Congratulations to the Alabama Crimson Tide, the 2011 BCS National Champions. Every Bama fan can find licensed Crimson Tide champs gear and merchandise at Fanatics.com, the world’s largest online retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise. With over 350 champs items, a full line of Crimson Tide merchandise, flat rate shipping, yearlong returns and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, customers are sure to enjoy a fan-friendly shopping experience. Two fierce SEC teams going helmet-to-helmet made for an outstanding national championship match-up. The Alabama Crimson Tide overcame the odds and won the ultimate Coaches’ trophy, final score Alabama 21 – LSU 0. This is the first shut-out ever in BCS history and Bama’s 14th national championship! Congrats to the Crimson Tide players and Nick Saban on his 3rd national championship win. For all BCS Championship Merchandise, click here.

College football is quickly approaching. No matter what team you root for on gameday, we recommend visiting these Top College Football Stadiums for the 2011 NCAA season! The following list takes into account scenic views, current stadium capacity, past lists of top stadiums, unique facts about each, and overall gameday atmosphere.

#20 Falcon Stadium, US Air Force Academy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Capacity: 46,692

Unique Facts:

• Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains is the gameday backdrop
• The mascot is a peregrine falcon named “Mach 1,” which means the speed of sound – the peregrine can fly at a speed of 200 miles per hour and dives over the heads of Air Force fans
• 2nd highest elevation in Division I-A football – over 6,620 feet above sea level

Shop Air Force Falcons Gear

#19 Folsom Field, University of Colorado

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Boulder, Colorado

Capacity: 53,613

Unique Facts: 

• Another high elevation – 3rd highest elevation in NCAA football – 5,360 feet above sea level
• Flatiron mountain range is the background setting
• A massive recycling effort in 2008 made it the first “zero-waste” stadium in the NCAA 

Shop Colorado Buffaloes Gear

#18 LaVell Edwards Stadium, Brigham Young University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Provo, Utah

Capacity: 63,725

Unique Facts:

• Mt. Timpanogos and Wasatch Mountain Range are the background views
• Part of the largest collection of North American fossils were stored under the bleachers until 2005 – now displayed in the university’s museum
• Previously known as Cougar Stadium, head coach LaVell Edwards retired in 2000 when the stadium was renamed 

Shop BYU Cougars Gear

#17 Ohio Stadium, Ohio State University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Columbus, Ohio

Capacity: 102,329

Unique Facts:

• 4th largest football stadium in the US
• No field lights are installed. Special lighting is used during night games
• The stadium is a concert venue to some of the biggest names in music like U2 and The Rolling Stones 

Shop Ohio State Buckeyes Gear

#16 Husky Stadium, University of Washington

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Seattle, Washington

Capacity: 72,500

Unique Facts:

• Open side of the stadium looks out on Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains
• 70% of the seats are covered by metal roofs between the end zones
• Noise level has measured 135 decibels…loudest recorded ever 

Shop Washington Huskies Gear

#15 Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium “Death Valley”, Clemson University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Clemson, South Carolina

Capacity: 80,301

Unique Facts:

• 2nd largest stadium in the ACC
• Hosted concerts to popular music artists like Pink Floyd and Rage Against the Machine
• “Howard’s Rock” is a rock given to Frank Howard by a friend claiming to originally be from Death Valley, California. The rock was eventually placed in an encasement and the Clemson Army ROTC protects the rock 24 hours prior to the Clemson/SC game every year

Shop Clemson Tigers Gear

#14 Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn University

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Auburn, Alabama

Capacity: 87,451

Unique Facts:

• Stadium is named for the winningest coach in Auburn football, Ralph “Shug” Jordan, and Cliff Hare a member of the 1st football team and president of the Southern Conference
• 1st SEC school to install an HD video display and 2nd in the NCAA
• Known for great gameday atmospheres and one of the more intimidating places for any opponent

Shop Auburn Tigers Gear

#13 Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida State University

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Tallahassee, Florida

Capacity: 82,300

Unique Facts:

• Largest continuous structure made of brick in the US
• Field named for head coach Bobby Bowden and stadium named for former president at time of construction
• Bronze sculpture resembling Chief Osceola and Renegade, FSU’s mascots, stands 19′ tall outside stadium. At sunset before home games, the Marching Chiefs play as Osceola’s spear is lit on fire

Shop Florida State Seminoles Gear

#12 Camp Randall Stadium, University of Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Capacity: 80,321

Unique Facts:

• Oldest college football stadium – first formed in 1895 and completed in 1917
• 5th largest stadium in the Big Ten Conference
• Built on the Camp Randall grounds, former training camp of the Union Army during the Civil War

Shop Wisconsin Badgers Gear

#11 Tiger Stadium, Louisiana State University

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Capacity: 92,542

Unique Facts:

• Home of the most intimidating mascot in college football, Mike The Tiger (a real tiger)
• One of the worst places for visiting teams because of the loudest atmosphere in stadium history
• New 27×80 HD Video Board

Shop LSU Tigers Gear

#10 Michigan Stadium “The Big House”, University of Michigan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Capacity: 109,901

Unique Facts:

• Largest stadium in the US and 3rd largest in the world
• First night football game in Michigan Stadium history will occur Sept 10, 2011, against Notre Dame
• Size of gameday crowds almost matches Ann Arbor’s population 

Shop Michigan Wolverines Gear

#9 Beaver Stadium, Penn State University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: University Park, Pennsylvania

Capacity: 107,282

Unique Facts:

• 2nd largest stadium in the US and 4th largest in the world
• The WhiteOut occurs when students wear all white during night games and the same for the WhiteHouse during day games
• First stadium to be included in Google Street View

Shop Penn State Nittany Lions Gear 

#8 Sanford Stadium, University of Georgia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Athens, Georgia

Capacity: 92,746

Unique Facts:

• Privet hedges surround the field for not only cosmetic reasons, but also crowd control – originally planted in 1929, removed and restored in 1996
• One of the best mascots, Uga, descends from the original white bulldog and has an air-conditioned doghouse with bags of ice inside
• Field has only been rushed one time in history in 2000 when the Bulldogs beat their rival, the Tennessee Vols, for the first time since 1988 – the goal posts were also torn down

Shop Georgia Bulldogs Gear

#7 Kyle Field, Texas A&M University

 

 

 

 

 

Location: College Station, Texas

Capacity: 83,002

Unique Facts:

• Kyle Field press box has won many honors with accomodations for hundreds of press members
• The entire press box sways during the Aggie War Hymn
• The Zone contains a sports museum, multiple seating levels, and a graveyard right outside for the Aggie mascot

Shop Texas A&M Aggies Gear

#6 Autzen Stadium, University of Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Eugene, Oregon

Capacity: 54,000

Unique Facts:

• One of the loudest stadiums in college football with steep stands, seats close to the field, and a roof that overhangs
• Located near Willamette River and next to Alton Baker Park
• 74 consecutive sellouts dating back to 1999 

Shop Oregon Ducks Gear

#5 Memorial Stadium, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska

Capacity: 81,067

Unique Facts:

• Continuous NCAA record of consecutive sellouts…now at 311
• ‘Huskers fans are some of the most loyal in college football and the stands are always filled with a “Sea of Red”
• The stadium name honors Nebraska natives who served during the Civil and Spanish-American Wars, as well as 751 who died in World War I

Shop Nebraska Cornhuskers Gear

#4 Bryant-Denny Stadium, University of Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Capacity: 101,821

Unique Facts:

• Originally named Denny Stadium after George Denny, former president – changed in 1975 to honor famous past head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant
• 2nd largest stadium in the SEC and 5th largest in the US
• In 2010, South End Zone expanded and the new seats sold out quickly prior to the 2010 season

Shop Alabama Crimson Tide Gear

#3 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium “The Swamp”, University of Florida

 Location: Gainesville, Florida

Capacity: 88,548

Unique Facts:

• Can we say Home Field Advantage? The Swamp is below ground level with enclosed playing areas on every side, which makes humid climate temperatures exceed 100 degrees and screaming fans even louder
• Large bronze statues of the three Heisman Trophy winners placed outside the stadium in April 2011: Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow
• The Gator Chomp symbolizes an alligator’s mouth and fans use this as a gesture to support the team, occuring when the Pride of the Sunshine plays a two-note music sequence from the film Jaws

Shop Florida Gators Gear

#2 Notre Dame Stadium, University of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Notre Dame, Indiana

Capacity: 80,795

Unique Facts: 

• Known as “The House That Rockne Built”, Knute Rockne was a coach who popularized the forward pass and helped the stadium’s construction project get off the ground 
• The playing surface has always consisted of natural grass
• “Rudy”, a biographical film about Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger who dreamt of playing Notre Dame football, was the first movie shot on campus since “Knute Rockne, All American”
• First night game since 1991 will be held on October 22, 2011, against USC

Shop Notre Dame Fighting Irish

#1 Neyland Stadium, University of Tennessee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

Capacity: 102,455

Unique Facts:

• General Robert Neyland made the Vols a football powerhouse from 1926-1952
• One of 70 stadiums in the US bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup
• The largest SEC stadium, 3rd largest in the US and 6th largest in the world
• Unique endzone paint with an orange and white checkerboard
• Located on the Tennessee River, The Volunteer Navy tailgates (or sailgates) outside of Neyland each gameday
• “Rocky Top” is one of the most well-known, repetitively played songs during any college football game

Shop Tennessee Volunteers Gear

The older I get, the more time seems to fly by in a flash. One minute I’m doing taxes, the next minute I’m enjoying a summer vacation, and at the present moment I’m planning Thanksgiving dinner and asking family what they want Santa to bring this year. Regardless of how fast the year goes by, the holiday season is one of my favorites. Spending time with loved ones, eating holiday meals, decorating Christmas trees, watching the seasons change, and most of all, enjoying the many festivities. Planning a holiday party makes you want to pull your hair out at times, but the end result should leave you feeling joyful and ready to begin a new year. Here are the top 10 party decorating ideas for sports fans to start your holiday off right.  And don’t forget, you’ll receive 3-Business Day, Flat Rate Shipping, 365-Day Hassle Free Return Policy, and Unconditional Satisfaction Guarantee!  

#1 Holiday Wreath

Decorate your front door or inside wall with a fun Christmas themed wreath. 19″ in diameter and features a snowman and snowwoman with accents of snowflakes, pine cones and holiday berries.

#2 Wooden Nutcracker

Take a crack at spicing up your fireplace or bar area with this 14″ nutcracker. It not only adds a touch of flare to your home, it also has a lever on the back to help you enjoy holiday foods. Your team’s colors are represented on the painted outfit with a gold base label that says “Nutcracker” with your school name.

#3 Team Etched Decanter

Make sure your glass is always half-full! This 26oz. decanter is made of glass and features your team’s logo etched in detail.

#4 Christmas Tree Ornament

Choose from an assortment of Christmas tree ornaments to adorn your tree in style. Whether you need a sports themed ornament, snowman, or if you have a little fan in training, enjoy our collection of tree decorations.

#5 Santa Hat

Santa Clause will be ready to come down that chimney with loads of presents when he sees your festive hat. It features an embroidered team logo and name, mistletoe graphics and a fuzzy cuff to keep you warm all winter.

#6 Bottle Cork Set

Don’t let your beverage of choice spoil. Top it off with a cork set. These painted resin decals on a fixed cork body are sure to catch the party-goers attention.

#7 Party Tray

Choose from a large selection of party trays for any occasion. From ceramic chip and dip trays, to 5-section serving trays and dessert trays, we’ve got you covered.

#8 Ultimate Party Pack

Knock out your party purchases with this ultimate party pack: 24 7-in. plates, 24 9-in. plates, 25 beverage napkins, 25 dinner napkins, 24 plastic cups and 10 balloons.

