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College football is full of heated and hated rivals. More than any other sport, college football fans embrace the tradition and pageantry involved with the typical college football game day...

The Five Most Heated Rivalries In College Football

by Kristofer Green (Senior Writer)

56

1637 reads

Rankings/List

November 17, 2008


College football is full of heated and hated rivals.  More than any other sport, college football fans embrace the tradition and pageantry involved with the typical college football game day. 
But during Rivalry Week, that passion is palpable.  The games are more stressful, the hits are harder, the victories more sweet, and the losses harder to swallow.  For many teams, their season hinges on how they perform against their rival. 
While there are many great rivalries in college football, there are a handful of teams that truly hate each other.  And for them this one game, above all else, is the most important on their schedule every season.
With Rivalry Week upon us, let's take a closer look at the five greatest college football rivalries.  For these ten teams, loving thy neighbor is not an option.

 

Honorable Mentions
THE FLORIDA STATE-MIAMI RIVALRY   Florida State vs. Miami
All-time record:  Miami leads 30-23
The series originated in 1951 and neither school has really dominated.  Both the Seminoles and the Hurricanes have gone on streaks of five plus victories against their opponent. Wins are usually traded away year in and year out with the home team usually falling to the visitors.
Since the late 1980s, one or both squads have often been highly ranked coming into the game, adding national championship implications to an already heated rivalry. Kicks have played an important role in the series with many wide right, wide left, blocks, and muffs that would have won the game for the fallen.

 

THE CIVIL WAR   Oregon vs. Oregon State
All-time record:  Oregon leads 55-46-10
The first game between these in-state rivals was played in 1894.  Though the game doesn't usually carry national implications, the rivalry divides the state and is hotly contested.

From 1997 through 2006 the winner of the game was the home team. The streak was snapped in 2007, when Oregon State University beat the University of Oregon at Autzen Stadium 38-31 in double overtime.

From 1959 to 1961, the Platypus Trophy was awarded to the winning school. The trophy was lost for 40 years and found in 2005, and beginning with the 2007 game, is to be awarded to the winning school's alumni association.

The 2008 meeting has Pac-10 championship and Rose bowl implications.

 

THE BORDER WAR   Kansas vs. Missouri
All-time record:  Missouri leads 54-53-9
The intense rivalry between the two universities can be traced to the open violence involving anti-slavery and pro-slavery elements that took place in the Kansas Territory and the western frontier towns of Missouri throughout the 1850s. These incidents were attempts by Missouri (a slave state) to influence whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free or slave state.
Often referred to as one of the bitterest and most hateful rivalries in college sports, the 2007 football season brought the origins of the rivalry between the two states back into the spotlight. A t-shirt created by a Missouri alumnus gained national attention with its reference to Quantrill's Raid of 1863.
The shirt depicted the burning of Lawrence in 1863 following the raid of William Quantrill and his Bushwhackers against the Jayhawkers of Kansas. The image of Lawrence burning was paired with the word “Scoreboard” and a Mizzou logo. On the back of the shirts, William Quantrill was quoted, "Our cause is just."
Some Kansas fans interpreted these shirts as supporting slavery. KU supporters returned fire with a shirt depicting abolitionist John Brown with the words, “Kansas: Protecting America from Missouri since 1854.”

 

THE NOTRE DAME-USC RIVALRY GAME   Notre Dame vs. USC
All-time record:  Notre Dame leads 42-32-5
The Irish and the Trojans rivalry is widely regarded as the best inter-sectional rivalry in college football.  The two teams first met in 1926.
Quite often, the winner of this series has gone on to win or play for the college football national title. Both schools combined have produced the most national titles (22), Heisman trophy winners (14), All-Americans, College Football Hall of Famers and future NFL Hall of Famers (21) than any other collegiate series. Also of note is that ND and USC games count for five of the ten most-watched college football games in television history.
Author Poll

Which is the greatest rivalry in college football?

  • Ohio State vs. Michigan
  • Alabama vs. Auburn
  • Oklahoma vs. Texas
  • Army vs. Navy
  • Florida vs. Georgia
  • other
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Which is the greatest rivalry in college football?

  • Ohio State vs. Michigan

    28.5%

  • Alabama vs. Auburn

    24.9%

  • Oklahoma vs. Texas

    11.9%

  • Army vs. Navy

    4.7%

  • Florida vs. Georgia

    9.8%

  • other

    20.2%
  • Total votes: 193
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56 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Ryan Jelley 7 months ago

    Good article Kristofer. Just one thing you need to change. Michigan has never lost to OSU with a first-year coach as long as he was a non-michigan prior to being hired. Which Rich Rodirguez is so we could be due for an upset this weekend. You might also want to include what this rivalry actually stands for. the history in it makes it so much funner to watch.

