Tag: Kyle Field

Ranking every SEC football stadium from worst to first

Best architecture? Setting? Atmosphere? We ranked each and every stadium in the SEC from worst to best.

With Texas A&M beginning their fall camp this week it means it’s time to turn the page toward an exciting college football season in the SEC.

There will be no shortage of narratives to follow this season as Georgia looks to pull off a potential threepeat as national champions, while Nick Saban’s Alabama seeks to return to the College Football Playoff after sitting on the outside looking in last year. LSU, in year two with Brian Kelly, hopes to contend for a conference title after winning the SEC West a season ago.

Of course, the Aggies will be motivated to compile a bounce-back campaign in the fall after underwhelming with a 5-7 (2-6 SEC) record in 2022. Most notably, this season will mark the last in the current 14-team format of the conference, before Texas and Oklahoma join in on the fun in 2024.

With that in mind, we revisited the current SEC landscape to determine the best stadiums throughout the conference, based on a handful of factors such as setting, architecture, history, and of course the overall atmosphere. While some stadiums may be lauded for their raucous environments, it remains to be seen whether that equates to a stellar grade on our “best stadiums” rankings.

Here are the rankings of each and every stadium in the SEC, going from worst to best:

Report: The Aggie football team has its annual open practice set or August 6th

Fans will be able to get their eyes back on the Aggie football team on August 6th for the annual preseason practice.

Football is creeping up on us, and I can’t wait for it to start. The Aggies will have their annual pool party, hoping to make one last big impression on recruits before the season begins. According to a university spokesperson, the Aggie football team will have its annual preseason practice at Kyle Field on August 6th. Media and fans will see how the offense will look under the influence of new OC Bobby Petrino since the spring scrimmage.

There is something to be said about the hire as Texas A&M is hitting on some top 2024 wide receiver recruits, and every time an offense player is asked how things are different, they light up when talking about the offensive changes and speed. Carter Karels of GigEm247 dropped the news earlier today via social media.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

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Texas A&M’s home field advantage deemed a ‘myth’ by one SEC writer

According to one SEC columnist, the reputation that Kyle Field and the 12th Man hold is simply, in one word, a “myth.”

The SEC is among the most competitive Division I sports conferences, equating to housing some of the most daunting places to play for any college football team. No matter how talented or elite a program is, any team can be on upset watch when playing in a hostile environment.

Kyle Field, the home of Texas A&M football and the raucous 12th Man, has been no stranger to playing a role in some incredible upsets, such as last season’s win over No. 5 LSU. It’s been regarded as one of the most intimidating sports venues by sports writers, media outlets, and even rival fans alike.

But according to USA TODAY SEC columnist Blake Toppmeyer, the reputation that Kyle Field and the 12th Man hold is, in a word, a “myth.”

Toppmeyer looked at SEC team winning percentages since 2012 (when the conference expanded to 14 teams) to unearth the best home-field advantage. South Carolina (1), Florida (2), and Auburn (3) round out the top three, while heavyweights such as Georgia (8) and Alabama (12) are further down below.

As for the Aggies and Kyle Field, they ranked dead last at No. 14, behind the likes of Vanderbilt, who sit second-to-last:

“Kyle Field towers in size, but the Home of the 12th Man doesn’t create an advantage to equal its branding. When you include the Aggies’ neutral-site results against Arkansas, Texas A&M is the SEC’s only team that has a better record (27-22) in non-home conference games the past 11 seasons than it does in SEC home games (21-19).”

Below is Toppmeyer’s breakdown of the Aggies’ winning percentage at home versus on the road, including his quote that doubles down by calling the home of the 12th Man a “myth:”

SEC home winning percentage:  .525

SEC road/neutral winning percentage:  .551

Difference:  Minus- .026

Toppmeyer’s take:  “Kyle Field is an impressive venue, but the Aggies’ 12th Man advantage is a myth.”

I’m sorry, but name me one person that would rather go and play amongst the 102,733 crowd at Kyle Field versus the Commodores’ FirstBank Stadium, which is currently the smallest stadium in the SEC with a 40,550 seating capacity.

I would like to see the average winning margin of the Aggies’ home games layered onto these rankings because a three-point loss to Ole Miss in Week 8 last season hits differently than a 17-point loss to the Gators a week after. I’d venture to argue no SEC team is walking into the hostile crowd at Kyle Field and thinking the matchup will be a cakewalk, regardless of record.

The winning percentage alone can’t serve as a proxy for the hostility and pressure from over 100,000 fans screaming at you when trying to get a play call in. Aggie football may have had its recent struggles, but by no means is the 12th Man indicative of a last-place ranking among the other SEC fanbases.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

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ChatGPT ranks the scariest places to play in the SEC – Where did Texas A&M land?

ChatGPT worked its magic to rank the most daunting places to play in the SEC. So where did Kyle Field, home of the Texas A&M football, land on the list?

College football isn’t exactly known for its parity across the Power Five conferences, but that doesn’t mean anything, and everything, can happen on a given day. Crowd hostility, elevation, and sections filled with raucous students are just a few factors of having home-field advantage, and the SEC is no different.

