College Sports: When Was the Most Intense College Rivalry of All Time?

Rivalries are one of the many reasons that we love college sports. We often can rattle off the most important rivalries in college sports in a matter of seconds because these rivalries become such an important part of our lives.

The Michigan fan remembers when his team last beat Ohio State, just as the Ohio State fan remembers the countless number of consecutive times they beat Michigan.

The Duke fan remembers when Nolan Smith helped the Blue Devils win in Durham just as much as the Carolina fan remembers storming the court after the big victory.

The Auburn fan remembers the comeback against Alabama, while the Alabama fan remembers beating Auburn during the Tide's national championship season.

The Kentucky fan remembers beating Louisville in "The Bucket" last season, while the Louisville fan remembers Rick Pitino schooling Billy Gillispie, and the Notre Dame fan tries to remember back to the Irish's glory days of the 1930's. 

We know the biggest rivalries, but do we know WHEN the biggest rivalry was? 

 The thing I am trying to decide is not what the biggest rivalry is, but when the biggest rivalry was going on.  Was the Alabama/Tennessee football rivalry at its peak actually better than the North Carolina/Duke rivalry at its peak?  Even though just about everyone assumes that UNC/Duke is the definition of rivalry, was the Alabama/Tennessee rivalry at any point better than the UNC/Duke rivalry? 

I want to find out when the most passionate rivalry was and who this rivalry was between.  If one rivalry's best, most hateful and most passionate moment was better, then it would be better in this case than a rivalry that might be considered better historical.

The better rivalry will be decided through a good old fashioned college basketball like tournament.  In my bracket, there are four regions that each have eight matchups each (for example, a one seed would be Ohio State/Michigan), and the sports I chose from were college football and college basketball.  The winner of each matchup will be determined by which rivalry had the most passionate, most hateful and best overall moment.  The winner advances to the next round just like in the NCAA tournament. 

Let's get this started with the South Region.

South

One Seed Alabama/Auburn versus Eight Seed Ole Miss/Mississippi State 

Alabama/Auburn's Best Moment:  This is a tough call because this has always been, in my opinion, the best rivalry in college football.  Ohio State and Michigan might be the politically correct answer, but no one does hate like the Alabama/Auburn rivalry. 

That being said, for me, the best moment in this rivalry occurred just last season.  Alabama jumped up to a huge lead at home versus the Auburn Tigers, and everything seemed to be going right for the Tide.  Justice was finally being served for the supposed scandals going on at Auburn, the Tide were finally living up to the number one ranking they received in the preseason and the noise in Bryant-Denny Stadium was deafening, yet the Tide's play could be heard throughout the world. 

Then all of a sudden, something happened.  Actually, all of a sudden, Cam Newton morphed from being just a football to being a Greek god among a bunch of young Alabama athletes on defense.  Cam Newton went from being a hated superstar to being an icon in one game.  Alabama fans felt heartbreak and anger, while Auburn fans felt the same unique justice the Alabama fans thought they had felt in the first half.  If you had to pick one game that perfectly defined this great rivalry filled with great hatred and even greater anticipation, it would be this.

Ole Miss/Mississippi State's Best Moment:  Any time an individual game earns one nickname, you know that game and that rivalry was a pretty big deal.  If a game earns two nicknames, you know it was more than just a rivalry game but more of an extravaganza. This is what happened with the 1983 meeting between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, as the game earned the nicknames "The Immaculate Deflection" and "The Wind Bowl."  This game was the rivalry's most intense, as it was decided by a 40-mile per hour wind causing a game winning field goal by Mississippi State to fall short. 

Winner: Alabama/Auburn

Four Seed Florida/Florida State Versus Five Seed Alabama/Tennessee

Florida/Florida State's Best Moment:  Imagine how intense it is already when your team plays your rival in the regular season, and then imagine how intense it would be if your favorite team played one of your biggest rivals in the national championship game.  

The Florida-Florida State rivalry peaked from 1996-1998, but no moment was more intense than when the schools played for a national championship in early 1997.  Even though Florida ended up winning in a blowout, this was still one of the more intense moments that you can have in a rivalry.