    Other than that great article. Most people will say the Iron bowl is the greatest rivalry but those in Big Ten country know how much this game really matters.

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    • Cody Blubaugh 7 months ago

      Ryan,

      Being that OSU-MICH is such a great rivalry, there is no doubt that this game will probably be closer than most anticipate.......but if you are going by sticking to tradition of first-year coaches beating Ohio State, RichRod just isn't the guy in my opinion.

      RichRod has already gone against so much tradition up there in Ann Arbor--The Captains Tradition, Most losses in Michigan's History, Broke a 33 season Bowl streak, First Ever Transfer of a Michigan player to Ohio State, Signing off on a Change in Uniforms etc.--that I wouldn't be holding my breath.

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    • Ryan Jelley 7 months ago

      I know Cody but like you said this is the Michigan-Ohio State game. Everything changes. Michigan was a heavy favorite in '04 as you were in 92' and 95' but we lost and you guys lost. During this game the players block out the rest of the year and just focus on winning. Terrance Taylor made a quote yesterday that sumed it up perfectly but it has disappeared from the website I found it on. Honestly expect it to be a good gmae out there. Win or Lose it should be a hell of a game.

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  2. Jeff Kneis 7 months ago

    Great breakdown of the rivalries. I always look forward to these games and many of them will be really good in the next couple weeks.

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  3. 12 7 months ago

    Great job and some interesting rivalrys to say the least, but none can match Alabama-Auburn. You said it all...these two hate each other 24-7 365. I hope this is the year Bama breaks the streak. Roll Tide!

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      Thanks 12! In the South there is no greater rivalry that is for sure, but being a northern boy all my life I had to go with the OSU-Michigan rivalry at the top.

      I think this could very well be the year Bama gets the bragging rights back! Good Luck!

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  4. Nick The Only 7 months ago

    As 25 year old Gator fan, I have 1 primary Georgia memory in the rivalry (the 2007 stomp game). Other than that, my cognizable fandom (both my parents are also Gators) is filled with Gator victories. The best of which is the freshest 49-10 stomping. 16 of the last 19.

    16 of the last 19 and your memories are only Georgia ones?

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      Sorry Nick...I didn't realize I only had Georgia memories in there. But on the bright side, when you've won 16 of 19 the domination is the best memory of all! I'll look for some good Florida memories to add!

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    • Nick The Only 7 months ago

      No problem really. Just something I noticed.

      I think you did a good job with the article overall. These are all great rivalries. Some are more nationally signifant than others, but they are all intense.

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  5. TOSU-63 7 months ago

    Sorry, but Chic Harley did not win the Heisman. In fact it did not exist when he played in the 1910's... He was a three-time All American though, and if the award had been around, it would have surely gone to him at least once.

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      You're right. Complete mistake on my part. I had to go back and look at the article because I didn't even remember typing Heisman winner... alas I did. I changed it. Thanks for the heads up.

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  6. Justin Goar 7 months ago

    great article and info kris. i have to agree on your list but i'd probably put the iron bowl #1 and yours #2.

    but i guess that's just regional bias for me. POTD.

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      Maybe these two rivalries should be listed as 1A and 1B... In the south there is no bigger rivalry, but up north the OSU-UM rivalry is tops.

      Thanks for the pick...and congrats on becoming a daddy!

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  7. Steve Voigt 7 months ago

    nice article and fun facts but I would rename the title "the five greatest rivalries" instead of "heated".

    There is a lot of bad blood that has been brewing over the 15-20 years between Texas A&M and Texas Tech and I would argue that it has become a top 5 "heated" rivalry.

    It's a shame though that A&M's program has been sliding down into Baylor-ville levels or else this rivalry would be much more pronounced on a national level.

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  8. Isaac Luber 7 months ago

    You're forgetting Pitt vs. PSU. Penn State fans would chant "Pitt is $h*t!". Hilarious, and creative. However, the rivalry has stopped since we joined the Big 10, but still a great rivalry.

    I hate Michigan, they have a smaller stadium than us but their largest crowd is bigger than ours by like 1,000 fans...a measly 1,000 fans! So unfair! We'll set the attendance record this weekend, and we definitely would have if we were 11-0 going into this game, but oh well. There were over 109,000 at the Indiana game, so anything can happen.

    Of course you have OSU vs. UM at No. 1, you homer! jk. It seriously is probably the greatest rivalry in all sports, not just college football. Lately, I would say that Penn State vs. Ohio State has been a better rivalry, especially in 2005 and this year.

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      Pitt vs. Penn State was definitely a great rivalry, but as you said they no longer play. I would love to see them restart that series. It would be great for both schools and the fans would really love it!

      Penn State vs. Ohio State is becoming a great rivalry, but they have only played eachother every year for like 15 years. According to the Big Ten though Michigan and Penn State are Ohio State's rivals and therefore play eachother every season. Whereas, Ohio State's second longest rival is Illinois and we don't get them every season.

