Ranking all 18 Big Ten football programs by home attendance during 2024 season
The upcoming season will again see iconic venues define some of its greatest moments. In 2024, those moments included Michigan's startling win at Ohio State, Oregon's big-time regular-season win over the Buckeyes and, finally, Ohio State's revenge in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl.
Looking forward, we recently ranked the Big Ten's 18 football stadiums, as well as each stadium's in-game atmosphere. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the top-ranked venues also draw large and engaged crowds. More specifically, the Big Ten boasts the nation's top three in D1.ticker's average home attendance numbers for the 2024 season, plus several more in the top 25.
Here is where each Big Ten program ranks in home attendance in 2024, listed with the stadium's capacity and where it lands in our conference power rankings.
18. Northwestern Wildcats
Average attendance: 17,470
Capacity: 12,023
Stadium rank: 13
Northwestern's temporary stadium wasn't built for a large number of people. The demand for tickets is seen in its attendance number, which is 116% of the stadium's listed capacity. While not a typical college football stadium, Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium appears to be a great place to watch a football game.
17. SECU Stadium (Maryland Terrapins)
Average attendance: 36,040
Capacity: 51,802
Stadium rank: 17
Maryland's struggles during the 2024 season contribute to its subpar attendance total. That season saw the program snap a three-year streak of winning records, casting a negative outlook entering 2025 and beyond. Don't be surprised if this number drops further.
16. UCLA Bruins
Average attendance: 46,805
Capacity: 89,702
Stadium rank: 1
The Rose Bowl is our best stadium in the Big Ten. However, that ranking includes the annual Rose Bowl game. UCLA games don't draw consistent enough crowds to bring the venue to life. Part of that is due to the stadium being a significant drive from campus.
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire
15. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Average attendance: 47,467
Capacity: 50,805
Stadium rank: 15
While not a contender to win the Big Ten, Minnesota consistently fills its stadium. A near 94% average capacity ranks among the best in the conference.
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Average attendance: 48,341
Capacity: 52,454
Stadium rank: 18
Rutgers is riding a strong wave under head coach Greg Schiano, with three bowl appearances in four seasons. That success has led to recruiting success and increased attendance. The question now is whether the program can continue its winning ways.
13. Indiana Hoosiers
Average attendance: 48,374
Capacity: 52,626
Stadium rank: 12
Indiana rocketed up this list in the first year under Curt Cignetti. The program gained nearly 4,000 fans per game, which still includes the early-season contests before the fanbase realized they had a winner. After the team's CFP run, 2025 could see the highest attendance levels in Memorial Stadium history.
12. Illinois Fighting Illini
Average attendance: 54,750
Capacity: 60,670
Stadium rank: 14
Illinois, like Indiana, is set for a major attendance boost after a terrific 2024 season. The team has high expectations entering, and rightfully so. The environment and Memorial Stadium should reflect that sentiment.
11. Oregon Ducks
Average attendance: 59,104
Capacity: 54,000
Stadium rank: 4
Oregon gets the most out of its 54,000-seat stadium, quite literally. On average, the team welcomed 109.45% of the stadium's capacity in 2024. That should continue in future years, with Dan Lanning and the Ducks looking like a perennial national title contender.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
10. Purdue Boilermakers
Average attendance: 59,887
Capacity: 57,236
Stadium rank: 16
Ross-Ade Stadium always shows out well when Purdue is competitive. That did not happen in 2024, to say the least. The start of the Barry Odom era could see a dip in fan interest as the program works to rebuild.
9. Michigan State Spartans
Average attendance: 65,307
Capacity: 75,005
Stadium rank: 11
Spartan Stadium is a sleeping giant. The program hasn't reached a bowl game in three seasons. A fanbase that typically creates one of the best environments in the conference hasn't had much to cheer about. They expect Jonathan Smith and young quarterback Aidan Chiles to begin to turn the tide in 2025.
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire
8. Washington Huskies
Average attendance: 68,865
Capacity: 70,138
Stadium rank: 6
Husky Stadium is one of the best additions to the Big Ten landscape. While Washington's 2024 season was up-and-down, the venue consistently delivers great crowds and a terrific environment. 2025 could be a breakthrough year for Jedd Fisch and company.
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
7. Iowa Hawkeyes
Average attendance: 69,250
Capacity: 69,250
Stadium rank: 7
Unsurprisingly, Iowa averaged a full-capacity crowd during the 2024 season. The Hawkeyes are one of several traditional Big Ten programs that don't need to contend for national titles to fill their stadium and engage their fan base. Kinnick Stadium will continue to be one of the toughest places to play in the conference.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
6. USC Trojans
Average attendance: 71,571
Capacity: 77,500
Stadium rank: 10
The current era of USC football is bringing fans. But even with the large numbers in the stadium, L.A. Memorial Coliseum creates a less-than-stellar environment. Lincoln Riley may need to break through to the CFP before the program returns to its early-2000s atmosphere.