Alabama/Tennessee's Best Moment: How about 2009?  The highly ranked and Rolling Tide faced off against a Tennessee team that's only strength was the attractiveness of its head coaches wife.  In this contest, though, Tennessee played just about as hard as any team can play and were this close to turning the program around and making the "one and done" Lane Kiffin era slightly more memorable.

When Tennessee lined up for a field goal to win the game, though, the kick was blocked by Terrance "Mount" Cody (or as I affectionately referred to him as "The Living Golden Corral"), and Tennessee fans immediately had to suffer the awkwardness that was looking forward to Bruce Pearl's sweat instead of enjoying the Lane Kiffin era.  Now that's intense!

Winner: Florida/Florida State

Two Seed Texas/Oklahoma Versus Seven Seed Auburn/Georgia

Texas/Oklahoma Best Moment:  This is a rivalry that is not known for having the greatest games of any rivalry in college football, but rather being the rivalry with the most "good ol fashioned southern hatred." 

All of this being said, for the most intense moment in this storied rivalry, I am going to have to go with 1984.  The forecast for the 1984 game was pouring rain. 

Going into the game, Texas was ranked No. 1, and Oklahoma was ranked No. 2.  Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer had a hat on that said "Beat Texas."  It was just about everything that you want in a rivalry game, and it had the hatred and emotion that every Texas and Oklahoma game brings. Only bad thing is that it ended in a tie, which makes you think that it was an Oklahoma and Texas soccer game.

Auburn/Georgia Best Moment:  1996 in my opinion was the best moment in this rivalry, even though both teams were not playing at their highest levels. Jim Donovan's UGA team trailed by a score of 28-7 at halftime and came back to send the game to overtime.  The game went to four overtimes, and UGA eventually won the game by a score of 56-49.  This is everything you want in a big time southern college football rivalry: high scoring, high passion, a huge comeback and a lot of overtimes.  The game even got the nickname of the "Miracle on the Plains."

Winner: Texas/Oklahoma 

Three Seed Kentucky/Louisville Versus Six Seed Texas/Texas A&M

 Kentucky/Louisville Best Moment: While Rick Pitino's first return to Rupp Arena as Louisville coach was pretty intense, it was more of therapy for Kentucky fans than an actual big game.  When Rick Pitino returned to Rupp Arena to face his biggest rival in the coaching game, John Calipari, the game had the atmosphere of more than just a big game but an all out war.  When a Louisville player flopped to force a foul against Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe, coach John Calipari responded by yelling that "not f--- with Bledsoe" because he would "kick your ass."  When Jared Swopshire "accidentally" kneed Kentucky superstar and hothead DeMarcus Cousins in the forehead, Cousins looked like he did a wrestling move to pin Swopshire to the ground.  When the game was close and in doubt, Kentucky superstar point guard John Wall rescued the Wildcats and kept their dream of an undefeated season alive.  It was one of the more intense college basketball rivalry games that you will ever watch.

Texas/Texas A&M Best Moment: Its a rivalry that is so big that it is sponsored by State Farm.  But for Texas A&M, there has never been any insurance that they would not get completely blown out.  You can basically go for any game in this rivalry, as the classic games are not as important as the overall tradition of the rivalry.  That is good and all, but it is not really what we are looking for in this bracket.

Winner: Kentucky/Louisville

Second Round South Region Matchups:

(1) Auburn/Alabama versus (4) Florida/Florida State

(2) Texas/Oklahoma versus (3) Kentucky/Louisville

(1) Alabama/Auburn versus (4) Florida/Florida State

Winner: Alabama/Auburn

I picked Alabama/Auburn as the winning rivalry here because I believe the Cam Bowl was more important and more exciting than the 1997 Sugar Bowl.  The thing that really hurts Florida/Florida State game was even though it was the national title game, it was still a blowout and a game that you probably turn off after the third quarter if you were a casual fan.  The 2010 Auburn/Alabama game was one of the greatest and most intense college football games I have ever watched.  That is why it is the winner here.

