Hatfields vs McCoys: Top Feuds In College Football

Without question, the rivalries in college football exceed those of any other sport.

In college football, rivals meet only once each season. There are no second chances. A disappointing loss can turn into a tumultuous off-season and a big victory can make a team's year.

There are a few rivalries that stand out as some of the greatest in sports. These have withstood the test of time and have even developed into something more than a rivalry—a feud so to speak.

A feud takes the word rivalry to a whole new level. A hatred between two teams that is almost completely unfathomable.

Here is a list of the top feuds in college football.

Florida vs. Florida St.

The closeness in proximity between these two schools only further fuels this feud.

Not only do these two teams battle for the same coveted recruits from the state of Florida every year, they also slug it out on the field and needless to say, tempers burn deep.

This feud began to grow in the 1990s when both teams were consistently in the national title mix, and has continued in recent years.

The rivalry reached feud status when former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier called Florida State "Free Shoes University."

That clearly didn't sit well with the Seminoles.

USC vs. Stanford

The Stanford and USC rivalry dates all the way back to 1905, and is one of the oldest in college football.

These teams have always had a rivalry, but the real feud began when Jim Harbaugh took over before the 2007 season.

It's safe to say Harbaugh has a strong dislike for former USC head coach Pete Carroll. Carroll is no longer there, but the feud is only just beginning.

After Stanford upset USC 24-23 in 2007, the Trojans came back in 2008 to trounce the Cardinal 45-23. Last season Harbaugh stomped Carroll 55-21 and was not afraid to put a few extra points on the board late in the game.

Even with Carroll on to the NFL, this feud is certain to continue for years to come.

Alabama vs. Auburn

The feud between these two teams is as strong as ever. They have been bitter rivals since the late 19th century.

The feud really began in 1907 when the game was put on hold for over 40 years because the teams could not agree on who should officiate the games.

This game literally stops a state for an entire day and the winner has ownership of the state for the following year.

The passion and hate between these two schools is as vicious as any in the country and the Iron Bowl has always been, and is currently one of the biggest feuds in college football.

Oklahoma vs. Texas

"The Red River Shootout" is considered by some to be the greatest college football rivalry and the intensity is certainly there.

These two teams began playing in 1900, even before Oklahoma was a state. The history and the feud are as vicious as any in college football.

Elections have been lost due to the outcome of a game. In 1963 former Oklahoma head coach Bud Wilkinson lost a Senate race after his No. 1 Sooners lost to the No. 2 Longhorns

The rivalry really turned into a feud in 1976. Oklahoma coaches were accused of spying by Texas, causing Longhorn head coach Darrell Royal to call them "sorry bastards" before the 1976 showdown.

Needless to say, there is no love lost between these two schools.

Florida vs. Georgia

Known as the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," the Georgia and Florida feud continues to boil year round, even in May.

What makes this feud extra special is that it is one of the few that is played on a neutral site, meaning the fans are usually evenly divided.

The rivalry became a full-on feud in 2007 when Georgia scored an early touchdown and their entire team came onto the field for a mass celebration in the end zone, known forever as "The Gator Stomp."

Georgia went on to a 42-30 victory and it didn't take long for Urban Meyer to get his revenge.

In 2008, with Florida leading 49-10 in the final minutes, Meyer used both his timeouts so his team could soak in the victory, in the mean time prolonging the agony for the Bulldogs.

Notre Dame vs. Miami

In what will be known as Catholics vs. Convicts, the Notre Dame and Miami feud hit full force over 20 years ago over 1988.

The brawl in the tunnel as it is commonly known was certainly one for the ages. Both teams literally went at it after pregame warmups. Fists were swinging and helmets were flying.

Miami was No. 1 in the country and was riding a 36-game regular season winning streak. Notre Dame was No. 4 in the country and the Catholics went on to knock off the Convicts 31-30 en route to a National Championship.

Here is a first hand account from "The Rocket."

Ohio State vs. Michigan

Without question, the biggest feud in college football is between The Ohio State University Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines.

This historic rivalry dates all the way back to 1897 and over the years the Buckeyes and Wolverines have had some classic encounters.

The rivalry is over a century old, but the real feud began in the 1970s when Bo Schembechler took over Michigan after previously serving an assistant under Woody Hayes at Ohio State.

The hiring of Schembechler began what many people call the "Ten-Year War." Between 1969 and 1978 these two teams met 10 times and the hatred grew and grew.

Michigan went 5-4-1 over that span and Woody Hayes was fired in 1978 after punching a player in the Gator Bowl.

Hayes was not short on words about this rivalry and coined the phrase "the state up north," so he would not have to say the word "Michigan."

He became famous for his intense hatred of Michigan and legend has it that Hayes even refused to get gas with an empty tank in the state of Michigan.

Here is his reaction.

"No, goddammit! We do not pull in and fill up. And I'll tell you exactly why we don't. It's because I don't buy one goddam drop of gas in the state of Michigan! We'll coast and push this goddam car to the Ohio line before I give this state a nickel of my money!"