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Some rivalries transcend sports. The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, and of course Star Trek or Star Wars. But we are here today to look at the most important rivalries of them all. College football rivalries.
We all know some of the ones that will be on this list. But there are also some lesser-known rivalries which may surprise you with their hatred.
Did you know that UCF has a rivalry with UConn? Neither does UCF. But there will be some other lesser-known rivalries on the list. Let’s look at 10 of my favorites.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers | The Iron Bowl
Whether Auburn or Alabama are good or bad, this game always seems to result in a tight finish. From kick six to fourth and 31, this game rarely disappoints its fans or the nation.
The game has been played a total of 88 times with Alabama winning 50 games, Auburn winning 37 games, and one game ending in a tie. The ultimate kick in the pants for these two teams. Of all the games on this list, this is a top-2 rivalry.
True✅ or False❌
“ The 2013 Iron Bowl is the best Regular Season game of the 21st Century 💯” pic.twitter.com/urdM20BkxL
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) October 12, 2023
Cal Golden Bears vs. Stanford Cardinal | The Big Game
Although no one honestly cares about this game anymore, it is still a fun rivalry that gives us the unforgettable. “The band is on the field! The band is on the field!” It is also the oldest rivalry in the West dating back to 1892.
With both teams now entering the ACC, the rivalry will extend. Although it will not be on the final week of the season moving forward. But it is still being played, and that is something to celebrate during these times of realignment. This is also a close rivalry with Stanford leading the series 66-53-11.
BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes| The Holy War
Another rivalry, another game with a name.
These two teams genuinely hate each other. And now that they are both in the Big 12, they can no longer avoid playing every year. This will make a great atmosphere in either home stadium and no matter how good or bad either is, this will be a fight to the end.
Both schools, with a high Mormon population, have players well into their twenties. This allows both to perform higher than their skill level would suggest. Most of the athletes have taken missions around the world before returning for their education. While noble, this also leads to the maturity level of the teams and the coaches to outdue most teams they face. But not each other.
This is a fun rivalry and has a true hatred behind it. Do not let this one go past without watching. Utah leads the series 62-35-4 overall.
Florida Gators vs. Florida State Seminoles
While most people consider Georgia the fiercest rival of Florida, fans of these two teams know the truth.
This is a battle for the state of Florida, the most fertile recruiting ground in the country for all programs. Not just these two schools.
A win or a loss in this rivalry can mean the difference between a recruit going to Florida or flipping to Florida State. Or vice versa.
While no one likes to lose a recruit to another school, losing one to an in-state rival is likened to treason by that student-athlete. Something not easily forgotten by the fans. Or the coaching staff.
Although more successful recently, Florida State is still the little sister of the Florida Gators. With Florida being older, the state school, and having far more resources, Garnet & Gold from Tallahassee is consistently clawing its way to respectability. Something they have been successful in and want to continue to do moving into the future. Although this is a newer rivalry due to the age of Florida State University being established later than many schools, their teams have still played more than 60 times with Florida leading the all-time series at 37-28-2.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes | The Game
Sorry Iron Bowl fans. But this is the biggest rivalry in college football. Not only has it been played 118 times, with the first meeting coming in 1897, but it also takes place in two stadiums, both of which seat more than 100,000. Not to mention it is the highest-rated television audience of any regular-season college football game. Ratings are what matter nowadays, right?
Michigan won the first meeting in this series in 1897 by a score of 34-0. Ever since then, this has been a series of streaks. While Ohio State has dominated during large stretches, Michigan has won the past three games and used its 30-24 victory in 2023 to win a national championship. Ohio State looks to do the same in 2024 with the game returning once again to The Shoe on the final week of the season.
4 days til Buckeye football is back!
"Samuel, cuts it back. Ohio State wins" Curtis Samuel's game winner in OT vs. Michigan pic.twitter.com/pfjkhtyJay
— CleBuckeye (@CleBuckeye23) August 29, 2023
Although we do not get the fun names like the kick six or fourth and 31, this game routinely pits two teams that live in the top 10 of AP ranks most seasons. This, as well as the hatred and respect both schools have for each other, makes this the pinnacle of college sports and a must-watch. Michigan leads the all-time series at 61-51-6.
It's ok @OhioStateFB, we'll keep the 〽️
And give you the L#GoBlue
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) November 25, 2023
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Ole Miss Rebels | The Egg Bowl
Another rivalry full of hatred. With two schools that are not usually relevant for a national championship, this is the matchup to end all matchups for both schools. It was after losing the Egg Bowl in 2019 that Matt Lute was fired by Mississippi State and Mike Leach was hired. This was due to the penalty on Bulldogs WR Elijah Moore, who decided to act like a dog and pretend to pee in the end zone. This penalty caused 15 yards to be added to an extra point, an attempt that was ultimately missed and cost the Bulldogs the game.
It is scenes like this that can make any rivalry fun. But when it happens in a state where no other game is in town, it makes it even more high profile. Imagine the calamity that will ensue if the Bulldogs can return the favor in 2024 and defeat what is supposed to be the best team Ole Miss has had under Lane Kiffin. Oh, the joy that would be seen in Starkville.