(2) Texas/Oklahoma versus (3) Kentucky/Louisville

Winner: Texas/Oklahoma

This one is tough for me because the 2010 Kentucky/Louisville game is one of my favorite rivalry moments ever. I think, though, the difference here is that moment and that game may just have been important to Kentucky fans and to Louisville fans. I think scholars of the game would say that the Oklahoma/Texas game in the early 1980's was a lot more important and memorable and just as intense, even though it was a darn tie!

South Regional Final Matchup: (1) Auburn/Alabama versus (2) Texas/Oklahoma

Winner: Auburn/Alabama 

What really hurts Texas/Oklahoma here is that the game ended in a tie.  I feel like both games had equal amount of passion and were both equally important but Auburn and Alabama had a better finish in the 2010 season.  Also, the Cam Newton storyline was one of the better rivalry storylines we have had in a while in college football.

East Region First Round Matchups

(1) North Carolina/Duke versus (8) Oklahoma/Oklahoma State

(2) Florida State/Miami versus (7) Clemson/South Carolina

(3) Syracuse/Connecticut versus (6) Kansas/Missouri

(4) Pittsburgh/West Virginia versus (5) Georgia/Georgia Tech

(1) North Carolina/Duke versus (8) Oklahoma/Oklahoma State

UNC/Duke Best Moment: The game during the 2006-2007 season in Chapel Hill defined what this series is all about.  The game may have not been the closest in the history of the rivalry, but it was a game where Duke's best player hit North Carolina's best player and left him bloody.  That is the first time I had seen this in a college basketball rivalry, and it left even more of a divide between two fanbases who already had detested each other so much.  Everyone who watched that game wished that Carolina and Duke played another game the next day because the game felt more like a scripted soap opera than a basketball game.  That is what made this the greatest moment in one of the greatest rivalry.

Oklahoma/Oklahoma State Best Moment:  Fourth ranked Oklahoma walked into the friendly confines of Norman in 2001 with lots of momentum, not only in general, but in this rivalry. It almost seemed like Oklahoma was beating Oklahoma State so much that this was not even a rivalry anymore.  Then, one of the biggest wins in Oklahoma State history happened, as they were able to upset the Sooners 16-13.  The Cowboys were back, and on that afternoon, were actually America's Team.

Winner: Duke/North Carolina

(4) Pittsburgh/West Virginia versus (5) Georgia/Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh/West Virginia Best Moment:  The most intense moment in this rivalry came when Pittsburgh took a national championship away from West Virginia in late 2007.  The upset was shocking, as Pittsburgh had a four and seven record on the season and held what seemed to be an unstoppable offense to a measly nine points.  The loss not only killed WVU's title chances, but may have resulted in coach Rich Rodriguez leaving for the Michigan job just a few weeks later.  It was also voted game of the year by ESPN.

Georgia/Georgia Tech Best Moment:  Before the 2008 season, the Georgia Bulldogs were ranked No. 1, and Georgia Tech being able to beat them seemed like a real pipe dream.  Georgia ended up with a top 10 ranking, but Georgia Tech ended up with bragging rights after being able to upset the Bulldogs in a shootout 45-42.  The game was one of the best and most exciting of the 2008 season, and Yellow Jacket football finally seemed to be on the right track. 

Winner: Pittsburgh/West Virginia 

(3) Syracuse/Connecticut versus (6) Kansas/Missouri

Syracuse/Connecticut Best Moment: The most intense moment in the Syracuse/Connecticut rivalry had to come during the 2009 Big East Tournament.  These two games played in a game that went to a total of six overtimes. The game was filled with buzzer beaters, players playing over 60 minutes, coaches looking like they were going to fall asleep yet having a heart attack from being so excited and was so exciting that it probably won the 3 a.m. ratings battle with those Girls Gone Wild infomercials.  This game was probably one of the best and the most competitive games I have watched in college basketball.  To quote Dickie V, "It was Awesome with a capital A!"

