The 25 best rivalries in college football

These colleges play for the famed Previous Oaken Bucket every season. Although neither program has been in competition for a Huge Ten title lately, it is nonetheless probably the most storied and revered rivalries in all of sports activities. The Hoosiers and Boilermakers first met in 1891. Purdue holds a big lead within the collection (74-41-6) and has received the final two conferences.

We will keep within the state of Indiana however drop all the way down to Division III. Annually DePauw’s Tigers face Wabash’s Little Giants with the Monon Bell on the road. The 300-pound locomotive bell has gone to the victor of every recreation since 1932, although these colleges first met in 1890. Wabash holds a slight edge within the collection, due to victories in 9 of the final 10 conferences.

Merely often called “The Rivalry,” these FCS colleges, positioned lower than 20 miles aside in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, began taking up one another in 1884, thus, reportedly, making it probably the most performed matchup between colleges in all of school soccer. Although Lafayette leads the collection 78-71-5, Lehigh has received 4 in a row and 9 of the final 11 get-togethers.

These in-state rivals went from 1935-76 with out taking part in one another, however this has been a daily matchup since 1977. Whereas Iowa has received the final 4 conferences within the collection, we put it on this record as a result of each groups have motive to be ok with issues in 2019. When the faculties meet in Ames on Sept. 14, it might need the makings of a memorable affair.

It is at all times a spirited contest when Paul Bunyan’s Axe is on the road. Nonetheless, we’ve got a sense issues might get ratcheted up for the 2019 installment, at the least from the Wisconsin facet. The Badgers’ 14-game successful streak within the rivalry ended final season when P.J. Fleck’s Gophers rowed the boat into Madison and shipped out with a decisive 37-15 victory to get their arms on the Axe for the primary time since 2003.  

Clearly an enormous deal to the nice of us of South Carolina, this rivalry has been slightly streaky because the 2009 season. That 12 months, the Gamecocks received what can be the primary of 5 straight over the Tigers. Nonetheless, Clemson has returned the favor by successful 5 in a row — and the final three by a mixed 146-52.

Who would not love them some Bedlam. Followers of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State soccer definitely do. This collection has some nice historical past that features gamers diving right into a creek to get well the ball, the mafia fixing video games and loads of high-scoring shootouts. About the one factor that has dampened this collection is Oklahoma’s dominance (88-18-7). The Sooners have received 4 in a row and 14 of the final 16 matchups.

That is dubbed the “Holy Conflict,” in reference to each college’s having a number of members who’re a part of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The groups even met within the 2015 Las Vegas Bowl, which turned often called the “Holy Conflict in Sin Metropolis.” Utah leads the collection 61-34-4 and has received the final eight conferences.

Bear in mind Mike Hart’s “little brother” remark concerning Michigan State from just a few years again? It is nonetheless type of true, contemplating Michigan leads the collection 70-36-15. After the Spartans received three straight from 2013-15, the Wolverines claimed two of the final three conferences and can host this 12 months’s model in Ann Arbor.

Sticking with the Wolverines, that is one rivalry of which they don’t maintain the benefit general or of late. The Wolverines lead 24-17-1 within the all-time collection with Notre Dame, however the Irish have received the final two conferences. After the groups play this 12 months in Ann Arbor, the collection will once more go on hiatus. It is at all times disappointing that these colleges cannot discover a method to make it some extent to play one another yearly. 

The Apple Cup could be the perfect rivalry on the West Coast from the standpoint that each colleges are among the many finest within the Pac-12. In fact, Washington has had its method lately throughout a rivalry that started in 1900. The Huskies have received six in a row by a mean margin of virtually 22 factors. Nonetheless, the historical past and longevity of this collection makes it fairly particular.

At some point, the battle for Los Angeles goes to imply one thing once more. We simply do not know when as a result of each groups are removed from nationwide championship contenders, and even incomes a bowl bid has been a chore of late. USC had received three straight within the collection till UCLA scored 13 unanswered fourth-quarter factors to win 34-27 final season in a recreation that was really fairly entertaining. 

It is too dangerous this rivalry has been placed on hiatus since 2011 as a result of Aggies leaving the Huge 12 for the SEC. Reportedly, there was speak of making an attempt to revive the rivalry beginning early within the subsequent decade, however so far nothing has been agreed upon. Previous to the collection being halted, the Longhorns had received three of 4 and lead 76-37-5 all time.

