Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
College football is home to some of the most storied rivalries in all of sports. From the West Coast through middle America to the East Coast, fans are sure to claim their local rivalry as the nation’s best. It wasn’t easy to narrow this list down to 25 matchups but we made it happen. Here are the 25 Best Rivalries in College Football.
25. Harvard vs. Yale
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
The battle of the brainiacs is an annual tradition within Ivy League athletics. Outside of perhaps the two schools squaring off on the basketball court, this is the marquee matchup within the league. The teams first played all the way back in 1875 (in which Harvard won by a score of 4-0). Though the actual level of football might not be all that high, the pageantry surrounding this contest is something that more fans around the country should take notice of.
24. Oregon vs. Oregon State
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
“The Civil War” is not all that civil when it comes to in-state rivals Oregon and Oregon State. When traversing through the tremendously green state, you’ll often see either a UO or an OSU bumper sticker somewhere on virtually every car. Allegiance is significant in this state — particularly when it comes to their football programs. While Oregon is the flashier, newer brand of the two, OSU fans have a little bit of a chip on their respective shoulders. It makes the atmosphere at these games rather fun — even if Oregon usually has a decidedly significant talent advantage over the Beavs.
23. West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh
Michael Longo/USA TODAY Sports
The old Big East played host to one of CFB’s most fun rivalries in Pittsburgh-West Virginia. Any game called the “Backyard Brawl” has got to be fun — and these installments most certainly were. You’ve got this interesting dichotomy of big city life versus a more rural location. Harsh ribbing often occurs between the respective fan bases.
22. Florida State vs. Miami
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Similar to the Florida-Florida State rivalry, the Miami-Florida State tilt is traditionally a game chock-full of expectations. Miami has been somewhat down in recent years, but that doesn’t take away from the in-state implications the game has when it comes to both recruiting and public perception. It’s been a very hotly contested rivalry — as Miami holds a slim all-time advantage of 35-33.
21. LSU vs. Texas A&M
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
If a 74-72 final in 2018 wasn’t enough to get your attention, simply nothing will. We’re speaking about football, by the way. This was the outrageous score of the multi-overtime classic between rivals LSU and Texas A&M. These teams first met in 1899. As such, fans of both programs were delighted when A&M ended up joining the SEC. Both teams fight fiercely over recruits, and the supporters of each team do their fair share of boisterous yelling during the pre-game, in-game, and post-game periods. In short, this is a terrific rivalry — particularly when games are played at night.
20. Alabama vs. Tennessee
USA TODAY Sports
The month of October in the SEC wouldn’t be complete without a contest between Alabama and Tennessee. It hasn’t really been much of a rivalry recently, as Alabama has 16-of-17 contests. However, the pageantry surrounding the ‘Third Saturday in October’ remains prevalent. Tennessee should continue to become more competitive, as it’s been recruiting at an extremely high level since Josh Heupel took over the program.
19. Georgia vs. Georgia Tech
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
“Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” is what people refer to when they speak of the rivalry between Georgia and Georgia Tech. The two teams first played one another in 1893 — when GT took down the Dawgs by a score of 28-6. There’s something uniquely cool about this game. It’s usually played during Thanksgiving weekend. This allows for family members who’ve attended both universities to come together and break bread over some football.
18. Texas vs. Texas A&M
Tom Hauck/Getty Images
The state of Texas is a very proud state with very proud people. The University of Texas and Texas A&M are two very proud institutions. When football — the state’s favorite sport — is thrown into the mix, a cauldron of passion, energy and aggressiveness is unleashed. Though Texas has thoroughly dominated the all-time series (76-37-5), it still means a lot to those living in the region. With Texas joining the SEC in 2024, the rivalry will once again be electric following a few dormant years.
17. Cal vs. Stanford
Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
We’ve all seen highlights of the wacky ‘Big Game’ from the ’80s when “THE BAND IS OUT ON THE FIELD!” showcased Cal players rumbling to the end zone as Stanford’s band was — for some reason — on the field. In the process, a number of the band members were absolutely decked en route to hitting paydirt. While the installments of the rivalry are much more tame today, there’s no love lost between the programs. Stanford prides itself on being the elitist of the groups (and their fan base revels in this archetype). Cal is no slouch academically, either (the No. 2-ranked public school in the country). Even the casual fan who attends either school knows of the significance surrounding this contest.
