I personally think Michigan vs. Ohio State and USC vs. UCLA are the biggest college football rivalries. Post your comments:
Grudge games: what gets your vote?
What’s the best rivalry in college football? The one involving your favorite team, of course.
But some rivalries have such history and intensity that they go beyond regional interest and symbolize the game itself for the nation’s fans.
Look over our choices for the 10 best college football rivalries, and vote in the SportsNation poll to the left.
1. Alabama vs. Auburn
Alabama leads the series, 38-27-1.
The Tigers and the Crimson Tide have played each other since 1893 (no, Bear Bryant wasn’t coaching back then), and the Iron Bowl faceoff has been so bitter that it’s often been played in Birmingham, Ala., a neutral site. The teams play Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
2. Ohio State vs. Michigan
Michigan leads the series, 56-36-6.
Used to be that when the Buckeyes and Wolverines faced each other they were fighting for a spot in the Rose Bowl. This Saturday, Michigan invades Ohio State turf, hoping to keep the Buckeyes (12-0) from a shot at the BCS title in the Fiesta Bowl. The Buckeyes and Wolverines first faced each other in 1897.
3. Oklahoma vs. Texas
Texas leads the series, 56-36-5.
At this rivalry’s neutral battlefield, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, the fans in the stands use the 50-yard line to re-create the Oklahoma-Texas border – on one side, the Oklahoma fans wear crimson and cream, and on the other side the Texas fans are in burnt orange and white.
4. Army vs. Navy
Army leads the series, 49-46-7.
Navy midshipmen celebrate after beating Army 30-28 in 2000.
No brotherly love in this annual matchup, played yearly, often in Philly. Back in the day, the two service academies were usually among the top teams in the country. Case in point: in the fall of 1945, the first football season after the end of WWII, Mr. Inside (Doc Blanchard) and Mr. Outside (Glenn Davis) led No. 1 ranked Army over No. 2 Navy.
5. Texas vs. Texas A&M
Texas leads the series, 69-34-5.
This was voted the top college football rivalry in a USA Today online poll. The Longhorns and Aggies have been playing each other since 1897. They face off the day after Thanksgiving.
6. Florida vs. Georgia
Georgia leads the series, 45-34-2.
It’s “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.” But the Bulldogs weren’t partying a few weeks ago, when Florida handed them their only loss of the season so far, 20-13.
7. USC vs. UCLA
USC leads the series, 37-27-7
The battle for the Victory Bell is about as close to tradition as you can get on the left coast. This year’s matchup, with USC (8-2, ranked seventh) at UCLA (7-3, ranked 25th), should be a good one.
8. Nebraska vs. Oklahoma
Nebraska leads the series, 40-37-3.
For decades they fought it out for Big 8 supremacy, with an Orange Bowl bid and often a national title on the line. On Nov. 25, 1971, they played what has become known as the “Game of the Century,” with Nebraska prevailing 35-31.
9. Harvard vs. Yale
Yale leads the series, 64-46-8.
Think it doesn’t matter? These two Ivies started playing in 1875, and the best contest came nearly 100 years later. After Harvard rallied from a 29-13 deficit with less than a minute left in the 1968 battle, the Harvard Crimson ran the memorable headline, “Harvard beats Yale 29-29.”
10. California vs. Stanford
Stanford leads the series, 54-39-11.
It’s called “The Big Game,” and the game everyone still talks about, even 20 years later, is the one that ended with “The Play,” won by Cal on a crazy kickoff return featuring five laterals and an end zone full of Stanford band members.
Also receiving consideration:
Clemson vs. South Carolina
Florida State vs. Miami
Georgia vs. Georgia Tech
Kentucky vs. Louisville
Lehigh vs. Lafayette
Mississippi vs. Mississippi State
Oregon vs. Oregon State
USC vs. Notre Dame
Washington vs. Washington State