Top 10 College Football Rivalries Of All Time
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The greatest college football rivalries are built on decades of hatred, tradition, unforgettable finishes, and championship-defining moments. From Ohio State vs Michigan to Alabama vs Auburn, these historic college football rivalries represent everything that makes the sport special.
Here are the few great rivalries in college football.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes Vs Michigan Wolverines : The Game
No college football rivalry matches the level of hatred between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Players refuse to say the other school’s name. Coaches have built entire seasons around winning this game. Fans measure success by one question: Did we beat our rival?
The Game has decided conference championships, national title races, and coaching legacies for generations. Respect for the tradition exists, but affection does not. When these two programs meet, everything else in college football takes a back seat.
Many great games have occurred in this rivalry, including the 2006 “Game of the Century” and the 2021 Michigan team ending Ohio State’s streak.
2. Auburn Tigers Vs Alabama Crimson Tide : Iron Bowl
The Iron Bowl doesn’t need championship stakes to feel enormous. The history of miracle finishes, legendary plays, and unforgettable heartbreak has created one of the most emotional rivalries in sports. From the “Kick Six” to countless upsets, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers have shown that anything can happen when these teams meet.
Expect even family members in the state of Alabama to be against each other when these two teams face off in November.
3. Texas Vs Oklahoma: The Red River Rivalry
The Red River Rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners is played in one of the sport’s most unique settings, but there’s nothing friendly about it. The Cotton Bowl is split evenly between burnt orange and crimson, creating an atmosphere where every big play swings the stadium. Conference championships and national title dreams have often been decided in this rivalry.
The Red River Shootout is one of the best in the sports bar none.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide Vs Tennessee Volunteers
The third Saturday in October remains one of the SEC’s defining rivalries. The Tennessee Volunteers fans spent years waiting to end the Alabama Crimson Tide’s dominance, and when they finally did in 2022, the celebration became an instant college football classic.
Make no mistake about it, the crimson and orange is one of the best in the sport every single season.
5. Texas Longhorns Vs Texas A&M Aggies
When the Texas A&M Aggies left the Big 12, this rivalry disappeared for more than a decade, but the hatred never faded. Fans continued arguing long after the games stopped. Now that the matchup has returned, every meeting carries years of built-up emotion, making it one of the sport’s best rivalries again.
Lock the door and batten down the hatches when these two teams collide. No love lost at all in the state of Texas.
6. Ole Miss Rebels Vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Egg Bowl between the Mississippi Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs has a reputation for chaos. Whether it’s last-second touchdowns, controversial coaching decisions, or unforgettable celebrations, this rivalry almost always delivers drama. Neither fan base enjoys losing this game, and bragging rights in Mississippi last all year.
The hate in this one is real.
The whole state of Mississippi shuts down for this contest, and for a reason.
7. Florida Gators Vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Few rivalries in college football combine history, hatred, tradition, and a unique atmosphere quite like the one between the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators. Known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” this annual showdown in Jacksonville has been one of the SEC’s most important rivalries for generations.
The 1990s and early 2000s belonged largely to Florida under Spurrier and later Urban Meyer, while Georgia struggled to break through against its biggest rival. The Bulldogs eventually flipped the rivalry’s momentum under Smart, winning multiple meetings during their rise to becoming a national championship program.
8. South Carolina Gamecocks Vs. Clemson Tigers
Few rivalries in college football are as personal as the Clemson Tigers vs the South Carolina Gamecocks. Known as the Palmetto Bowl, this annual battle is about more than football; it is about state pride, bragging rights, and proving which program owns South Carolina.
The intensity reached another level during the rise of both programs in the 2010s. South Carolina dominated the series under Steve Spurrier, winning five straight games over Clemson from 2009-2013. During that stretch, the Gamecocks were one of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of Clemson’s emergence as an ACC powerhouse.
The Tigers eventually flipped the rivalry’s momentum under Dabo Swinney. Clemson built a national championship program, while South Carolina entered a rebuilding period.
9. Navy Midshipmen Vs. Army Knights
First played in 1890, the Army Knights vs Navy Midshipmen is one of the oldest rivalries in college football history. Every year, the nation turns its attention to the matchup between the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy. The players on the field are not just competing for a trophy they are future officers who will serve their country after their playing careers end.
What separates Army-Navy from every other rivalry is the respect between the two sides. The hatred is competitive, but the admiration runs deeper. Following the final whistle, players from both teams understand they are part of something bigger than football.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Vs USC Trojans
No college football rivalries without this one would be a travesty. For decades, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the USC Trojans were two of the biggest names in college football. The rivalry has featured legendary coaches, including Ara Parseghian, Lou Holtz, and Pete Carroll, along with some of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
The games often carried national championship implications. A win over the other side could launch a team toward a title run or end a season’s hopes. That pressure created some of the most memorable moments in college football history.
The “Bush Push” game remains one of the greatest college football games ever played. USC defeated Notre Dame 34-31 in a dramatic finish between two top-ranked teams.
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End Of My College Football Rivalry Rant
Championships may determine who is the best team, but rivalries determine who owns bragging rights. That is why college football’s most hated rivalries will always remain some of the greatest traditions in all of sports.
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