discusses the changing landscape in college sports Thursday at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Communication. (Photo by Truitt Robinson/Cronkite News) PHOENIX – Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini was adamant that the turbulent collegiate landscape won’t negatively impact the university. “We want all 26 of our sports […]

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Arizona State AD Graham Rossini commits to retain all varsity sports

Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini discusses the changing landscape in college sports Thursday at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Communication. (Photo by Truitt Robinson/Cronkite News)

PHOENIX – Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini was adamant that the turbulent collegiate landscape won’t negatively impact the university.

“We want all 26 of our sports to be able to continue to grow and thrive in this environment,” Rossini said Thursday.

“We’ve not had a conversation about moving off that.”

It’s a sentiment that a decade ago would have been commonplace for any top collegiate leader.

But with the recent House v. NCAA $2.8 billion settlement dispersing $20.5 million to each NCAA member school for direct athlete payment, Rossini’s commitment is not made without conviction.

“We no longer have 26 sports that operate largely like independent contractors,” Rossini said in a wide-ranging interview about the landscape of college athletics at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “They’re connected, they’re collaborating, they’re pushing each other in ways that are healthy and competitive.

“I get no more satisfaction than being on our head coaching group text.”

For the Big 12, its member schools will be empowered to carry out this athlete payment through a PayPal partnership announced Thursday.

“Pay for play” has been regulated and given an avenue. On Tuesday, schools can begin doling out money, and Rossini said ASU’s payment schedule will roll out July 10.

High revenue sports including football and men’s basketball will be the “heaviest recipients” of revenue sharing, Rossini said, but that isn’t preventing lower revenue teams from receiving due support.

“There’s a pathway where eventually every athlete at ASU could be on some form of athletic aid,” Rossini said. “We’ve added operational budget to all 26 sports. … This isn’t really isolation around football and men’s basketball.

“They’re certainly heavily involved in the (revenue) share distribution, but all 26 have a place at the university and we’ve really tried to be as diligent and aggressive in resourcing all of them as best we can, certainly including the female athletes.”

Continuing ASU’s track record as an international pipeline is also top of mind for Rossini, who mentioned France’s Léon Marchand, a four-time gold medal winning swimmer, and Canada’s Luguentz Dort, a 2025 NBA Champion with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“We want to give all these athletes the same opportunities that they’re accustomed to,” Rossini said.

ASU has increased the availability of athletic scholarships in every varsity sport and the university is “focused on program endowments” to navigate challenges and risks posed by revenue sharing, Rossini said.

Of the $20.5 million ASU was allotted for the 2025-26 academic year, $2.5 million has been reserved for athletic aid. With more than 200 scholarships added this year alone and ASU blowing past its settlement funding, Rossini was not shy about throwing out a call-to-action for Sun Devil faithful.

“Our scholarship investment is significant, but we’re convicted that it’s the right way to put our dollars into the department,” Rossini said. “So, the call-to-action for all Sun Devil fans who may love some of our Olympic sports is, ‘Hey, find a way to plug in. Find a way to support this team.’”

Citing about 350,000 ASU alumni spread across Maricopa County, Rossini said that there are many local “connection points” to the university, but the international branches that blossom have their own value.

“It just sharpens our focus because we’re a very international university,” Rossini said when asked about current travel restrictions. “I do think there’s enormous value at our institution where if we have a volleyball player from Latvia, or we also have a women’s tennis player from Latvia, we also have students from Latvia.”

As much as an international footprint is something that ASU embraces, Rossini reaffirmed the department’s commitment to in-state talent.

From Sun Devils football coach Kenny Dillingham sending out Willy Wonka-inspired “golden tickets” to several top Arizona recruits to women’s basketball coach Molly Miller coining the hashtag “pipeline to paradise,” Rossini said current and future students have much more to look forward to than just the desert climate.

He said joining the Big 12, and the national exposure that comes with that, has made the ASU brand both accessible from a viewership perspective and one that developing athletes will want to play within.

“That makes me feel good that people are seeing the value of the ASU experience,” Rossini said. “It’s not only about NIL or the selfish input that an individual would get. It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself.

“I think we’re starting to reap the benefit of that.”

Just looking at ASU football, Rossini said broadcasting its games on FOX and ESPN saw an increase of about 100% year-over-year viewership. If you add in the Peach Bowl, viewership improved 353%.