      It's going to be a great game in Happy Valley this weekend! Are you lucky enough to go?

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    • Isaac Luber 7 months ago

      I'm going. 4th time this year. Its always fun to go up. I think I'm also going to the Rose, of course, we have to beat MSU first.

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  9. Walter Thompson Jr. 7 months ago

    Florida State-Florida is my favorite. Nothing like seeing those two teams get together. You throw the records out the window and know that anything can happen. Remember 1993, "The Choak at Doak" 31-31 tie.

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      Great example! The three Florida schools all hate eachother. Florida is hanging onto the state's bragging rights. The Florida-Florida State game this season should be interesting. That's what makes rivalry games so much fun. Who knows what's going to happen?!

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  10. Jeremy 7 months ago

    Where is BYU/Utah that is just about as heated as Michigan/OSU. It does not get love because it is in the MWC. I used to think it was nothing as I grew up in Texas but the Holy War is HUGE and needs to be on the list

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      The rivalry is great and this weekend's game is going to be fantastic and will have national implications. I almost listed in the honorable mentions portion, but the game hasn't had the national following and implications on a consistent basis like the others. It is a great rivalry though, no doubt about it.

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  11. Jim Cowan 7 months ago

    According to wikipedia...USC has "spoiled legitimate Irish title hopes in 1938, 1964, 1970, 1980 and tying them in 1948(swaying the AP vote to Michigan). Each game came in the final week of the season. USC also spoiled Irish campaigns in 1931 and 1971"

    You think that's not some sick shyte!

    F.U.S.C.

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    • Michael Collins 7 months ago

      And Notre Dame ruined USC's title chances in 1947, 1952 and 1988, when the Irish and Trojans were ranked #1 and #2. The Irish also gave the Trojans their first loss in 1927, 1973, and 1995.

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  12. Daniel Howie 7 months ago

    Naturally, your longest paragraph is about Ohio State/Michigan, what you know the best! I'd like to know what would happen if Buckeye and Wolverine fans were in constant contact with each other at a state fair. Would there be fatalities?

    If I was older, I might be able to give you some more memorable moments from the Red River Shootout, but I'm happy because you included the Superman play.

    Good info.

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      Quite possibly. It's bad enough, being a fan of the of the visiting team at the home stadium. The Texas/OU rivalry is so special because of that State Fair interaction. It's part of what makes it so great!

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  13. Chase Dunagan 7 months ago

    Kris, It may be known by the nation as the Red River Rivalry, but us Texans and Oklahomos know it and will always know it as the Red River Shootout.

    But since that isn't politically correct, they changed it bout 5 or 6 years ago.

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      I know. I think most people still refer to it as the Shootout. I do... but for the sake of this article I thought I should use the "official" title of the game. Shootout is better though!

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  14. Ryan Faller 7 months ago

    Great piece...

    I can definitely attest to that Mizzou/KU rivalry. It's just a shame the Jayhawks had to fold like a cheap suit this year.

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  15. Joe G 7 months ago

    Great piece Kristofer, tons of good research here. I really enjoyed this read.

    Two important rivalry games in the Big Ten this weekend: The Game, and the battle for the Land Grant Trophy.

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      Are there any other games in the Big Ten this week? These two games will decide the Big Ten totle and who goes to Pasadena! Can't wait for both of them. The Spartans tough play may get them two trophies this weekend!

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  1. Michael Collins 7 months ago

    Which rivalry has had one team ranked in the Top 25 in 61 of the 69 meetings since 1936 (88%), combined for the most national titles (22), Heisman trophy winners (14), All-Americans, College Football Hall of Famers (85) and future NFL Hall of Famers (21) than any other collegiate series?

    Notre Dame and USC.

    The Irish have been selected as a national champion by at least one legitimate poll in 19 seasons, USC has been similarly chosen in 16 seasons.

    Also of note is that ND and USC games count for five of the ten most-watched college football games in television history and have had the largest attended collegiate football game with 120,000 in 1927.

    Many of the rivalries above do not like each other. USC-Notre Dame rivalry is based on mutual respect.

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  2. T.J. Morrill 7 months ago

    I know BYU vs. Utah (the holy war) isn't as big in the whole nation as those five but I'm giving it an honorable mention just because I can.

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  3. Peter Greer 7 months ago

    How can you put Notre Dame-USC outside the top 5 with all that the rivalry has had at stake over the years? Army-Navy, while always an intriguing game to watch, hasn't meant anything in the overall college football picture for YEARS. You strung out all the facts about Notre Dame-USC, how it's determined the National Champion X amount of years, and then neglected to put them in the top 5. What gives?

    Other than that, a good article. I enjoyed reading it.

