Rivalries are what bring character to college sports. Rivalries combine environments and traditions that you won’t find anywhere else. No matter how good or bad the opponents are, there is always a chance for an upset. With college football in full swing, here are the five best college football rivalries.
- Texas vs Oklahoma
The Red River Rivalry has cemented its legacy as a top five rivalry in college football. Unlike the other rivalries on this list, the game is exclusively played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas rather than at either university’s home field. Clashing with the annual Texas State Fair, the event brings a festival-like atmosphere that you won’t find in other rivalries. The neutral site brings a unique environment with the crowd splitting from crimson red and burnt orange. The game features two teams with tons of traditions and a history of winning as they have a combined 11 national championships. While Texas leads the all time series 64-51-5, Oklahoma has won 17 of the last 25 matchups.
- Notre Dame vs USC
With a combined 22 national titles, USC and Notre Dame have solidified themselves as one of the best rivalries in college football. This rivalry has gone on annually since 1926 with the only exceptions being during World War II (1943-1945) and COVID (2020). Notre Dame leads the series 52-37-5 and has won the last 7 out of 10 matchups. Both teams travel across the country through 3 timezones every year. This game has been known to always have high stakes as both teams are 2 of the most prestigious programs of all time with a history of winning.
- Tennessee vs Alabama
Known as “The Third Saturday in October,” the rivalry between Tennessee and Alabama have brought us some of the greatest games in recent memory. The game is played at two of the most intimidating environments in college football, Neyland Stadium at Tennessee and Bryant-Denny Stadium at Alabama, with Neyland Stadium holding the record for the loudest sound at a college football game at 137 decibels. Alabama leads the all-time winning record at 60-38-8, but Tennessee has come through lately winning 2 of the last 3 games including a game winning kick in 2022 that ended up with the Tennessee students taking down the goal post and carrying it around through campus.
- Auburn vs Alabama
Auburn vs Alabama is known as being one of the most exciting rivalries in the game of college football. Both teams play in the state of Alabama. So far, Alabama leads the series 51-37-1. The Iron Bowl has brought us so many iconic moments, including arguably the most iconic play of all time when Auburn’s Chris Davis ran back the missed game winning kick for a touchdown to win the Iron Bowl in 2013. Although Alabama has won the last five meetups, there is always a high probability for an intense game.
- Michigan vs Ohio State
It’s called “The Big Game” for a reason. The rivalry dates all the way back to 1897, and since 1918, they have played every year besides when the season was shut down in 2020. Both schools have a history of success, having a combined total of 21 national championships. The all-time record is very close, with Michigan leading 60-51-6. Whether it’s played in the Big House at Michigan or The Shoe at Ohio State, the atmosphere is better than any other place in the country. The hostility between the two fanbases is like none other in college football. Ohio State fans go as far as referring to Michigan as “the team up north,” and x-ing out any Letter Ms that they find on campus. This rivalry always brings us an exciting game, and either team can win.
