The state of Alabama shut down Saturday as both the Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers held their annual spring games and drew the nation's top-two attendance figures. Auburn came up just 4,000 fans short of capacity at Jordan-Hare Stadium, counting a program-record 83,401 fans in attendance. Alabama was only a fraction behind, seating 78,315 for its spring game.
2013 spring game attendance rankings: Auburn and Alabama top standings
The SEC now holds five of top six spring attendance figures. Still to come next week: UCLA, Oregon, Kansas State, and Iowa.
USA TODAY Sports
The announced attendance figures for every spring game played through April 20:
Elsewhere Saturday, Tennessee posted the third-highest attendance figure this April by packing 61,076 into Neyland Stadium, the second best in school history. Arkansas brought in 51,088 for Bret Bielema’s unofficial unveiling. Of the six spring games to draw more than 50,000 attendees, five have been in the SEC.
Virginia Tech drew approximately 30,000 fans Saturday, among the top ACC attendance figures to date. Notre Dame, a de facto ACC member, barely bested them with 31,652 in attendance.
Nebraska remains by far the king of Big Ten spring attendance. Despite snow flurries, Penn State drew 28,000 for Bill O’Brien’s second spring game in charge of the Nittany Lions. Michigan State brought in 22,500, besting Michigan by 4,500. Wisconsin brought in a paltry 12,050 in cold, blustery weather conditions.
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