Best Rivalry in College Football

[TruffleShuffle]

Make your pick...

[CubColtPacer]

When I first looked over the list, I saw 3 rivalries that really jumped out at me:

 

Alabama-Auburn

Michigan-Ohio State

Texas-Texas A&M

 

There are several reasons I threw out other rivalries.

1) One team really considers it their biggest game of the year while the other team doesn't (Army-Navy even got thrown out using this criteria, although Army will probably return to being Navy's top priority once again next year).

2) To get in the elite rivalries, fans almost have to care more about winning that game than winning overall. That throws out all the Florida games, the Notre Dame-USC game, Oklahoma-Texas, Cal-Stanford, etc.

3) Alums of the school and fans of the school have to be passionate about football. Some of the small school rivalries are really nice, but simply don't compare to millions of people and whole states who hate each other.

 

So that got me down to 3. I then eliminated Texas-Texas A&M because in the last few years the importance of the game has really dwindled for Texas. A&M would still rather beat Texas than win anything else, but the scope of the rivalry has really dwindled over the last 10 years.

 

Finally with the last 2, from being around fans of all 4 teams for quite a while, Ohio State-Michigan is just on a different level. They really hope that the other team goes 0-12 ever year. In Alabama, the Iron Bowl is huge for bragging rights, but it really doesn't extend through the whole season like the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry does. I've heard numerous people who don't even like to travel in the other state just because of that game. So the Iron Bowl is awesome, but my vote has to go to the OSU-Michigan game.

[TruffleShuffle]

Alabama-Auburn

Michigan-Ohio State

Texas-Texas A&M

 

There are several reasons I threw out other rivalries.

1) One team really considers it their biggest game of the year while the other team doesn't (Army-Navy even got thrown out using this criteria, although Army will probably return to being Navy's top priority once again next year).

 

A lot of Texas fans consider OU to be their biggest rival now. And as someone knowing people from both the USMA and USNA, I can assure you that the Army-Navy game is the most important game of the year for both teams. The Notre Dame game will probably be much tougher for Navy to win than the Army game will be, but I would guess that if you'd asked everyone on Navy's football team who they'd rather beat this year, at least 90% would've said Army.

[CubColtPacer]

Alabama-Auburn

Michigan-Ohio State

Texas-Texas A&M

 

There are several reasons I threw out other rivalries.

1) One team really considers it their biggest game of the year while the other team doesn't (Army-Navy even got thrown out using this criteria, although Army will probably return to being Navy's top priority once again next year).

 

A lot of Texas fans consider OU to be their biggest rival now. And as someone knowing people from both the USMA and USNA, I can assure you that the Army-Navy game is the most important game of the year for both teams. The Notre Dame game will probably be much tougher for Navy to win than the Army game will be, but I would guess that if you'd asked everyone on Navy's football team who they'd rather beat this year, at least 90% would've said Army.

 

I've heard different on the Army-Navy thing. I've heard the last 7-9 years, Navy has been going into the first day of practice saying that "This is the year we are going to beat Notre Dame".

 

As far as Texas, I agree with you that it is a growing number of Texas fans which almost made me disqualify the rivalry, but still from hearing from Texas fans (and I have family in that area) many would say that their biggest game is Oklahoma, but the game they would hate to lose is A&M. If A&M doesn't get their act together soon though that rivalry will be just about gone in about 5 years.

[TruffleShuffle]

2) To get in the elite rivalries, fans almost have to care more about winning that game than winning overall. That throws out all the Florida games, the Notre Dame-USC game, Oklahoma-Texas, Cal-Stanford, etc.

 

I'm not sure how this doesn't exclude the Michigan-Ohio State game. Fans of both programs expect their team to compete for a national championship every year. A lot of Michigan fans want Lloyd Carr gone after this season. While it's true that he's had trouble beating Tressel, they also have struggled in bowl games recently, and haven't really contended for a national title since the mid '90s (unless you count last year).

 

My pick was Army-Navy. Here are some reasons why...