As unique as “Pac-12 After Dark” was for West Coast fans, Rossini said the concept was hurting marketing opportunities for the school. Despite a low profile opponent in Texas State this past football season, for example, he said the ESPN primetime slot on a Thursday night gave the nation an early peek at what turned into a College Football Playoff-bound ASU team.

“Everybody’s getting a chance to watch us,” Rossini said. “They’re not behind a paywall or a regional sports network. And so everything that we try to do this last year and moving forward is designed around building the brand of Sun Devil athletics.”

For any current or future ASU athlete, Rossini had a clear message: You won’t be forgotten.

“If you’re a storyteller, come raise your hand … and let’s illuminate these incredible storylines all throughout our department,” Rossini said.

“That’s how we’re going to make sure that our athletes aren’t forgotten.”

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Pivot Points: The games that could define the 2025 college football season

We all know the importance of Penn State–Ohio State or the history of Oklahoma–Texas. Those games are already circled on every college football fan’s calendar. But there are other games — either because of the particular circumstances of the season or because of where conference schedule-makers placed them — that hold equal importance. These are […]

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June 26, 2025

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We all know the importance of Penn State–Ohio State or the history of Oklahoma–Texas. Those games are already circled on every college football fan’s calendar.

But there are other games — either because of the particular circumstances of the season or because of where conference schedule-makers placed them — that hold equal importance. These are the Pivot Point games. They’re the wins that can launch a successful streak or the losses that send a team tumbling toward a failed season.

Here are 10 September and early-October games that could make an outsize impact on each team’s season…

Florida at LSU – September 13

This is a guaranteed meltdown game. No matter the result, the losing team’s fanbase will lose its collective mind.

The fans of both these teams expect College Football Playoff contention. Because of the difficulty of the remaining schedules, the loser of this game might not be able to achieve that.

LSU will have already played Clemson and has Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Alabama upcoming. Holding serve at home in the SEC opener will be critical for the Tigers.

The week after they visit Death Valley, the Gators play at Miami. Then, after an open date, they play Texas at home and then at Texas A&M. That gauntlet will define Florida’s season, and if it doesn’t start with a win, it could go poorly.

There’s nothing like a Saturday night in Death Valley. The greatest atmosphere in college football gets even better when the pressure gets poured on both teams.

Illinois at Indiana – September 20

This won’t be a CFP elimination game. It’s far too early in the season for that. But it will match two potential CFP contenders, and the loser might not be able to reach 10 wins.

Illinois brings back most of the best parts of a team that went 9-3 in the 2024 regular season. Indiana, meanwhile, is going to be far from a one-year wonder under coach Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers have some of the Big Ten’s most impactful players coming back after going 11-1.

Indiana’s schedule is harder this year, and the Hoosiers’ next two games are at Iowa and at Oregon. With a visit to Penn State still on the schedule, Indiana probably needs to go 2-1 in the Illinois-Iowa-Oregon stretch to be 10-2 or better.

Illinois will already have played Duke and still has Ohio State and a visit to Washington on the docket. This trip to Bloomington will be critical.

Auburn at Oklahoma – September 20

The Jackson Arnold Revenge Game will feature subplots aplenty, but it really comes down to this: Oklahoma and Auburn both expect a much better season than 2024, and both teams feel they should win this game.

I had this game on this list last season. It probably was the pivot point for Auburn, which collapsed following a crippling late interception to drop the second of four consecutive losses. The worst was still yet to come for Oklahoma, which suffered from subpar offensive line play and a receiver room riddled with injuries.

Auburn quarterback Arnold’s return to Norman is the dominant storyline, and it’s about as juicy as it gets. Former blue-chip recruit is hailed as the future of the program. Before he ascends to the starting job, the offensive coordinator leaves, the head coach makes a lazy hire and his season is torpedoed. Afterward, he’s cast aside to make room for a transfer (John Mateer) following the new offensive coordinator (Ben Arbuckle). Now Arnold has a chance to prove the Sooners wrong (or correct). Meanwhile, Mateer will face a defense led by one of the nation’s best edge rushers (Keldric Faulk).

Both teams will have played tough out-of-conference opponents before this game — Baylor for Auburn, Michigan for Oklahoma — but this game starts tough stretches for each team. Auburn’s next three games are at Texas A&M and then home against Georgia and Missouri. Oklahoma has an open date and then Kent State before the Texas game touches off possibly the toughest seven-game stretch in college football history.