#9 4-Pack Photo Coaster Set

Enjoy a photo display while eliminating the need to buy new furniture because of those pesky table rings. Check out this 4-Pack of photo coasters. Each coaster is made of glass and holds a 2″x2″ photo with a foam backing to prevent furniture damage. When they’re not in use, display the coasters vertically in a wooden stand. 

#10 Team Logo Gift Bag

If you’re in a giving mood this holiday season, grab these gift bags to present at your party. Your guests will be filled with surprise and leave in style.

Outside of the SEC Championship game played in December, this weekend’s SEC matchup down in Baton Rouge is the biggest SEC game of the year. The No. 1 Florida Gators are headed into Death Valley to face off against the No. 4 LSU Tigers. Any time we see two Top 5 teams play each other it’s always exciting, but this time it’s more special because the game features football’s brightest star, Tim Tebow … hopefully.

Two weeks ago against the Kentucky Wildcats, Tim Tebow suffered a concussion. The Gators were on bye last weekend so Tim had extra time to heal. He’s back in practice but the doctors have not cleared him to play yet. Urban Meyer is calling it a game-time decision. If you thought the entire nation would be watching this game on a normal night, imagine what it will be like in Tim’s first game back from injury. The atmosphere will be insane!

Now, with or without Tim Tebow, the No.1 Florida Gators have a heck of a fight in front of them. The LSU Tigers have won something like 40+ night games in a row at home. The Tigers bring a stout defense and a good running game. They will challenge whoever is quarterbacking the Florida Gators.

Yesterday on Facebook I asked our fans if they thought the Gators could beat the Tigers without Tim Tebow. Of the 26 replies, it was pretty much 50/50. Some people think LSU isn’t that great and they’ve just been lucky so far, while others think the Gators backup QB John Brantley won’t be able to handle the big stage.

What’s your take? Who do you think will win Saturday night’s game?

The LSU Tigers are 2009 College World Series Champions. The Texas Longhorns took the series to 3 games, but the Tigers offense was just too much. LSU got off to a quick start putting up 3 runs in the first inning. A 5-run sixth inning virtually put the game out of reach. This is the sixth national title for the Tigers.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to be put in the position where you’re remembered forever in Baton Rouge now,” said Mitchell, voted the CWS Most Outstanding Player. “To be in that company with the players who won championships, to put LSU baseball on top where it belongs, to be a part of that is special.”

To celebrate the CWS Championship, Football Fanatics has a ton of LSU champs gear on sale now. With $4.99 3-day shipping you can save on the hottest college baseball gear available. Here’s a small selection of what we have available.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia will host two big name college football teams from the SEC and the ACC: the LSU Tigers (7-5 overall, 3-5 SEC) and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-3 overall, 5-3 ACC). The game is scheduled for December 31 at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN. The Yellow Jackets lead the series 12-6.

The defending champion LSU Tigers did not have the season they had hoped for. Ranked in the top 5 at one point, the Tigers finished the regular season with five losses in their final eight games.

“Obviously, it was a tough way to end the season, but this is an outstanding bowl to go to,” LSU coach Les Miles told the school’s official Web site. “It will be on national television on New Year’s Eve. It has no competition for air time so a lot of America will be watching the game. It’s a tough matchup; Georgia Tech is a tough team – they had over 400 yards rushing against Georgia.

“I think it’s going to be a really outstanding game, but I feel really confident that our team is going to step up and play really well and be really motivated to play this game.”

On the opposite side of the field, the Tigers will be playing the Yellow Jackets who are one of the hottest teams in college football. They’re ranked No. 14 in the country and have a great offense. They’ve won three of their last four, including a game over the Georgia Bulldogs in which they Jackets rushed for over 400 yards.

The following is a game preview from ESPN.

Georgia Tech was one of the hottest teams in the ACC at the end of the regular season, as the Jackets beat Georgia to cap off an outstanding first season under Paul Johnson. LSU has looked nothing like the defending national champs hoped. The Tigers’ defense, which has struggled this season, will have its hands full against the triple option. — Heather Dinich

What is your prediction for the Chick-fil-A Bowl?