 

In 1999, Navy safety Gary Lane gave Smithsonian magazine a taste of the game's importance. "I saw players crying in the locker room, the toughest guys I knew just blubbering like babies after we lost. And hugging the Army team even though we don't know any of them. Army-Navy is like playing your brother. You play harder, but you share something because you know what the other guy has been through."

 

During WWII, travel restrictions prevented the usual enormous cheering squads from going to away games. So in 1942, under orders from the Navy, some midshipmen filled the visitors stands in Annapolis and cheered for Army. In 1943, Army returned the favor.

 

After Army won in 1944, Gen. Douglas MacArthur took a moment. As his troops battled in the Philippines, he cabled Army's locker room. "We have stopped the war to celebrate your magnificent success," read the telegram. That 1944 game was a huge deal. Army's cadets could cheer on their squad again (they came by steamer to Baltimore, protected by five Navy destroyers). Army was great, featuring Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, aka Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside. And if you bought tickets, you bought war bonds -- the game was used to raise money for the war effort. The gate ended up bringing in $58 million -- with single tickets going for more than $1,000 each and private boxes fetching $1 million.

 

 

You also have the president attending the game, switching sides at halftime. Navy stamps "BEAT ARMY" on the weights in their locker room, and those words were also on the tile at the bottom of one of the natatorium's pools. The Army-Navy game is meaningful even if both teams come into the game winless; I don't think many people would care about Michigan-Ohio State if both teams completely sucked. I guess I just like all the tradition and the mutual respect in the Army-Navy rivalry, so that was my choice.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't think that excludes Michigan-Ohio State because I've heard many fans on both sides say that game is more important than their season. Also Cooper was fired because he couldn't beat Michigan. When Tressel was hired, did he say he was going to put them back into national contention? Did he say they were going to have a great season? No, the first thing he said was that it was only 300 something days until they beat Michigan, because that's what the crowd wanted. Carr's approval rating started sliding bigtime when he started losing to Ohio State.

 

I think Army-Navy may be the best experience in college football. It certainly is a game to remind national viewers about what's important and to have great competition and intensity. I also think it is one of the great rivalries, but it actually suffers because the fanbase for both army and navy have their priorities straight most of the time. They realize there are more important things then the game, and the game doesn't dictate how the rest of their life will go They aren't as irrational as many Michigan-Ohio State and Auburn-Alabama fans. That's great for them personally (and I think other rivalries go too far many times) but it does push them below the other rivalries.

[CubinNY]

Army-Navy and it isn't particularly close. The game is just part of the deal. I know neither team is a powerhouse but, it really is the best. I encourage everyone to go to a game if they get a chance.

 

Alabama Auburn is probably the nastiest rivalry, followed closely by Texas-Oklahoma. The funny thing about the OSU-Michigan rivialry is that the U of M don't really make a big deal about the game unless it is for the conference championship. OSU defines themself by the game. That is one of the things that infuriates the knuckleheads in Columbus.

 

USC-Notre Dame is not really a rivalry although they play each other every year. ND's only rivial is the ghost of Knute Rockney and Ara Parsegian. I'd say USC-UCLA is a bigger rival than USC-ND.

[Andy]

USC-Notre Dame is not really a rivalry although they play each other every year. ND's only rivial is the ghost of Knute Rockney and Ara Parsegian. I'd say USC-UCLA is a bigger rival than USC-ND.

I know you hate Notre Dame, but this is ridiculous. ND has at least two rivals - USC and Michigan. And there's no Y in Rockne and there's an H in Parseghian.

 

My pick is Army-Navy.

[TruffleShuffle]

oh yeah, i know a couple of auburn fans and a couple of alabama fans, and those teams friggin HATE each other. A lot of people outside of SEC country probably don't realize how heated that rivalry is.

[CubinNY]

USC-Notre Dame is not really a rivalry although they play each other every year. ND's only rivial is the ghost of Knute Rockney and Ara Parsegian. I'd say USC-UCLA is a bigger rival than USC-ND.

I know you hate Notre Dame, but this is ridiculous. ND has at least two rivals - USC and Michigan.