Kansas/Missouri Best Moment: In 2007, both the Kansas and Missouri football programs were ranked in the top five and were in a showdown to see who would go to the Big 12 Championship game.  The game was very exciting and competitive throughout, as both teams had wide open spread offenses, but Missouri ended up winning by a score of 36-28.

Winner: Syracuse/Connecticut

(2) Florida State/Miami versus (7) Clemson/South Carolina

Florida State/Miami Best Moment: This series was the most intense in all of college football for a good five year period.  It seemed like Florida State just could not catch a break in that period, and this rivalry must have just been made to torture the Seminoles already impatient fans. 

But during the 2004 Orange Bowl, this torture seemed to just turn to destiny.  The game is simply known as "Wide Right IV" because it is the fourth game that the Seminoles lost on a field goal to the right.  Torture became routine, and routine became destiny, and destiny turned into one of the best conference rivalries in the years following 2005.

Clemson/South Carolina Best Moment:  You know when a college football game gets the nickname of "The Catch" it was pretty important.  Clemson beat South Carolina in 1977 on a Jerry Butler hanging backwards 20-yard touchdown catch with about 50 seconds left.  Clemson also won this game on the road.

Winner: Florida State/Miami

East Region Second Round Matchups 

(1) UNC/Duke Versus (4) Pittsburgh/West Virginia

(2) Florida St/Miami Versus (3) Syracuse/Connecticut

(1) UNC/Duke Versus (4) Pittsburgh/WVU

Winner: Pittsburgh/WVU

Even though no bloody noses were suffered during the West Virginia/Pittsburgh matchup in 2007, a lot of hearts were blooded and broken.  West Virginia fans had waited forever for a chance at the national title, but watched it slip away versus a Pittsburgh team that was not even going to a bowl game.  The West Virginia fans that had dreamed of the Rich Rodriguez era lasting forever had to watching their coach leave for the greener pastures of the Michigan job.  Overall, in recent college football history, it is hard to find a loss that was more heartbreaking to a fan base.

(2) Florida State/Miami versus (3)Syracuse/Connecticut

Winner: Syracuse/Connecticut

The Florida State/Miami games might have ended on a last second kick, but the Syracuse/Connecticut game was one of the best college basketball games ever, and it went six overtimes.  I believe the Florida State/Miami rivalry as a whole is more important, but the 2009 Syracuse versus Connecticut game was way more important

East Region Final Matchup

(3) Syracuse/Connecticut versus (4) West Virginia/Pittsburgh

Winner: West Virginia/Pittsburgh

Even though the Syracuse versus Connecticut game was a much better game, it was sort of played with this "hey, great game guys!" sentiment.  The thing that made the 2007 West Virginia- Pittsburgh match up so intense was the ramifications before, during and after the game. Syracuse and Connecticut were both going to the NCAA tournament regardless of the outcome of that game and seemed to find comedy in playing a game that lasted so long and was so competitive. 

West Virginia fans, on the other hand ,will never forget the scars suffered from that last in 2007.  As an LSU football fan, I will gladly say that I will never either.

North Region First Round Matchups

(1) Ohio State/Michigan Versus (8) Minnesota/Wisconsin

(2) Notre Dame/Michigan Versus (7) Utah/BYU

(3) Army/Navy Versus (6) Kansas/Kansas State

(4) Oklahoma/Nebraska versus (5) Syracuse/Georgetown

(1) Ohio State/Michigan versus (8) Minnesota/Wisconsin

Ohio State/Michigan Best Moment: Before the game in 2006, both teams entered the game ranked first and second.  When a majority of people (not myself) consider a game the best rivalry and the first and second ranked teams are playing in that game, you know that the game is beyond big.  The game itself featured two very high scoring offenses and lots of NFL talent on the field.  Ohio State won the game by a field goal, and for awhile, people thought that we might see a rematch of these two rivals in the national championship game.

Minnesota/Wisconsin Best Moment: In 2003, the Minnesota Golden Gophers were able to beat the Wisconsin Badgers.  Sorry, I really only chose this because it had the coolest name for any rivalry. Paul Bunyan's Axe!

