How I ranked college football’s top 100 rivalries: who got left out and who's next

Editor’s notice: All week, The Athletic is writing about school soccer rivalries at a second of change within the sport. Learn our rating of the highest 100 rivalries right here and likewise vote to your favorites.

Evaluating and rating school soccer’s biggest rivalries from one to 100 requires greater than only a working data of the game’s historical past and a spreadsheet. However each turn out to be useful when evaluating rivalries from school soccer’s primitive previous to its sprawling future.

When this course of started in March, roughly 150 rivalries had been thought of from all ranges of faculty soccer. After analysis and a number of conversations, a preliminary listing of 100 got here collectively. Every rivalry was judged independently by making use of 11 core standards. The rivalries then had been re-ranked after delving into every one’s historical past. Solely 13 rivalries stayed of their unique slot, with some (USC-Stanford) shifting up considerably, whereas others (Utah-BYU) fell a couple of slots.

Here’s a take a look at the 11 rules and questions requested inside these classes to gauge these rivalries:

Information: What do the numbers say? What number of occasions have they met as ranked opponents? What’s the win-loss disparity?
Prominence: Does this rivalry contain high-profile or power-conference applications? Is the rivalry scheduled with the most effective TV community and time slot?
Relevance: Does it matter to their convention or to school soccer if these groups play annually? Has realignment impacted the collection? Have they competed towards each other with championship implications?
Trajectory: Is that this collection rising or retracting in significance? Are the applications presently on even taking part in ranges?
Frequency: Is that this an annual collection? Do each applications work to maintain it on the schedule? Do the groups compete on the identical weekend yearly?
Proximity: Are these groups in-state or border rivals? Do they compete in the identical geographic footprint?
Competitiveness: Is that this a collection that ebbs and flows or is it a hammer vs. a nail? Are there upsets?
Moments: Had been there video games or performs that stand out many years later? Are the video games compelling?
Depth: Is that this a collection each fan bases circle when the schedule comes out? Is there dangerous blood or a previous incident? Is it extra painful to lose than joyous to win?
Longevity: What number of occasions have they competed towards each other? Is that this a century-old rivalry or one formed by latest realignment?
Historical past: Are these groups longtime members of the identical convention? Do they compete for a trophy or does the sport have a nickname?

Even after answering these questions, most of the closing rankings come by really feel. Minnesota-Wisconsin, for example, doesn’t constantly decide championships, however its longevity, co-dependency and collection report (63-63-8) vaults it previous comparable rivalries.

Rationale among the many high 10 rivalries

Michigan-Ohio State was a straightforward No. 1. It meets each precept and tops the charts in significant video games traditionally. Oklahoma-Texas and Auburn-Alabama had been practically even, however the iconic Iron Bowls over the previous 15 years nudged into No. 2. In one other decade, it would flip now that every one 4 are within the SEC. Rating Military-Navy is about ambiance and custom quite than the video games, however no rivalry is extra revered or embedded within the material of the game.

As a transcontinental, nonconference collection, USC-Notre Dame is exclusive amongst nice rivalries. It options the third-most ranked matchups (35) and is tied for second with 18 top-10 clashes. Within the Eighties, Nebraska-Oklahoma might have ranked No. 1. Though it’s dormant, it nonetheless charges as historic, and the numbers again it up. Miami-Florida State and Florida State-Florida had direct nationwide title implications for many years.

Ohio State-Penn State within the high 10 could also be a shock, however the numbers don’t lie. Of their 39 conferences because the AP ballot started in 1936, each groups had been ranked in 25 video games, and 12 had been top-10 matchups. By percentages, it’s laborious to beat.

In-state/border rivalry predicament

Among the many high 35 rivalries, 31 consisted of in-state or border collection. Some, like Auburn-Alabama and Miami-Florida State, usually are as related nationally as regionally. However how do you separate the Yard Brawl from the Holy Struggle from Cy-Hawk from Clear, Previous-Normal Hate? What concerning the Apple Cup, Civil Struggle, Bedlam and the Egg Bowl?

Statistical comparisons like matchups, whole ranked conferences, top-10 competitions and win-loss disparity had been crucial in separating the rivalries. All figures are thought of pointers, not an computerized dedication.

