'It's not close': Former All-Big Ten star calls out College Football 26 ranking of Ohio State and Penn State home field
The highly anticipated release of EA Sports College Football 26 is just a few weeks away, and excitement is growing as we approach the launch date. EA Sports has shared detailed information about the updates, and we are starting to see early rankings and positioning as we enter Year 2 of this annual release. Ohio […]
The highly anticipated release of EA Sports College Football 26 is just a few weeks away, and excitement is growing as we approach the launch date. EA Sports has shared detailed information about the updates, and we are starting to see early rankings and positioning as we enter Year 2 of this annual release.
Ohio State fans likely aren't as upset as the Oregon Ducks fans are right now, but Buckeyes fans have some evidence that their program was wronged in the ranking of the hardest places to play. It's hard to quibble about not being No. 1, but the Buckeyes ranked third behind Penn State.
Former Indiana Hoosiers center Mike Katic, who now works at Barstool Sports, didn't take long to add his first-hand experience to the matter.
"Coming from someone who had to hear the snap count in Beaver and Ohio Stadium, Ohio Stadium is louder and it’s not close. #PTSD"
With 52 games and 50 starts under his belt between left guard and center, the former team captain and Third-Team All-Big Ten nominee has one of the most unique resumes in college football sports media. He has recent experience and was a solid player, despite not being drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft.
He thought he'd be a Day 3 pick, but instead, he began with Barstool on March 1.
Ohio Stadium holds just under 103,000 people and is well-known to be a hostile environment. While the stadium isn't engineered to maximize noise, the gameday experience has been maligned in recent years. Fans haven't felt the same energy from the stadium experience as others have at Penn State, LSU, or even Texas A&M.
Beaver Stadium actually holds over 107,000, and their blaring PA system is constantly heard through he television. Mo Bamba isn't the only song they rely on, but that's become their go-to in key situations. The Buckeyes use Seven Nation Army and Hang On Sloopy, so they're a bit less modern.
Having been to both, I think EA Sports got it right. Beaver Stadium literally moves when it's at its peak. Ohio Stadium is close, but the field doesn't quite get the amplification effect because of the design.
Still, both are excellent, and if players disagree with the Bucks at No. 3, then that speaks louder than my opinion.