Winner: Ohio State/Michigan

(4) Oklahoma/Nebraska Versus (5) Syracuse/Georgetown

Oklahoma/Nebraska Best Moment:  In 1986, both teams were ranked in the top five towards the end of the season.  Oklahoma ended up winning the game by only a field goal and had lots of bragging rights before beating Nebraska by 10 in a one versus two match up the following season. 

On a completely unrelated note, there is no way this rivalry should end.  I know that Big 10 teams are scared of any team with speed and that is not in the MEAC, but come on, it's Oklahoma-Nebraska!  Either give me these two teams playing every regular season, or set up a playoff system where they are playing every opening round.  That's all of my rant, NCAA.   Now you can go back to pretending to care if players take money or not.

Syracuse/Georgetown Best Moment:  As you guys probably do not know, I am a huge fan of coaches getting technical fouls.  Any time a coach gets a technical, I love to do tons of stupid things like point at the TV scream and break out into little dances that probably were not even cool in the 70s. 

So when you have a game like Syracuse-Georgetown in 1991 that was basically decided because John Thompson got technical fouls from three different coaches, you have to know that I am going to be a huge fan of this kind of game. The technical fouls and Syracuse playing Syracuse basketball (ZONE!) ended up resulting in the Big Orange having a 10 point possession and John Thompson having to pass the job off to one of his 37 sons (just kidding.) What an intense game.

Winner: Syracuse/Georgetown

(2) Notre Dame/Michigan versus (7) Utah/BYU

Notre Dame/Michigan Best Moment: I almost decided to go with the HUGE dispute that was over the 1947 title, but I knew that would anger the five Notre Dame fans that are left.  Instead, I will go with a game that national hero, national spitter, national analyst and national Jesus lover Lou Holtz coached.  It was the 1992 game in which Notre Dame came back from a 17-7 deficit and ended up tying the game.  After the game was tied, the game ended in a tie. Yes, our most intense game candidate ended in a tie. 

Utah/BYU Best Moment: This is a rivalry that is so intense that they call it the "Holy War."  So in that religious context, I will go with the most important religious game that occurred in 1922.  This game was very important because believers of the Mormon faith claim that Jesus ran onto the field during halftime.  Also, this is the only rivalry where helmet-to-helmet hits are encouraged but drinking caffeine will get you ejected.  It is going to be tough for this one to lose!

Winner: Notre Dame/Michigan

(3) Army/Navy Versus (6) Kansas/Kansas State

Army/Navy Best Moment: I honestly think the best "moment" in college football every year is prior to this game when the players actually get honored for their sacrifices and get a little bit of the respect they have earned and definitely deserve. 

But that sentence I just wrote, my friends, is what we refer to in the business as a cop-out.   For the best moment in an actual game I am going to go with the last game that Army actually won in 2001. 

Kansas/Kansas State Best Moment: I am going to say the game just this year in 2011! This is the game where the number one ranked Jayhawks went into Manhatten and got absolutely clobbered by Jacob Pullen's beard and the unranked Wildcats.  This was such a beating that I think even Robert Montgomery Senile Knight cracked a smile.  This win meant that this rivalry might actually become a significant rivalry in the future and be fueled by something other than the Wildcats inferiority complex. 

Winner: Army/Navy

North Region Semifinals Matchups

(1) Ohio State/Michigan versus (5) Syracuse/Georgetown

(2) Notre Dame/Michigan versus (3) Army/Navy

(1) Ohio State/Michigan versus (5) Syracuse/Georgetown

Winner: Syracuse/Georgetown

I just love the idea of a big time rivalry game in college basketball ended on a few technical fouls. I know the Ohio State/Michigan game was the biggest game of the year and determined who went to the National Champion, but it did not end on three technical fouls!  Honestly, I still think that is one of the most awesome endings to a game that I have ever heard! 

