Rivalries form the backbone of sports fandom. The world over, there are some historic rivals – Barcelona and Real Madrid, Red Sox and Yankees, Celtics and Lakers, Manchester United and Liverpool, and so many more – that not only shape the views and hopes of modern fans, but also act as signposts for the history of their respective sports.
College football also has some incredible rivalries, some of which are just as fierce as you would find anywhere else in the world. But which are the biggest rivalries in college football? We think we can narrow it down to five. Selecting only five is inevitably subjective, but these matchups provide a good introduction to what makes college football rivalries so distinctive.
1. Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
The biggest and most famous NCAAF rivalry. Indeed, the matchup between the Wolverines and Buckeyes is simply known as “The Game”. The two universities represent neighboring Midwestern states and have been competing since the late 19th century. However, the rivalry truly intensified when both became dominant members of the Big Ten Conference. Its defining period came between 1969 and 1978, when Michigan coach Bo Schembechler regularly faced his former mentor, Ohio State coach Woody Hayes. That decade became known as the “Ten-Year War.”. Ohio State is the current favorite for the championship with DraftKings college football betting, so the Michigan fans would like nothing better than to spoil the party when the teams meet later in the season.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers
The Iron Bowl is the annual meeting between Alabama and Auburn, the two largest college football programs in the state of Alabama. Unlike Michigan and Ohio State, which represent different states, Alabama and Auburn supporters live alongside one another throughout the year. It’s a rivalry that can sometimes split apart families and friends. The rivalry began in 1893 but was suspended for more than four decades because of disagreements between the schools. It finally returned in 1948 and has been played every year since. Alabama has historically been the more successful national program, but Auburn has frequently disrupted its neighbor’s championship ambitions. That imbalance adds to the rivalry. The rivalry is taken so seriously that an Alabama television station reportedly chose not to interrupt its coverage of the 2000 Iron Bowl to announce developments in the US presidential election recount. It’s the biggest thing in Alabama sports.
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3. Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Texas and Oklahoma meet every year in Dallas in the Red River Rivalry, which is named after the river that forms part of the border between the two states. What makes this game unique is its setting. Rather than being played at either university, it is staged at the Cotton Bowl – equal distance between the two colleges – during the State Fair of Texas. What’s even more incredible is that the stadium is divided almost perfectly in half during the annual game, with orange Texas supporters on one side and crimson-clad Oklahoma fans on the other. An incredible spectacle. The winner receives the Golden Hat, a giant cowboy hat mounted on a wooden base – can you think of anything more American?
4. Army vs. Navy
The Army–Navy Game is different from almost every other college football rivalry. Army represents the United States Military Academy at West Point, while Navy represents the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, so the players aren’t normal students, but rather the next generation of America’s military leaders. The rivalry goes way back to the 19th century, but it is one with a lot more mutual respect than a typical college sports game. The players also know that many will later serve alongside one another. Army and Navy often use run-heavy offenses that are rarely seen at the highest levels of modern football. In the 2017 meeting, the teams attempted only three passes between them, so it’s complete unique in a sporting sense.
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. USC Trojans
Notre Dame against USC is often described as college football’s greatest intersectional rivalry. That means it is not based on two neighboring schools or even two teams from the same region. Notre Dame is located in Indiana in the Midwest, while USC is based in Los Angeles. The distance between them helped turn the matchup into a sort of talking point. The series is now 100 years old. Both universities became national football powers with famous coaches, Heisman Trophy winners and multiple national championships. Their annual meeting therefore became more than a regional contest, as it frequently carried implications for the national title. The winner receives the Jeweled Shillelagh, an Irish-style wooden club decorated with ruby Trojan heads for USC victories and emerald shamrocks for Notre Dame wins. The winning school keeps it for the following year.