16. Wisconsin vs. Minnesota
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
There’s nothing that screams ‘Midwest football’ more than a match between two slug-heavy programs (Wisconsin, Minnesota) battling for a trophy called Paul Bunyan’s Axe. You won’t see a ton of scoring in this series. Instead, you’ll see two highly competitive teams obliterating one another with strong offensive lines, physical defenses, and unabated passion. To illustrate the closeness of this rivalry, Wisconsin leads the all-time record with a mark of 63-62-8.
15. Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss
Justin Ford/Getty Images
‘The Egg Bowl’ is not widely recognized as a huge rivalry. Tell that to the people residing in the Magnolia State. Households get divided, couples break up, and people literally fight one another when these two teams square off for in-state bragging rights. The year 1901 marked the first time in which Mississippi State and Ole Miss squared off. Ole Miss leads the all-time head-to-head record with a mark of 65-47-6.
14. BYU vs. Utah
David J. Becker/Getty Images
Utah has developed as a football program over the last 20 years. Now in the Big 12, many across the country look at it as a respectable institution. BYU is one of those annoying teams to go up against. While not overly fast or skilled, they’re big, physical, and disciplined. Nicknamed ‘The Holy War’, these two teams get after it when squaring off versus one another. Utah isn’t looked at as a hotbed for sporting passion — though the atmosphere at this contest is up there with some of the best nationally. The schools are near one another — and also share thousands of students who are LDS members. With this added wrinkle, bragging rights are quite prevalent in this series.
13. Florida vs. Florida State
James Gilbert/Getty Images
While they don’t play in the same conference, Florida-Florida State has long been a game drawing interest from all over the country. Traditionally speaking, both of these teams compete for conference titles year in and year out. Nabbing a non-conference win versus a highly-regarded opponent is not lost on either program. Duly, both of these teams reside in one of the most talent-rich regions in the nation. Putting up an impressive win versus a top-notch program on a nationally televised game can’t be a bad thing as it pertains to recruiting. Florida holds the overall head-to-head advantage (37-28-2).
12. Michigan vs. Michigan State
USA TODAY Sports
One of College Football’s most underrated rivalries sits in the state of Michigan. In the classic big brother-little brother scenario, we see the Michigan Wolverines playing annually against the gritty program of Michigan State. While MSU might not have the same level of purported cachet, it’s a very respectable football program. 95-percent of its roster was likely not recruited by Michigan — which creates a built-in aspect of motivation when the two square off.
11. Auburn vs. Georgia
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Those outside of SEC country probably don’t realize that the Auburn-Georgia rivalry is pegged as the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.” The two programs first played in 1892 (where Auburn won 10-0). We’ve seen several players from the state of Georgia star for Auburn (Derrick Brown, Cam Newton, Ronnie Brown). It’s made for some fun contests over the years — particularly since Athens to Auburn is less than three hours away. Georgia holds the all-time head-to-head advantage with a mark of 64-56-8.
10. Florida vs. Georgia
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Unofficially still known as the ‘World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party’, there’s no love lost between Georgia and Florida. Aside from being fierce SEC East competitors, the two programs often fight over the same sort of high-level recruit. Traditionally at the neutral site of Jacksonville, thousands of eager tailgaters congregate in what is one of college football’s most special pre-game rituals. You’ll see equal numbers of fans in red, black, orange, and blue. In the process, you’ll also see a smorgasbord of food and drinking games. Georgia leads the all-time series — though there’s a discrepancy between fans over whether the first game played should count towards the overall record (since it technically featured UF before it was in Gainesville).
9. USC vs. UCLA
Harry How/Getty Images
The crosstown rivalry will always have some zest to it — even if UCLA is a basketball school, and USC is more of a football one. Families across Los Angeles are usually divided during this contest. If a native of the city, there’s a high likelihood that you’ve got a family member who has graduated from one of the two schools (if not both). While it might not be the best rivalry in terms of quality football, there’s no greater duo from an aesthetics standpoint. We’d beg you to find another two teams squaring off with better uniforms than the blue and gold of UCLA, and the ketchup/mustard look of USC.
8. Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Fans residing in the Southwest are extremely familiar with the Battle of Bedlam. Oklahoma is the big brother in this scenario — whereas Oklahoma State is the little stepbrother underdog. College Football fans understand the rich history of OU’s football program. While not shabby in its own right, OSU often has to play the role of spoiler towards the end of the year (when these two teams normally play one another). In recent years, we’ve seen several thrilling, high-scoring contests. Unfortunately, Oklahoma’s move to the SEC will test the rivalry moving forward.
7. Clemson vs. South Carolina
Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
College Football’s spotlight has been on the state of South Carolina in recent years. Clemson established itself as one of the sport’s most prolific powers. Not to be outdone, South Carolina is attempting to once again vault itself into the upper-crust of the SEC. Whether it’s Dabo Swinney’s colorful interviews, Shane Beamer’s sideline meltdowns, or the prolific play of star athletes (Trevor Lawrence, Alshon Jeffery, etc.), this is one series worth tuning in for.
6. Notre Dame vs. USC
Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
Two of College Football’s most prestigious programs play each other on an annual basis. It’s always a fun trip for fans of both Notre Dame and USC. Those in South Bend get to escape harsh Midwest winters with a weekend reprieve to Los Angeles. Duly, those in Southern California love enjoying a trip to South Bend (which includes time in neighboring Chicago and some refreshing cold weather). On the gridiron, both programs feature NFL talent littered across the field. We’ve had our fair share of notable moments between Notre Dame and USC as well. The most recent one included the famed ‘Bush Push’ as RB Reggie Bush essentially shoved QB Matt Leinart into the end zone on a QB sneak for the win. However, Notre Dame does hold the overall record by a score of 49-37-5.
5. Alabama vs. LSU
Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
This one is a no-brainer. On an annual basis, the winner of this game is virtually in the catbird seat for the SEC West Division title. Traditionally, these two teams might combine for 20 points in a single contest. Watching this game is a dream for NFL scouts. These two schools churn out prospects to the league as well as anyone. Those who have a penchant for defense typically love watching this slugfest. We don’t see either of these two programs falling off anytime soon.
4. Army vs. Navy
Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Some consider Army-Navy to be the most prestigious rivalry in all of College Football. We get that neither team features blue chip athletes — nor will they be competing for National Championships anytime soon. However, there’s a certain sense of decorum surrounding this matchup. There’s a real sense of pride in their respective institutions. This emanates from both the players and those attending the schools. The Commander in Chief’s Trophy is a hot commodity, to say the least. Navy leads the all-time head-to-head by a mark of 62-55-7.
3. Texas vs. Oklahoma
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Red River Rivalry has been raging on since its inaugural game in 1900 (when Texas upended Oklahoma by a score of 28-2). Since then, these border state neighbors have cultivated a nasty hate for one another. Game days here are rather fun, as those watching from home get to see a sea of burnt orange along with crimson and cream. Texas holds the all-time head-to-head record (63-51-5). OU can hang its hat on the fact that it has seven National Titles compared to Texas’ four.
2. Alabama vs. Auburn
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The Iron Bowl is an iconic sporting event. For those who consider themselves College Football purists, attending one of these games is certainly a bucket list item. There are enough memories from this rivalry to fill an entire cyclopedia. We can talk about the ‘Kick-Six’ last-second game-winning 100-yard touchdown return by Auburn defensive back Chris Davis (which killed Alabama’s perfect season). We can also talk about the Alabama man who intentionally poisoned a group of famous trees sitting on Auburn’s campus. He then proceeded to brag about it on a radio show — thus blowing his cover. This is the type of passion we’re speaking about when it comes to Alabama vs. Auburn.
1. Ohio State vs. Michigan
Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
There are a considerable amount of layers attached to this deep-rooted rivalry. The two programs first played one another in 1897. It resulted in a 34-0 victory for Michigan. Since then, we’ve seen the Buckeyes and the Wolverines play each other 115 more times — with Michigan leading the all-time tally by a mark of 61-51-6. The significance surrounding this game impacts state pride, program pride, recruiting, and — more often than not — both the races for the Big Ten title and National Championship positioning. In recent years, Michigan has trounced its biggest rival. The Wolverines have won three in a row by a total of 43 points.