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
5. Wisconsin Badgers
Average attendance: 76,057
Capacity: 80,321
Stadium rank: 5
Despite a program downturn dating back to 2022, Camp Randall Stadium continues to be one of the more well-attended stadiums in college football. The venue is set to host several big games in 2025. That said, Wisconsin delivering another bowl-less season could lead to a dip in future attendance numbers.
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Average attendance: 86,900
Capacity: 85,458
Stadium rank: 8
Nebraska boasts the longest sellout streak in NCAA history -- 403 games, dating back to 1962. Some may argue the validity of that streak, as many games over the years have been far from full capacity. Either way, the Nebraska fanbase deserves immense credit for filling the stadium through 15-plus years of struggles.
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
Average attendance: 104,216
Capacity: 102,780
Stadium rank: 2
Ohio Stadium begins a trio of Big Ten venues that lead the nation in average attendance. The capacity crowds and dominant team are part of what make the venue one of the sport's best.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
Average attendance: 108,379
Capacity: 106,572
Stadium rank: 3
Penn State tops our ranking of Big Ten stadium atmospheres. That is partially due to a more-than-capacity crowd that nears the 110,000 mark. The start of home CFP games will only further elevate this venue.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
1. Michigan Wolverines
Average attendance: 110,548
Capacity: 107,601
Stadium rank: 9
Michigan Stadium leads the list of overall capacity and average fan attendance. Our specific stadium rankings are another story, although that was explained elsewhere.
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
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Editor's note: All week, The Athletic is writing about college football rivalries at a moment of change in the sport. Read our ranking of the top 100 rivalries here and also vote for your favorites. Evaluating and ranking college football's greatest rivalries from one to 100 requires more than just a working knowledge of the sport's history and a spreadsheet. But both come in handy when evaluating rivalries from college football's primitive past to its sprawling future. Advertisement When this process began in March, approximately 150 rivalries were considered from all levels of college football. After research and multiple conversations, a preliminary list of 100 came together. Each rivalry was judged independently by applying 11 core criteria. The rivalries then were re-ranked after delving into each one's history. Only 13 rivalries stayed in their original slot, with some (USC-Stanford) moving up significantly, while others (Utah-BYU) fell a few slots. 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All figures are considered guidelines, not an automatic determination. Oklahoma-Oklahoma State was the most difficult to slot. Bedlam boasts 19 ranked matchups, including three in the top 10. Based on those numbers, it's a top-15 rivalry. However, Bedlam has the second-widest win-loss disparity in FBS history with a 71-victory difference in favor of the Sooners. That made it difficult to measure alongside Kansas-Missouri (one win) or Minnesota-Wisconsin (tied). Also, Bedlam is now dormant without any scheduled games on the horizon. In similar fashion, Iowa-Iowa State fell lower than initial expectations, with just one matchup of ranked teams in the history of the rivalry. BYU-Utah (three) and Stanford-Cal (four) also fell with a low number of ranked matchups. They struggled to measure up against Michigan-Michigan State (19 ranked matchups), for instance. On the flip side, Washington-Oregon and Iowa-Wisconsin each finished higher than initially expected. 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Florida-Auburn: The Gators and Tigers played annually from 1944-2002, and it was a protected series when the SEC first split into divisions. They have played 84 times (Auburn leads 43-39-2), including 18 ranked battles, but have had just four meetings since 2002. It's just too irregular to make the top 100. Air Force-Army/Navy: Games among the service academies are worth acknowledging, but Army-Navy overshadows Air Force in the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy series. Air Force leads Army (38-20-1) and Navy (34-23) and boasts 21 CIC trophies, while Navy has 17 and Army 10 (and five ties) since it was instituted in 1972. But in games involving Air Force, there were none with two ranked teams. St. John's-St. Thomas: The battle for the 'Holy Grail' set a Division III record with 37,355 fans at the Twins' Target Field in 2017. Two years later, schools in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — but not St. John's — voted to evict St. Thomas after it had become too dominant. St. Thomas left Division III for FCS, and the football rivalry is history. St. John's owns a 53-35-1 record. Tuskegee-Morehouse: Known as 'The Granddaddy of All