Texas Tech at Utah – September 20

It’s tough to pick Pivot Point games in the Big 12 because so many of the teams feel evenly matched. But for Texas Tech’s offseason investment in the transfer portal pays off, the Red Raiders will need to be able to beat a team like Utah.

The Utes’ line of scrimmage players were recruited to win a Pac-12 that still included Oregon, Washington and USC, and if New Mexico transfer quarterback Devon Dampier can spark an offense that has struggled since Cam Rising injured his knee in the Rose Bowl following the 2022 season, then Utah should be capable of contending for the Big 12 title.

This game will match two of the league’s best rosters, and the winner will have a big head-to-head chip in its pocket come November.

Oregon at Penn State – September 27

This will be the first major test for a new-look Ducks team that had to replace first-rounders on both lines of scrimmage and veteran quarterback. Oregon can lose this game and still make the College Football Playoff, but this is the type of team Oregon will have to beat once in the CFP.

The same goes for Penn State, but probably with more urgency. The Nittany Lions did make the semifinals last season, but they did it by beating SMU and Boise State. If Penn State wants to win a national title, it has to start beating opponents with elite talent. This is that type of game. Plus, with road games against Iowa and Ohio State and a visit from Indiana later in the season, there is no guarantee that Penn State can afford to lose this one.

Alabama at Georgia – September 27

This game didn’t necessarily prove anything last season. Alabama jumped on Georgia early and then survived a furious comeback, but the Crimson Tide ended up missing the CFP and Georgia wound up winning the SEC.

The degree of difficulty of an Alabama win in Athens this season might be more indicative of a return to the CFP. With a new starting QB — we’re presuming Ty Simpson — this is a rough first SEC road game. (At least the Tide get the season opener at Florida State to work out any on-the-road kinks.) But if Simpson (or Keelon Russell, if it goes that way), can win between the hedges, he can win anywhere.

Meanwhile, Georgia will be coming off its SEC opener at Tennessee. A win in both could provide a huge confidence boost the rest of the way. Yes, the Bulldogs would still have to play Florida, Ole Miss and Texas, but they get the Rebels and Longhorns at home and haven’t lost to the Gators since 2020.

Boise State at Notre Dame – October 4

The Broncos don’t have to just win the Mountain West to get back to the CFP. They need to prove they can be competitive against a playoff-caliber opponent. Last year, Boise State’s loss at Oregon probably was more important than most of the Broncos’ wins because it showed they could go toe-to-toe against an elite roster. A win at Notre Dame would leave no doubt in that category.

The Fighting Irish have several tough early-season games (at Miami, Texas A&M), and this one ends a challenging early stretch. If Notre Dame comes out of it 5-0 or 4-1, the Irish probably are headed back to the CFP.

Michigan at USC – October 11

Last year’s meeting summed up much of what ailed both programs.

Michigan couldn’t throw, and USC couldn’t stop Michigan from scoring the winning touchdown even though everyone in the stadium knew Michigan couldn’t throw.

This meeting should provide a clear view of how — or whether — these teams have evolved.

Michigan will have played Oklahoma, Nebraska and Wisconsin. (The Nebraska game likely will be without head coach Sherrone Moore because of a school-imposed suspension.) We should know by this point how much of a difference freshman QB Bryce Underwood will make.

USC, meanwhile, will have three Big Ten games under its belt (Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois). It should be 2-1 at worst in those games, and a win against the Wolverines would put the Trojans in a great position heading into games at Notre Dame and Nebraska.

Louisville at Miami – October 17

The Hurricanes’ toughest games might come in the first month, but Notre Dame and Florida aren’t in the ACC. Miami can lose those games and still have a chance to make the CFP as the ACC champ (or possibly as an at-large). Louisville is a potential ACC title contender this year, but if Miami can beat the Cardinals it would put the Hurricanes in a good spot. Miami plays SMU but doesn’t play Clemson in the regular season, so beating Louisville on a Friday night could give the Hurricanes the inside track on an ACC title game berth.

Louisville plays Clemson and SMU in back-to-back weeks in November, so it might need to win this one to have a crack at the ACC title.