🔦Rivalry Spotlight🔦
Egg Bowl: Ole Miss-Miss State
Current Trophy Holder: Ole Miss
All-Time Series: Ole Miss 65-46-6
Largest Victory: Miss State 65-0 (1915)
Longest Win Streak: Miss State 13 (1911-1925) pic.twitter.com/Di3S1PntX1— The Undergrad CFB (@theundergradcfb) August 16, 2024
Ole Miss currently leads the all-time series at 65-46-6.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. USC Trojans
While not a traditional rivalry, this rivalry still pits two of the most successful and well-known brands in the game.
If Lincoln Riley has his way, this game will end. Luckily for us, he will be gone before this game is over. It is especially important for both schools, especially Notre Dame, which needs to play in California for recruiting the nationwide pool of players it needs to recruit from.
While anyone has a chance to get into USC, the academics and rigorous nature of South Bend make it far more difficult for the Fighting Irish to remain at the top of the heap. As long as the prestige of the Notre Dame brand outshines most other schools, no one, including USC, will want to stop playing them. It is an automatic 10 million viewers and the exposure which comes with it is needed by both universities. Not to mention, who can forget the Matthew Leinart push of Reggie Bush to keep the USC national title hopes alive? The original idea of the tush push perhaps?
Notre Dame leads the all-time series at 51-38-5.
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns | The Red River Rivalry
I attest that this is the only rivalry game that should be played at a neutral site. There, I said it.
This game does not have the hatred many may expect. Sure, both teams want to win. But there is a huge amount of respect between both schools and what they represent to each other. Remember, when Texas decided to leave the Big 12, it went to Oklahoma to join it. Knowing it would be better for both if they did it together.
This game, which is always centered around the Texas State Fair in Dallas, will be around long after realignment has finished destroying the rest of college football.
The likes of Adrian Peterson, Ricky Williams, and others have made this game what it is. Not to mention Barry Switzer, Bob Stoops, and Mack Brown putting this game on a pedestal as their most important game of the season. Much like the Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry, this is the only game that matters for their fans. A loss here and the results of the season are vanquished in one fell swoop.
We are only 47 days away from SEC football returning!
I thought this 47 yard field goal was a game winner in last year’s Red River Rivalry.
Not so fast my friend! pic.twitter.com/MRieaiu2AL
— CousinShane (@BigOrangeVolz) July 13, 2024
What can we expect from this game as both teams enter the SEC? Much of the same. However, the gravity of the game will be minimized slightly due to the SEC being a far more competitive conference than the former Big 12 from which the teams are coming. Texas and Oklahoma will not rule the SEC with an iron fist like they did before. And, quite possibly, this may not even be the biggest rivalry game for Texas in the new conference.
Texas leads the all-time series at 63-51-5.
The 𝙍𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙮. There's nothing else like it.
📅 Oct. 7
⏰ 11 am CT
📺 ABC
🏟️ Dallas, TX #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/NV9jGpIYAz— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 25, 2023
Pitt Panthers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers| The Backyard Brawl
Once a fierce rivalry, another game went away when West Virginia was forced to join the Big 12 following the disillusion of the Big East as a football conference.
While the game went away, the hatred never did. While it may not be the Hatfield vs. McCoy’s, it is close. And both have roots in West Virginia.
These schools, which lie a mere 75 miles apart, constantly feel like little brothers to other schools in the region. From Penn State to Virginia and Virginia Tech, both schools deal with scorn from bigger and more successful counterparts. This adds to the complex both schools feel, and they take it out on each other.
This game is finally returning, at least for the next few seasons. We can only hope both schools see the need to keep it going even longer. Not to mention, West Virginia still wants to get revenge on Pitt for beating it in 2007 and keeping it out of the national championship with a 13-9 victory over Steve Slaton, Pat White, and Co. West Virginia entered the game ranked No. 2 while the Pitt Panthers entered the game with a 4-7 record.
Pitt leads the series at 62-41-3.
Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies
Hatred. Pure hatred. That is what is the key to this game. The all-mighty Texas Longhorns against the cult of the Texas A&M Aggies.
Since leaving the shadow of Texas, the Texas A&M Aggies have flourished in the SEC. But they still have no conference titles or national championships to show for it. This is why they throw good money after bad in an attempt to outdo their in-state rivals. But now Texas is in the same conference again and the Aggies will be forced to compete against it once again. Something they refused to do until they had to.
The pettiness of this rivalry is amazing. It is like both schools are toddlers who cannot get along. Like Oklahoma State taking its ball and going home and dismantling Bedlam. But this one is even deeper because everything is bigger in Texas. This, of course, includes rivalries.
The game returns in 2024 after a hiatus and it will be just as vicious as it was the last time it was played in College Station. Another rivalry where you can throw out the records, this game will be massive for both teams. But just imagine what could be at Kyle Field should both these teams come in looking for a berth in the playoff. The stadium might collapse.
Texas has dominated this series with a record of 76-37-5.
Honorable Mentions
Some rivalries were great in the past. Some of them have fallen by the wayside and some have been retiring with realignment. Others just missed the cut due to the number of rivalries out there. Here are some that just missed the top 10.
Arizona Wildcats vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Oregon Ducks vs. Oregon State Beavers
Washington Huskies vs. Washington State Cougars
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