Maybe to ND and their fans, but not so much for the other team and their fans. That's the thing, my defineiton of a rivialry must include both teams (a) with a history, (b) a history that includes many important games, and © a history that includes some level of enmity. ND-Michigan is traditionally at the begining of the year, is out of conference, and aside from the John Carney kick hasn't included much in the way of drama. ND-USC is out of conference and the fate of the two teams is many times decided before the game begins. I don't think many USC teams have prepared their season to play ND. They are out of conference games.

 

Meanwhile, under the Golden Dome every coach and every team is measured by Knute and Ara and their teams. ND has done a lot to create their singularity in college football. It is the singularity that keeps them from having a true rival. In a real sense they are their own rival, "Wake Up the Echos" and whatnot.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Like was mentioned in this week's college football thread, there aren't too many rivalries that go back to the entire states hating each other during the civil war, with the burning of towns and raping and pillaging and such. I'd say that Mizzou-Kansas is close to being the most passionate, although that doesn't necessarily mean best, IMO. As much as it pains me, I voted Michigan-OSU.

[CubinNY]

Like was mentioned in this week's college football thread, there aren't too many rivalries that go back to the entire states hating each other during the civil war, with the burning of towns and raping and pillaging and such. I'd say that Mizzou-Kansas is close to being the most passionate, although that doesn't necessarily mean best, IMO. As much as it pains me, I voted Michigan-OSU.

After reading the thread I'd put Mizzou-Kansas under the least know nastiest rivalry. I cannot believe that people would wear those t-shirts. Although I have seen quite a few "Ann Arbor is a whore" t-shirts on the OSU campus. I've also seen Brutus the Bukeye recieving felatio from a Michigan cheer leader t-shirts too. Columbus can be a scary place sometimes.

[SouthSideRyan]

Ann Arbor is a whore shirts are everywhere. Notre Dame and Illinois have them as well.

 

Cause seriously, she's a huge slut.

 

And it's Army/Navy by a country mile. Though, I am interested to know who voted ND/USC since Andy and myself did not. It's not as trivial as CubinNY implies, but I have a hard time putting it in top 5 out of that list.

[Guest]

Ask any SC student or player and UCLA is a bigger rivalry than ND.

[TruffleShuffle]

hey i wonder who voted for ucla-usc :?:

[Guest]

hey i wonder who voted for ucla-usc :?:

 

Had to be done.

 

If you put a gun to my head, I'd say Army-Navy, though.

[Andy]

USC-Notre Dame is not really a rivalry although they play each other every year. ND's only rivial is the ghost of Knute Rockney and Ara Parsegian. I'd say USC-UCLA is a bigger rival than USC-ND.

I know you hate Notre Dame, but this is ridiculous. ND has at least two rivals - USC and Michigan.

Maybe to ND and their fans, but not so much for the other team and their fans. That's the thing, my defineiton of a rivialry must include both teams (a) with a history, (b) a history that includes many important games, and © a history that includes some level of enmity. ND-Michigan is traditionally at the begining of the year, is out of conference, and aside from the John Carney kick hasn't included much in the way of drama. ND-USC is out of conference and the fate of the two teams is many times decided before the game begins. I don't think many USC teams have prepared their season to play ND. They are out of conference games.

While USC/ND is out of conference, it's ludicrous to say their fates are decided before the game. I couldn't tell you the exact number, but USC and ND have played many a game in the rivalry where one team ruins the other's national title hopes and/or sends themselves on to one. 1964, 1973, 1977, 1988, and 2005 are five good examples of USC and ND ruining each other's title hopes, and in the last four cases, the winning team went on to play for a title of their own.

[CubinNY]

USC-Notre Dame is not really a rivalry although they play each other every year. ND's only rivial is the ghost of Knute Rockney and Ara Parsegian. I'd say USC-UCLA is a bigger rival than USC-ND.

I know you hate Notre Dame, but this is ridiculous. ND has at least two rivals - USC and Michigan.