Nebraska at Minnesota – October 17

The last Nebraska–Minnesota game — Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule’s debut in 2023 — was a prime example of the late-game collapses Rhule was hired to purge from the program. Two years later, Rhule seems to have made significant progress.

For Nebraska to take the next step, it needs to win games like this. Minnesota isn’t the sexiest opponent, but the Golden Gophers are tough, well coached and have beaten the Cornhuskers in the teams’ past five meetings.

Minnesota also wants to take another step. The Gophers closed last season by winning six of their last eight, and coach P.J. Fleck’s team should start this season hot. Minnesota should be 5-1 when Nebraska visits. With trips to Iowa and Oregon still on the docket, a win against the Cornhuskers could provide big momentum heading into a critical stretch.

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Nebraska basketball to open Hall of Fame Classic with New Mexico

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Central Michigan University

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – After six seasons of consistent success, and a historic 2025 season, softball Head Coach McCall Salmon has announced the promotion of Assistant Coach Sara Driesenga to Associate Head Coach effectively immediately. Driesenga, who has served as the pitching coach and as an assistant coach for every year Salmon has been […]

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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – After six seasons of consistent success, and a historic 2025 season, softball Head Coach McCall Salmon has announced the promotion of Assistant Coach Sara Driesenga to Associate Head Coach effectively immediately.

Driesenga, who has served as the pitching coach and as an assistant coach for every year Salmon has been leading the program, has become invaluable to the success of the Maroon & Gold during the recent stretch of achievements for Chippewa Softball over the last six seasons.

“I am thrilled to promote Coach Driesenga to Associate Head Coach” says Coach Salmon. “Her dedication, leadership and unwavering commitment to our program have made a lasting impact on both our players and staff. This promotion is a testament to her hard work, ability to inspire, and vision for our continued success. We are fired up to see how she continues to lead our pitching saff and impact our student-athletes daily.”

A standout pitcher for the University of Michigan and Hudsonville, Michigan native, has bred success in the circle for Chippewa pitchers that have since stamped their names in the Central Michigan Softball record book.

Grace Lehto, a 2024 graduate of the program, who pitched for four seasons under the leadership of Driesenga, was named First Team All-MAC twice, earned Second Team honors once, and was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Tournament in 2022.

Lehto, who ended her career with 567 strikeouts, ranks third in program history in that category. Under Driesenga, Lehto made 131 appearances in the circle, third best in program history, collect the ninth most wins in a career with 50, charted a second best six saves, threw 61 complete games, seventh most in program history, and her 623.3 innings pitched, and the fifth most by any pitcher in Central Michigan Softball history.

Against Bowling Green, April 26^th of 2023, Lehto threw the most recent no-hitter in program history.

“I am so thrilled for Coach Sara in her new role; nobody is more deserving than her. When I was recruited to play at CMU, I was so excited to have the opportunity to learn from and be coached by one of the most legendary pitchers in our game.” Says Lehto.

“Little did I know the impact that Coach Sara would have on not only my athletic career as a pitcher at Central Michigan, but on my life. Her mentorship made me a better pitcher in so many ways; she knows the game of softball from every angle. She is so intelligent and creates an individual relationship with each pitcher to help them achieve their full potential. Her mentorship has also led be to be a better teammate, friend, sister, human. I am so fortunate to have been coaches by Sara, she has had a forever impact on my life, and I am so grateful I know call her a friend for life.”

In the last six seasons leading CMU, the Chippewa pitching staff under the direction of Driesenga has been consistently thriving in the statistical categories.

CMU has held opponents to a .289 batting average in the last six seasons combined, sixth best in the league, and ranks fourth in both strikeouts (1312, 218/season) and .63 strikeouts/hit allowed. The 218.7 strikeouts per season, is also fourth best in the conference.

In the 2025 season, Mackenzie Langan was named First Team All-MAC as a right-handed pitcher for the Chippewas.

Langan posted a 2.94 ERA in her junior season, and a 2.03 ERA in MAC play. Her total ERA for the season was third best in the MAC, and holding her opponents to a .261 batting average, she held the sixth best spot in the conference. Langan collected 13 wins in the 2025 season – fifth best in the MAC and tossed 11 complete games with six shutouts.

For the latest news and updates on CMU Softball, follow the team on X (@cmusoftball) and Instagram (@cmichsoftball).