(2) Notre Dame/Michigan versus (3) Army/Navy

Winner: Notre Dame/Michigan

Let me preface this by saying that I love the Army/Navy rivalry and do not want my phones tapped just because I decided to pick a rather pretentious rivalry over it.  As much as I love the Army/Navy rivalry, the passion of the rivalry and everything it represents morally, I do not actually have one fond memory of action that happened on the field of one of those games.

North Finals Matchup 

(2) Notre Dame/Michigan versus (5) Syracuse/Georgetown 

Winner and Champion of the East Region: (5) Syracuse/Georgetown

The Syracuse/Georgetown game gets the nod here because of the way the game ended and the fact that it did not end in a tie.  Even though I think Notre Dame/Michigan is a better rivalry for anyone over the age of 92, I think the Syracuse/Georgetown game produced a more memorable moment.  That is why it wins the East Region.

West Region First Round Matchups:

 (1) USC/Notre Dame versus (8) Maryland/Duke

(4) Oregon/Oregon State Versus (5) Harvard/Yale

(2) Stanford/Cal Versus (7) Washington/Washington State

(3) UCLA/USC Versus (6) UCLA/Arizona

(1) USC/Notre Dame  Versus (8) Maryland/Duke

USC/Notre Dame Best Moment:  The game in 2005 was great for so many reasons.  First of all, it was the first thing to be nicknamed "The Bush Push" that was not a porno.  Second, it gave Charlie Weis and his chronic obesity a crazy 10-year extension.  Also, the game was really close for awhile, and all the Notre Dame fans and their great great great grandchildren thought they were back.  USC would later go on probation.

Maryland/Duke Best Moment: The best moment in this rivalry actually happens just about every year.  Maryland upsets a highly ranked Duke team, Dick Vitale goes crazy about how this is the year that Maryland should get in the tournament, Gary Williams holds on to his job one year longer (oops) and then Maryland finds out they will get the coveted two seed in the NIT.  High drama. 

Winner: USC/Notre Dame

(4) Oregon/Oregon State Versus (5) Harvard/Yale

Oregon/Oregon State Best Moment: Let me start out by saying that I am biased towards this great rivalry.  First reason is that the Oregon State mascot is the Beaver, and that is also the name of my wiener dog.  Also, it has the second best name for a rivalry in history, as it as known as the "Civil War." 

The best moment in this rivalry, though, was in 2007, when the game was very close and ended up being decided on a blocked kick.  If you guys are like me, you find the most exciting ending for a football game to be a blocked kick or Terrell Owens getting hit really hard coming across the middle.  This game featured one of those things, and that is why it was indeed awesome.

Harvard/Yale Best Moment:  The best moment in the Harvard and Yale rivalry was when one of their students actually went five minutes without mentioning that they attended Harvard or Yale.  The rivalry is found more in the pregame pranks where Harvard fans will often take Yale girls out for a night on the town and some "Star Trek." 

All joking aside (I think), the best moment in this rivalry was the game in 1969, which was so close at the end that it ended in a tie.  Another tie as a best moment!

Winner: Harvard/Yale

(2) Stanford/Cal Versus (7) Washington/Washington State

Stanford/Cal Best Moment:  You have to ask?  THE BAND IS OUT ON THE FIELD, THE BAND IS OUT ON THE FIELD! 

Washington/Washington State best moment: I cannot believe over 170 men fight for something known as "The Apple Cup."  This is like when 23 men fought over that one really awkward girl last season on "The Bachelor" (not that I watch).

Anyway, I really enjoyed this rivalry any of the years that Jake Locker was playing because for some reason, the Washington State fans really disliked him probably because the Washington fans thought he had Tebow like perfection.  The fans constantly criticized and booed Locker anytime that he came on the field, and I found that really entertaining. 

Also, I would like to formally apologize to Washington fans for stealing Terrence Jones.  It will not happen again (unless you have another top five recruit we want.)

Winner: Stanford/Cal

(3) UCLA/USC Versus (6) UCLA/Arizona

 UCLA/USC Best Moment: Anytime both fan bases come to a consensus that a game played in 1967 was "The Game of The Century," you know one of two things: It was either a really good game or that the people in attendance needed to be tested for narcotics.  Even though it was the "Summer of Love," there was no love lost between these two Los Angeles based programs. 

