SPORTS

Bulldog Stadium ranked 23rd best in nation

Fresno State's fans, and the atmosphere created by those fans, have helped Bulldog Stadium to be rated among the top 25 college football facilities in the United States.

Dennis Dodd, a senior writer for CBSSportsline.com, ranked Bulldog Stadium the 23rd-best stadium in the nation.

Using five categories – atmosphere, history, tradition, fan support and architecture – Dodd gave each school's facility a score out of 10 in each area, with 50 being a perfect score. Bulldog Stadium scored eights in both fan support and atmosphere, a six in tradition and fives in architecture and history, giving Fresno State's home field a total of 32 out of 50.

Bulldog Stadium was also the only stadium in the WAC rated in the top 25.

" We've had a great history and success at Bulldog Stadium, and particularly in the Pat Hill era," Athletics Director Scott Johnson said. "Our atmosphere, fan support and success have made our stadium one of the best atmospheres for college football. It's nice to know it is finally getting the national attention it deserves. We are certainly thrilled that our fans and our team have gained this kind of respect."

Texas A&M's Kyle Field was ranked No. 1, followed by Notre Dame Stadium, Tennessee's Neyland Stadium, Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and LSU's Tiger Stadium.

Dodd noted, "The atmosphere and fans give the Bulldogs a huge advantage at home."

Fresno State has gone 29-5 at Bulldog Stadium since 1997, including a 22-3 mark in home conference games.

The Bulldogs’ home opener is Sept. 5 against Oregon State at 7 p.m.