Oklahoma-Oklahoma State was essentially the most tough to fit. Bedlam boasts 19 ranked matchups, together with three within the high 10. Based mostly on these numbers, it’s a top-15 rivalry. Nonetheless, Bedlam has the second-widest win-loss disparity in FBS historical past with a 71-victory distinction in favor of the Sooners. That made it tough to measure alongside Kansas-Missouri (one win) or Minnesota-Wisconsin (tied). Additionally, Bedlam is now dormant with none scheduled video games on the horizon.

In comparable style, Iowa-Iowa State fell decrease than preliminary expectations, with only one matchup of ranked groups within the historical past of the rivalry. BYU-Utah (three) and Stanford-Cal (4) additionally fell with a low variety of ranked matchups. They struggled to measure up towards Michigan-Michigan State (19 ranked matchups), for example.

On the flip facet, Washington-Oregon and Iowa-Wisconsin every completed greater than initially anticipated. Washington-Oregon has featured 10 ranked matchups and 53 video games with at the least one staff ranked, which was greater than Oregon-Oregon State (6, 31) or Washington-Washington State (8, 34). Washington-Oregon additionally has a sturdy trajectory as protected Large Ten foes.

Solely two wins separate Wisconsin from Iowa (49-47-2), with 9 ranked matchups between them, they usually mixed for seven of the ten Large Ten West titles. Their proximity (175 miles) is much like an in-state battle, and their collection is protected by the Large Ten.

Small faculties get up

What non-FBS rivalries lack in prominence, they make up for in custom. Harvard-Yale, Lehigh-Lafayette, Williams-Amherst and Richmond-William & Mary all hint their roots to the game’s infancy. Southern and Grambling will not be solely HBCU historic powers, however the recreation generally turns into a footnote at “The Bayou Traditional” to all of the pageantry that surrounds it, at the beginning the marching bands.

North Dakota State-South Dakota State is the preeminent FCS rivalry, whereas the Montana-Montana State “Brawl of the Wild” is the most effective FCS in-state feud. Both of these video games can maintain its personal towards a number of the high FBS contests. Wisconsin-Whitewater and Mount Union have performed solely 12 occasions, however 9 occasions they met for the Division III nationwide title over 10 years.

Greatest ones ignored

The second-most tough job (after separating the in-state rivalries) was deciding which rivalries to go away out. Listed below are 10 that had been strongly thought of however didn’t make the listing:

Ohio State-Michigan State: This clearly was No. 101. From 2011-16, the groups cut up their matchups 3-3, and three video games instantly impacted the Large Ten championship. Ohio State leads 38-15 total, however over the previous 50 years, it’s 31-7, and the Buckeyes common 21 factors per victory. Ohio State has received 9 straight, and the final eight have come by 34.1 factors per recreation.

Florida-Auburn: The Gators and Tigers performed yearly from 1944-2002, and it was a protected collection when the SEC first cut up into divisions. They’ve performed 84 occasions (Auburn leads 43-39-2), together with 18 ranked battles, however have had simply 4 conferences since 2002. It’s simply too irregular to make the highest 100.

Air Power-Military/Navy: Video games among the many service academies are value acknowledging, however Military-Navy overshadows Air Power within the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy collection. Air Power leads Military (38-20-1) and Navy (34-23) and boasts 21 CIC trophies, whereas Navy has 17 and Military 10 (and 5 ties) because it was instituted in 1972. However in video games involving Air Power, there have been none with two ranked groups.

St. John’s-St. Thomas: The battle for the “Holy Grail” set a Division III report with 37,355 followers on the Twins’ Goal Subject in 2017. Two years later, faculties within the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Convention — however not St. John’s — voted to evict St. Thomas after it had develop into too dominant. St. Thomas left Division III for FCS, and the soccer rivalry is historical past. St. John’s owns a 53-35-1 report.

Tuskegee-Morehouse: Referred to as “The Granddaddy of All Classics,” the Tuskegee-Morehouse collection started in 1902, however the groups have competed at impartial websites (principally Columbus, Ga.) since 1936. The nation’s oldest and most-played rivalry amongst HBCU faculties, Tuskegee leads 75-31-7. This fall, the Division II traditional shifts to Montgomery, Ala.

Cincinnati-Louisville: Solely 100 miles separate the campuses, they usually play for the “Keg of Nails.” Cincinnati leads the collection 30-23-1, though they by no means had a ranked matchup. However when Louisville moved to the ACC in 2014, the faculties by no means scheduled a home-and-home. If it wasn’t essential sufficient for a bus journey, it’s not a top-100 rivalry.