The game was won by USC by one point.  I wonder if OJ is going to talk about that during his next appearance on Oprah....

UCLA/Arizona Best Moment: Around 1995 these teams played, and they were both really good.  I am really not sure if any of their fanbases noticed though. Oh, well.

Winner: UCLA/USC

West Region Semifinals Matchups

(1) Notre Dame/USC Versus (5) Harvard/Yale

(2) Stanford/Cal versus (3) UCLA/USC

(1) Notre Dame/USC Versus (5) Harvard/Yale

Winner: Notre Dame/USC

As much as my love of ties has been consistent throughout this massive post, I just find the "Bush Push" more memorable. When I tell my kids about college football games in the future, they will first be shocked that it was not always two hand touch, and then when I start ranting and raving about memorable games, "The Bush Push" will come up.  That's how memorable of a game it was. 

(2) Stanford/Cal Versus (3) UCLA/USC

Winner: Stanford/Cal

Even though the O.J. game might have been the "Game of the Century" it was not the most spectacular college football moment of the century, as that was clearly found in "The Game" between Stanford and Cal. 

West Region Final

(1) Notre Dame/USC Versus (2) Stanford/Cal

Winner and West Region Champion: (2) Stanford/Cal

Here is the difference between these games: I will have to tell my kids about the Notre Dame/USC game, and my kids will see highlights of the Stanford/Cal classic every single day they live.  If they do not, then they are not my kids.  That is just how it is, and the Stanford/Cal game was more than just a game it was a phenomenon and a circus as well.  That is what made it such a great college football moment.

Final Four Matchups 

South Region Champion Alabama/Auburn Versus East Region Champion West Virginia/Pittsburgh

North Region Champion Syracuse/Georgetown Versus West Region Champion Stanford/Cal

South Region Champion Auburn/Alabama Versus East Region Champion West Virginia/Pittsburgh

Winner: Auburn/Alabama

It is tough to go against a game that had as many ramifications as the West Virginia/Pittsburgh game, but it can be argued that all of those ramifications were just local ramifications and nothing beyond that.  In the Auburn/Alabama game, it seemed like we were watching a national spectacle, a great comeback and a superstar leaving his mark on college football history.  Also, this game may have led to the once funny but now annoying "Roll Tide" commercials.

North Region Champion Syracuse/Georgetown Versus West Region Champion Stanford/Cal

Winner: Stanford/Cal

Pretty easy one for Stanford/Cal.  Even though ending a game with three technical fouls is pretty darn dramatic, nothing will ever be as dramatic as the ending of "The Game."  I mean, really, the band would have to get in the way of John Thompson as he was trying to leave the arena or something.  Well, it really still wouldn't be close.

Finals Matchup: South Region Matchup Auburn/Alabama Versus West Region Champion Stanford/Cal

Winner and Champion: Stanford/Cal

Even though "CamGate" had drama we will not see any drama like we had at the end of "The Game,"  I am going to put it like this:  "Friday Night Lights" is one of my favorite shows in television history, and they basically come up with a BSed and crazy way to end every game to make it as dramatic as possible.  

I do not think the writers of "FNL" could ever come up with something as crazy as the ending to "The Game" (if it did not happen), and it is basically the writers' job to come up with crazy stuff that no one will believe. This game honestly follows the tagline of "30 for 30," which is "Too Dramatic To Not Be Real."  

Even though Stanford/Cal might not even be a top 10 rivalry of all-time, it clearly produced the best moment of any of the 32 rivalries we examined.  So even though you might answer "What is the best rivalry in college sports?" with "UNC-Duke" or "Auburn-Alabama" or if you are trying to make me mad with "Michigan-Ohio State," you now need to acknowledge that the 1982 Stanford-Cal was when the greatest and most intense moment in any rivalry happened.  This will be the case until Gerald Henderson punches one of the UNC band members in the nose.