Classics,' the Tuskegee-Morehouse series began in 1902, but the teams have competed at neutral sites (mostly Columbus, Ga.) since 1936. The nation's oldest and most-played rivalry among HBCU schools, Tuskegee leads 75-31-7. This fall, the Division II classic shifts to Montgomery, Ala. Advertisement Cincinnati-Louisville: Only 100 miles separate the campuses, and they play for the 'Keg of Nails.' Cincinnati leads the series 30-23-1, although they never had a ranked matchup. But when Louisville moved to the ACC in 2014, the schools never scheduled a home-and-home. If it wasn't important enough for a bus trip, it's not a top-100 rivalry. Northwest Missouri State-Pittsburg State: Since 1989, these teams have dominated the MIAA. Northwest has won or shared 19 league titles while Pitt State has claimed 14. Northwest has Division II records in national titles (six) and appearances (10), while the Gorillas have two and five, respectively. From 2002-13, they met at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bearcats lead, 29-28. Utah-Utah State: The schools played annually from 1919-2009, and they join BYU in competition for the Beehive Boot. Individually, this series is called 'Battle of the Brothers.' But Utah outgrew this series when it joined the Pac-12 (which Utah State will join in its diminished form in 2026) and then the Big 12. The Utes have won 80 of their 113 meetings, and they've played just twice since 2013. Boston College-Holy Cross: From 1919-86, the teams played every season but two — 1943 (World War II) and 1969 (hepatitis outbreak at Holy Cross, 75 players infected). After NCAA football split into FBS and FCS in 1978, the programs grew on different trajectories. They've played just twice since 1986 (2018, 2023). BC leads 50-31-3, though Holy Cross notably trounced No. 1 Boston College 55-12 in a stunning 1942 upset. Duke-Georgia Tech: From their first meeting in 1933, these teams played every fall, a 90-year streak that began 20 years before the ACC was formed and 30 years before Georgia Tech left the SEC. That string was snapped in 2023 when the ACC eliminated divisional play. Beginning in 2024, they're scheduled to play four times over seven years. The Yellowjackets lead 55-35-1. Ten others considered: Colorado-Utah, Illinois-Purdue, Iowa-Northwestern, Miami-Virginia Tech, Missouri-Nebraska, Nevada-UNLV, Notre Dame-Pittsburgh, Penn State-Syracuse, Sam Houston-Texas State, UTEP-New Mexico State. With realignment still swirling, new series pop up every year. Sure, Ohio State-Oregon, Alabama-Texas and USC-Michigan can become must-see events in the SEC and Big Ten. But what about series that can turn into legitimate annual rivalries? Here's a look at six that have that potential. Washington State-Boise State: The new-look Pac-12 Conference features plenty of intriguing matchups, but neighbors Boise State and Washington State have the most upside. They've played only seven times (Wazzu leads 5-2), but the Cougars could give Boise State its first true FBS enemy, and the Broncos could fill Washington State's rivalry void. Advertisement West Virginia-Cincinnati: These teams competed for seven years together in the Big East. But back then, the Mountaineers had plenty of established rivals in the Big East. Now, they're in their third year together in the Big 12, and they're alone in their geographic footprint. West Virginia leads 18-3-1 overall. TCU-Houston: These former Southwest Conference and Conference USA foes have played only 27 times, but Houston joined the Southwest in 1976, and it lasted just 20 more seasons. Now, as Big 12 anchors in Houston and the Metroplex, there's a chance to elevate this series for both programs. After last year's 30-19 upset, Houston ended a nine-game losing streak and now leads 14-13. Arkansas-Oklahoma: Only 230 miles separate these border programs, but they've played just 14 times overall and only three times since 1926. All three meetings were in New Year's Day bowl games (1977, 1986, 2001). This would have made for a great Big Eight or Big 12 rivalry, but now, as SEC partners, Oklahoma-Arkansas seems natural as they navigate through a 16-team conference. Rutgers-Maryland: Maryland had long-standing rivalries from the ACC, while Rutgers did not have a previously dedicated foe when they joined the Big Ten together in 2014. The league stapled them as annual opponents, and it has developed into a nice series. Less than 200 miles separate their campuses, and they are now cemented as permanent Big Ten rivals. Notre Dame-Clemson: The schools have agreed to a 12-year home-and-home series that not only pits two of the top football brands against one another, but it also raises eyebrows. For the Irish, it gives them a dedicated annual opponent should the USC rivalry fade away. For Clemson, this contract runs through 2038, which is beyond the ACC's current grant of rights. Although they've played only eight times — the Tigers lead 5-3 — this has the makings of a marquee national rivalry. (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; photos: Brian Bahr, Erica Denhoff, John Cordes / Getty Images)
