College Football’s Top 10 Rivalries

College Football’s Top 10 Traditional Rivalries

By: Steve Clarkson

10. Harvard vs. Yale, aka “The Game”

• ·      Rivalry has been played since November 13^th, 1875
• ·      Second oldest continuing rivalry in college football
• ·      Series record: Yale leads (65-55-8)

 9. Army vs. Navy

• ·      Rivalry has been played since 1890
• ·      Series record: Navy leads (56-49-7)

 8. Texas vs. Texas A&M (In active Rivalry)

• ·      Rivalry has been played since 1894
• ·      Third longest running rivalry in all of college football
• ·      Series record: Texas leads (75-36-5)

 7. Stanford vs. Cal, aka “Big Game”

• ·      Rivalry has been played since March 19^th, 1892
• ·      Tenth longest rivalry in NCAA Division I FBS football
• ·      Series record: Stanford leads (58-46-11)
• ·      The teams play for the Stanford Axe 

 6. Florida vs. Georgia

• ·      Rivalry was born in 1915
• ·      The game attracts huge crowds of fans to Jacksonville.  Some say the tailgating before this game is much like “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”
• ·      Series record: Georgia leads (48-40-2) per Florida, Georgia leads (49-40-2) per Georgia
• ·      The teams play for the Okefeokee Oar

 5. Notre Dame vs. USC

• ·      Rivalry was born in 1926
• ·      Both Notre Dame and USC combined have produced the most national titles 
• ·      The teams play for the Jeweled Shillelagh, a trophy that goes home with the winning team 
• ·      Series record: Notre Dame leads (43-34-5)

 4. Texas vs. Oklahoma, aka “Red River Rivalry”

• ·      Rivalry has been played since October 10, 1900
• ·      Teams play for the Golden Hat
•   Series record: Texas leads (59-43-5)

 3. Michigan vs. Ohio State

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• Rivalry has been played since October 17^th, 1897
• In 2000, this game was ranked by ESPN as the greatest North American sports rivalry
• Series record: Michigan leads (58-43-6)

 2. Alabama vs. Auburn, aka “Iron Bowl”

• ·      Rivalry was born February 22, 1893
• ·      The winner of the game receives the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Award
• Series record: Alabama leads (41-34-1)

1. USC vs. UCLA, aka “The Crosstown Showdown”

• ·      This rivalry really started in 1939.   Both teams were ranked and the Rose Bowl was on the line for both teams.  The game ended in a scoreless tie, USC went onto the Rose Bowl.
• ·      This rivalry is among the most unusual, as the campuses are only 12 miles apart, and both in the same city.
• ·       Each team plays in their own home jerseys
• ·      Series record: USC leads (46-28-7)