Unhealthy information first: The “Yard Brawl” between Pitt and West Virginia has not been performed since 2011 when the Mountaineers received their third straight within the collection. Here is the excellent news: The rivalry will begin up once more in 2022. OK, that is nonetheless a methods to attend, however we all know it is coming and it will likely be wild, heated and enjoyable for extra than simply the fan bases of each colleges. Pitt leads 61-40-3 over West Virginia.

Since 2001, the Gators and Seminoles have cut up their 18 conferences. Now that is a rivalry. In fact, it wasn’t just like the groups have been alternating victories. Florida received six in a row from 2004-09, and Florida State took 5 straight earlier than the Gators ended the enjoyable — and the Seminoles’ prolonged bowl run — with final 12 months’s 41-14 rout at Gainesville. For the time being, it is concerning the Gators, however FSU must be hungry.

It goes by just a few totally different names (“The Play,” The Stanford Band Play”). That doesn’t matter, however that is one rivalry that can endlessly be outlined by one recreation and arguably probably the most unbelievable end ever in school soccer. We’re lengthy since faraway from that exceptional 1982 afternoon in Berkeley, however the rivalry continues to be fairly intense. Stanford, although, leads 64-46-11 within the all-time collection of the “Huge Sport” and has received 9 in a row.

“The Sport” has been going robust since 1875. It is the sooner or later of the college 12 months when lecturers really do not come first at these hallowed Ivy League establishments. The sport day traditions at each colleges are as a lot part of the season-finale contest because the on-field matchup itself. Whereas Yale owns a 67-60-8 benefit within the all-time collection, Harvard has received 15 of the final 18.

This rivalry is extra about historical past than anything, particularly because the final 5 matchups haven’t been all that shut — although SC did lead 10-0 in final 12 months’s assembly earlier than dropping 24-17. These are nonetheless two of probably the most storied applications that make it some extent to play one another yearly and deal with the rivalry with respect — the best way it must be.

One motive this rivalry ranks excessive on our record is as a result of for years the caliber of star gamers on the sector on the identical time was like a future Professional Bowl. From the assorted “extensive proper” — or “left — to Miami’s spectacular 2018 comeback from 27-7 down, the Seminoles and Hurricanes proceed to thrill. Miami holds a slight edge within the all-time collection.

The rivalry recreation often called the Egg Bowl was first performed in 1901 and is without doubt one of the longest uninterrupted such contests in school soccer historical past. Neither group is eager on the opposite, and that features gamers, coaches, followers, anyone. It is also a Thanksgiving week — or weekend — staple. The Rebels lead the all-time collection 62-45-6, however it has been comparatively shut with Mississippi State holding a 12-11 benefit starting with the 1996 season.

With Jacksonville, Florida, because the setting, among the best scenes in all of school soccer occurs when the Bulldogs and Gators meet every season. Although the identify is now not formally used, the “World’s Largest Out of doors Cocktail Celebration” is the proper description for the environment and expertise that may be a Georgia-Florida soccer recreation. On the sector Georgia has received the final two conferences after Florida dominated for years. Nonetheless, with each groups anticipated to problem for the SEC East Division title, this 12 months’s installment must be one thing particular.

It is easy: No person on both facet of the Iron Bowl rivalry likes anyone related to the opposite. The heated nature of this collection has gone behind the soccer area and proven simply how misguided sports activities followers, usually, could be and to what lengths they’ll go to help their groups. The faculties have met 85 occasions on the sector with Alabama main the collection 47 to 37 with one tie.

The environment on the Cotton Bowl in the course of the Texas State Honest in October is the proper backdrop for the Purple River Showdown. It is even higher when each groups are good. That is been the case the final two years and must be once more in 2019. Final season was further particular with these rivals additionally assembly within the Huge 12 championship recreation. Let’s hope we get a repeat in 2019. 

That is one other rivalry the place the groups and their respective followers simply don’t love one another. Whereas it isn’t fairly as heated as, say, the Iron Bowl, it is nonetheless that one recreation every group is anticipated to win. Of late, it is all Ohio State, winner of seven in a row and 14 of 15. Final season was slated to be the 12 months Michigan confirmed up and ended its collection slide. As an alternative, Jim Harbaugh’s guys have been blasted 62-39 by the Buckeyes. The Wolverines shouldn’t be taken critically till they can beat Ohio State once more.

It is maybe the one rivalry the place data really do not matter and respect is abound. The pageantry, emotion and custom displayed yearly between these service academies are at all times one thing to be seen. Navy leads the collection 60-52-7, however Military has received the final three conferences by a mixed 12 factors. Then once more, after watching the trouble put forth by each groups, it is simple to see why this rivalry is about extra than simply soccer.