In a ranking compiled by ChatGPT and shared through Saturday Down South, the artificial intelligence chatbot worked its magic to list the most daunting stadiums to play at in the SEC. Because why should you take the word of a diehard college football fan when you can easily ask AI to follow a prompt and provide a detailed response?

ChatGPT rankings have become quite entertaining across the sports landscape and its list of most intimidating SEC stadiums is no exception. Does artificial intelligence fear the Swamp as any other football program would? Does “The Vaught” hold a spot within the top 10?

And of course, the question that matters most: where does Kyle Field, home of Texas A&M and no stranger to pulling off massive upsets, land in ChatGPT’s rankings?

Take a look below at how the AI bot ranked each SEC home stadium, and of course, let the “friendly” debates begin:

Texas A&M 2023 Maroon and White Spring Game: First half highlights and reaction

The first half of Texas A&M’s 2023 Maroon and White game is in the books as both signal-callers flashed their arm strength, with a couple of highlight-worthy plays made by the defense.

Texas A&M is putting a bow on its spring football program with the 2023 Maroon and White Game, with all the action taking place at Kyle Field.

With Conner Weigman leading the Maroon Team and Max Johnson helming the White Team, both signal-callers looked comfortable in Bobby Petrino’s new offensive scheme. We even saw some beautiful ball placement in a highlight-worthy over-the-shoulder throw from Weigman to Evan Stewart early in the first quarter.

As for Johnson, it was the White Team that managed to find the endzone first thanks to a deep ball throw to Micah Tease after the senior signal-caller took advantage of excellent pass protection. Even in the spring, it’s always a welcome sight for a quarterback to air it out. Just before the end of the first half, Johnson would connect with tight end Fernando Garza for the White Team’s second touchdown of the half.

HALFTIME SCORE: Maroon Team: 13, White Team: 16

In a low-scoring first half, it was the defense that was on display with sophomore Walter Nolen, sporting a brand new #0 jersey number, coming up with a couple of big stops. The sophomore recorded both a pass-breakup and a tackle for loss through the first two quarters.

HIGHLIGHTS

The White Team finds the endzone first thanks to a beautiful connection between Max Johnson and Micah Tease:

The White Team regains the lead after Johnson finds the endzone once again, this time connecting with Fernando Garza:

Not to be outdone by the signal callers, Amari Daniels tied the score at 13 apiece thanks to a 15-yard score just before the end of the first half:

Be on the lookout for more Aggies Wire coverage once the 2023 Maroon and White game wraps up later today!

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Texas A&M 2023 Maroon and White Spring Game Preview: Inactives, storylines, and more

As the Aggies prepare to kick off the 2023 Maroon and White Spring Game, we break down the latest on which players are likely to be inactive as well as storylines to follow before Saturday afternoon.

Texas A&M‘s 2023 Maroon and White Spring Game will kick off at 3:00 p.m. CT from Kyle Field in College Station, but don’t be surprised if you see the annual exhibition running a bit differently than usual. According to the latest updates, the Aggies could be without a handful of participants, in addition to playing ball with some last-minute adjustments.

Among the players that are not expected to suit up for Saturday’s exhibition include:

LT Trey Zuhn III (torn labrum surgery), C Bryce Foster (torn ACL/with A&M track team), RT Hunter Erb (shoulder surgery), OL TJ Shanahan (torn ACL), and TE Max Wright (unspecified reasons). All these players were previously ruled out for the spring.

TE Donovan Green and S Jacoby Mathews will likely be unavailable as well. Head coach Jimbo Fisher told the media earlier this week that Green, who suffered an ankle injury recently in practice, may not participate. Mathews received an indefinite suspension after university police arrested him for possession of marijuana Tuesday.

Seven other players, including offensive linemen Josh Bankhead, Jordan Spasojevic-Moko, and Aki Ogunbiyi, did not practice on Wednesday. The same goes for defensive linemen McKinnley Jackson and Fadil Diggs, WR Moose Muhammad III, and DB Bobby Taylor. Early-enrolled freshman CB Jayvon Thomas managed to only participate in a limited capacity.

All of those potential absences could leave the Aggies with fewer than 50 scholarship players for the spring game.

Additionally, there remains the small, but noteworthy, storyline regarding the condition of Kyle Field.

The ongoing construction on the south end, which is being done to add 23 new suites, will not be completed until before the upcoming football season. So for today’s game, A&M will have only 85 out of 120 possible yards on the field to use, which will be between the edge of the north end zone and the opposite 25-yard line.

As a short-term solution, head coach Jimbo Fisher noted that the Aggies will simply flip the field after each possession, which means the offense will always be moving from south to north. As a result, they will always be able to simulate kickoffs, punts, and field goals when applicable.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Texas Aggies Football: Kyle Field considered one of 2023’s most intimidating home stadiums

The energy from the Aggies faithful is no joke as Kyle Field is projected to be one of the most intimidating home stadiums in 2023.

Kyle Field has been home to some incredible performances over the years. Will it add another historic chapter during the 2023 college football season?