Northwest Missouri State-Pittsburg State: Since 1989, these groups have dominated the MIAA. Northwest has received or shared 19 league titles whereas Pitt State has claimed 14. Northwest has Division II information in nationwide titles (six) and appearances (10), whereas the Gorillas have two and 5, respectively. From 2002-13, they met at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bearcats lead, 29-28.

Utah-Utah State: The faculties performed yearly from 1919-2009, they usually be a part of BYU in competitors for the Beehive Boot. Individually, this collection is named “Battle of the Brothers.” However Utah outgrew this collection when it joined the Pac-12 (which Utah State will take part its diminished kind in 2026) after which the Large 12. The Utes have received 80 of their 113 conferences, they usually’ve performed simply twice since 2013.

Boston School-Holy Cross: From 1919-86, the groups performed each season however two — 1943 (World Struggle II) and 1969 (hepatitis outbreak at Holy Cross, 75 gamers contaminated). After NCAA soccer cut up into FBS and FCS in 1978, the applications grew on totally different trajectories. They’ve performed simply twice since 1986 (2018, 2023). BC leads 50-31-3, although Holy Cross notably trounced No. 1 Boston School 55-12 in a surprising 1942 upset.

Duke-Georgia Tech: From their first assembly in 1933, these groups performed each fall, a 90-year streak that started 20 years earlier than the ACC was fashioned and 30 years earlier than Georgia Tech left the SEC.  That string was snapped in 2023 when the ACC eradicated divisional play. Starting in 2024, they’re scheduled to play 4 occasions over seven years. The Yellow Jackets lead 55-35-1.

Ten others thought of: Colorado-Utah, Illinois-Purdue, Iowa-Northwestern, Miami-Virginia Tech, Missouri-Nebraska, Nevada-UNLV, Notre Dame-Pittsburgh, Penn State-Syracuse, Sam Houston-Texas State, UTEP-New Mexico State.

Boise State and Washington State will quickly be in the identical convention. (Loren Orr / Getty Photos)

Future rivalries?

With realignment nonetheless swirling, new collection pop up yearly. Positive, Ohio State-Oregon, Alabama-Texas and USC-Michigan can develop into must-see occasions within the SEC and Large Ten. However what about collection that may flip into professional annual rivalries? Right here’s a take a look at six which have that potential.

Washington State-Boise State: The brand new-look Pac-12 Convention options loads of intriguing matchups, however neighbors Boise State and Washington State have essentially the most upside. They’ve performed solely seven occasions (Wazzu leads 5-2), however the Cougars might give Boise State its first true FBS enemy, and the Broncos might fill Washington State’s rivalry void.

West Virginia-Cincinnati: These groups competed for seven years collectively within the Large East. However again then, the Mountaineers had loads of established rivals within the Large East. Now, they’re of their third yr collectively within the Large 12, they usually’re alone of their geographic footprint. West Virginia leads 18-3-1 total.

TCU-Houston: These former Southwest Convention and Convention USA foes have performed solely 27 occasions, however Houston joined the Southwest in 1976, and it lasted simply 20 extra seasons. Now, as Large 12 anchors in Houston and the Metroplex, there’s an opportunity to raise this collection for each applications. After final yr’s 30-19 upset, Houston ended a nine-game dropping streak and now leads 14-13.

Arkansas-Oklahoma: Solely 230 miles separate these border applications, however they’ve performed simply 14 occasions total and solely thrice since 1926. All three conferences had been in New Yr’s Day bowl video games (1977, 1986, 2001). This could have made for an incredible Large Eight or Large 12 rivalry, however now, as SEC companions, Oklahoma-Arkansas appears pure as they navigate via a 16-team convention.

Rutgers-Maryland: Maryland had long-standing rivalries from the ACC, whereas Rutgers didn’t have a beforehand devoted foe after they joined the Large Ten collectively in 2014. The league stapled them as annual opponents, and it has developed into a pleasant collection. Lower than 200 miles separate their campuses, and they’re now cemented as everlasting Large Ten rivals.

Notre Dame-Clemson: The faculties have agreed to a 12-year home-and-home collection that not solely pits two of the highest soccer manufacturers towards each other, nevertheless it additionally raises eyebrows. For the Irish, it offers them a devoted annual opponent ought to the USC rivalry fade away. For Clemson, this contract runs via 2038, which is past the ACC’s present grant of rights. Though they’ve performed solely eight occasions — the Tigers lead 5-3 — this has the makings of a marquee nationwide rivalry.

(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; images: Brian Bahr, Erica Denhoff, John Cordes / Getty Photos)