Maybe to ND and their fans, but not so much for the other team and their fans. That's the thing, my defineiton of a rivialry must include both teams (a) with a history, (b) a history that includes many important games, and © a history that includes some level of enmity. ND-Michigan is traditionally at the begining of the year, is out of conference, and aside from the John Carney kick hasn't included much in the way of drama. ND-USC is out of conference and the fate of the two teams is many times decided before the game begins. I don't think many USC teams have prepared their season to play ND. They are out of conference games.

While USC/ND is out of conference, it's ludicrous to say their fates are decided before the game. I couldn't tell you the exact number, but USC and ND have played many a game in the rivalry where one team ruins the other's national title hopes and/or sends themselves on to one. 1964, 1973, 1977, 1988, and 2005 are five good examples of USC and ND ruining each other's title hopes, and in the last four cases, the winning team went on to play for a title of their own.

One could say that about any team who plays a team who is going for a national title. If that is your definition, Illinois-OSU and Michigan State-OSU are big rivalrys.

 

Live the dream!

[CuseCubFan69]

Wow...no WV vs Pitt Backyard Brawl?

 

I vote for the Army/Navy Game.

[E.J.]

Wow...no WV vs Pitt Backyard Brawl?

 

I vote for the Army/Navy Game.

 

Big East football isn't real.

[CuseCubFan69]

Wow...no WV vs Pitt Backyard Brawl?

 

I vote for the Army/Navy Game.

 

Big East football isn't real.

 

It's just that good.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

IOWA / MINNESOTA -- they play for a bronze pig, people

 

The one I enjoy watching the most from the list is probably OU/Texas. I don't really know why, but I always tune in for that one. Michigan/tO$U lost my attention nearly 34 years ago, mostly because I was raised to hate them. I don't recall the last time I watched them play each other -- oh yeah, it was never. I don't mind watching the SEC schools play because of the athleticism, Pac 10 football bores the hell out of me for some reason (probably because all of their games start at 4am). Army/Navy was probably cool in the 1870s, and the Ivy League needs to stick to academia.

[TruffleShuffle]

i'm rooting for the same thing i always root for in the michigan-ohio state rivalry... stadium collapse

[Andy]

USC-Notre Dame is not really a rivalry although they play each other every year. ND's only rivial is the ghost of Knute Rockney and Ara Parsegian. I'd say USC-UCLA is a bigger rival than USC-ND.

I know you hate Notre Dame, but this is ridiculous. ND has at least two rivals - USC and Michigan.

Maybe to ND and their fans, but not so much for the other team and their fans. That's the thing, my defineiton of a rivialry must include both teams (a) with a history, (b) a history that includes many important games, and © a history that includes some level of enmity. ND-Michigan is traditionally at the begining of the year, is out of conference, and aside from the John Carney kick hasn't included much in the way of drama. ND-USC is out of conference and the fate of the two teams is many times decided before the game begins. I don't think many USC teams have prepared their season to play ND. They are out of conference games.

While USC/ND is out of conference, it's ludicrous to say their fates are decided before the game. I couldn't tell you the exact number, but USC and ND have played many a game in the rivalry where one team ruins the other's national title hopes and/or sends themselves on to one. 1964, 1973, 1977, 1988, and 2005 are five good examples of USC and ND ruining each other's title hopes, and in the last four cases, the winning team went on to play for a title of their own.

One could say that about any team who plays a team who is going for a national title. If that is your definition, Illinois-OSU and Michigan State-OSU are big rivalrys.

 

Live the dream!

My final thought on the subject is remembering when Reggie Bush said of the 2005 win at ND: "This is the biggest win of my career."

 

The man had already won a Rose Bowl and a national title.

[Mephistopheles]

A lot of Texas fans consider OU to be their biggest rival now.

 

Um, no they don't. I am not surprised that Ohio State and Michigan is at the top, even though it isn't the correct answer. Up until about ten years ago the biggest rivalry for OU was easily Nebraska. I'd rank them:

 

1. Texas - Texas A&M

2. Army - Navy

3. Yale - Harvard

4. Auburn - Alabama

5. Michigan - Ohio State

6. Grambling - Southern

7. Oxbridge

8. Florida - Florida State

9. UCLA - USC

10. Florida - Georgia