247Sports unveiled their projections for the 11 most intimidating home football stadiums next season, and the home domain of Texas A&M cracked the list at No. 11. They are specifically eyeing the October 7 matchup as the Aggies play host to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

A number of SEC behemoths throughout history have fallen victim to the roaring crowd of the Aggie faithful, so it makes sense for Kyle Field to be included in the rankings once more.

Let’s rewind the tape to November 2022, when A&M pulled off arguably the biggest SEC upset of last season in a 38-23 win over the No. 5 LSU Tigers in College Station. It may have happened in the final week of the season, but Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies got their signature win while effectively ending the Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes.

From Devon Achane’s 37 carries for 211 yards and two touchdowns to Moose Muhammad III’s sensational one-handed touchdown grab, the upset was a sight to behold.

Fast forward back to reality and it’s clear the Crimson Tide will pose a different level of competition when they meet the Aggies in October. Then again, the Maroon and White have seen this movie play out before after notching a thrilling 41-38 win over No. 1 Alabama back in 2021.

The common denominator with the LSU upset? Both feats took place at Kyle Field.

Plenty of questions lie ahead for Aggies football next season, from the status of the starting quarterback to the integration of Bobby Petrino’s offense. But one undisputable fact that remains is that Kyle Field will show up and show out every Saturday afternoon.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Kyle Field listed among the best 11 venues in college football

Kyle Field is among the best venues according to this list from On3.

The SEC is home to some of the best stadiums in all of college football. Among the top include Kyle Field, home of the 12th man. At least that is how Ivan Maisel of On3 sees it. In a recent list, Maisel listed the Aggies’ home as one of the 11 best in the country. Just four SEC stadiums made the list.

Kyle Field was built in 1927 and only held a capacity of 32,890 but it grew to over 40,000 by 1953. Today the stadium can hold 102,733 screaming fans on any given Saturday.

What Ivan Maisel Says…

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Howdy, and welcome to Kyle Field, home of the Texas Aggies. There’s no hospitality like Aggie hospitality, just as there’s no college football weekend quite like a Texas A&M weekend. From Midnight Yell Practice on Friday night to the 12th Man standing poised to enter the game, from the white unis of the yell leaders to the military precision of the Aggie Band, from the way the Kyle Field actually sways when everyone – and I mean damn near everyone – sings the Aggie War Hymn, a game at Texas A&M offers plenty that you’ll see nowhere else.

The list for the SEC includes Bryant-Denny Stadium (Alabama), Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn), and Sanford Stadium (Georgia). The Aggies will make trips to the first two on the list in the 2022 season.

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Kyle Field is listed at one of the most intimidating stadiums in college football

Kyle Field is listed at one of the most intimdating stadiums in college football

Every weekend during the college football season, one team prepares to travel to their opponent’s stadium, hoping to withstand the various elements that make each environment unique, composed of passionate fanbases who will do anything to help their team secure a win. From the whiteouts during night games at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium to having to face the raucous crowd at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, teams feed off of the crowd’s undying passion and energy and can change the momentum of any game at any moment.

Recently, Brad Crawford of 247Sports composed a list ranking the “9 most intimidating stadiums in 2022”, coming at a perfect time just months before the start of the 2022 college football season. For Texas A&M. Kyle Field is sacred ground, and has become a larger presence as one of the more intimidating venues since it’s move to the SEC in 2012. And to no ones surprise, it made the top 9, with Crawford explaining his selection:

At field level, the volume is deafening inside Kyle Field when Texas A&M plays a nationally-ranked opponent. The Aggies could get as many as four of those opportunities this season, beginning with Mario Cristobal and Miami in Week 3, followed by anticipated games with Ole Miss, Florida and LSU over the second half of the schedule. This will be Jimbo Fisher’s most talented squad in College Station, one most analysts believe could be a College Football Playoff contender if they’re able to beat conference favorite Alabama on the road in October.

The Top 9: 

  1. Memorial Stadium (Clemson)
  2. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)
  3. Neyland Stadium (Tennesee)
  4. Sanford Stadium (Georgia)
  5. Tiger Stadium (LSU)
  6. Autzen Stadium (Oregon)
  7. Kyle Field (Texas A&M)
  8. Beaver Stadium (Penn State)
  9. D.W.R Stadium (Arkansas)

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Alabama vs. Texas A&M: Game day information, how to watch, stream, listen

Night game at Kyle Field? Sign me up! Here is how you can watch all the action between Alabama and Texas A&M!

Nick Saban will look to improve to 25-0 over his former assistants this Saturday when No. 1 Alabama will travel to College Station to take on Jimbo Fisher and the Texas A&M Aggies.

Saban already owns a 4-0 record against Jimbo Fisher. One of those victories came when Fisher was still the head coach at Florida State.

Last Saturday Alabama played its best game of the season but still did not hold the intensity for the entire sixty-minute contest. Let’s see if the Tide can finally put a complete game together against a reeling Aggies team.

Here is how you can watch:

Kickoff, How to Watch/Stream/Listen

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CT, Saturday, Oct. 9

Location: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas

Television: CBS (Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, and Jamie Erdahl)

Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network/ TuneIn app

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

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