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  4. r b 7 months ago

    How come no one mentioned ND-Michigan? Both teams have been down for a few years, but several national championships have been affected by this game as well. Go Big Ten!

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  5. Scott Pusich 7 months ago

    I'm surprised that USC-Notre Dame wasn't specifically mentioned in the poll. It's not a local rivalry, but it's a long-standing national rivalry (which you did mention in the list), and as others have pointed out, there have been title chances on the line (for one, the other, or in some cases, both!) many times.

    Cal-Stanford (the "Big Game") is missing... those two schools HATE each other, and their rivalry is older than USC-UCLA (which I wouldn't put on the list, despite my being a UCLA alum; USC-Notre Dame is far more important). If memory serves me right, Cal-Stanford also had "The Play" in 1982, involving several laterals and the Stanford band... ;-)

    And though they're not as flashy, the Harvard-Yale game (the older "The Game") and the Lafayette-Lehigh game are intense rivalries in FCS (I-AA); I would put the former on equal standing with Army-Navy as a rivalry of historical significance.

    Good article, keep up the good work!

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  6. Brett Lissenden 7 months ago

    Very well done, you have some really good facts. I don't think Michigan/Ohio State is anywhere near the biggest rivalry in sports though. It falls well short to Red Sox/Yankees and Duke/UNC.

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  7. Michael Oleszek 7 months ago

    Georgia fans can complain about the 'neutrality' of Jacksonville all they want. They only started complaining when they started getting their asses kicked every year. They didn't complain back in the day when the tables were turned.

    Plus, for the Florida-Georgia game to be truly 'neutral' they would have to play in a field behind a Krystal's in Cordele, GA.

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  8. Trey Jones 7 months ago

    I agree with Michael... the Dawgs didn't start complaining about Jax until the Gators learned to win big games!

    Other match-ups that really get the blood boiling...

    FLORIDA - FLORIDA STATE

    This usually is a very big game with national implications on the line - Fitting that it's usually the last game of the regular season for both teams.

    I really hate loosing to the Noles. It's the stuff emergency therapy is made of. Get this... my Thanksgiving Day dinner includes three Gators and three Noles - one a former cheerleader... we use sporks since all sharp metal objects were banned in 1997!

    TEXAS - TEXAS A&M

    THE game in Texas for decades... A bit off the radar since A&M has fallen on hard times but things will improve. Another late season spoiler game!

    I went to school in the old SWC and these two teams absolutely hate each other... I am looking forward to the Aggies getting things back on track and making things more difficult for the Horns... but after this year they have quite a challenge to do so...

    CLEMSON - SOUTH CAROLINA

    Wear your body armor for this one...

    Not many people are aware of this rivalry but when it comes to creating serious anger management issues this game ranks at the top!

    FLORIDA A&M - BETHUNE COOKMAN

    No "battle of the bands" distraction here. These teams fight for bragging rights and school pride without the hype of ESPN.

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  9. J. Michael Morris 7 months ago

    Not one of these games means anything in the national scheme.

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      Means nothing on the national scheme? Are you serious?

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    • J. Michael Morris 7 months ago

      Dead serious, either the matchup is uncompetitive or the teams involved are not highly ranked. The exception this year might be the red river rivalry.

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    • Kristofer Green 7 months ago

      How about the Florida-Georgia game? Auburn may not be ranked but you better believe they will give No. 1 Alabama everything they have. Same with Ohio State-Michigan.

      The only game would have zero impact on the BCS rankings is the Army-Navy game...

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    • J. Michael Morris 7 months ago

      Just as I said, huge mis-matches. Auburn wil get rolled and is Michigan still playing football?
      The problem with the entire BCS is that tradition is valued more than current relevance.

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  10. Jerry Buell 7 months ago

    Gotta agree, and I am biased, no rivalry touches the UM - OSU game. And I can remember watching the Auburn - Alabama game every year when I was way younger, that is a huge intrastate game that usually has national implications. I really think that for a rivalry to be top 10, it must have a consistent history of national importance. And that is one of the sad things about the loss of the Okla - Neb rivalry on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, or the USC-UCLA game, or lately USC - ND. Remember the great first half by Notre Dame back in the 70's...jumping out to a 24 - 0 lead, only to see SC run off 55 unanswered? I'll never forget the Sports Illustrated cover, I think it was AD behind a wedge of blockers for that kickoff return that ignited the reversal, and on the inside cover was a picture of ND cheerleaders crying at the carnage...classic! And I hate both teams! Army - Navy is the best as far as tradition and respect...NO game touches that one...show me a game where both teams stand at attention while the opponent's alma mater is being played! This is why UF - FSU will never get Top 10 status, it would turn into a prison riot! It is sad that this year's UM-OSU game lacks the national focus, but it can't happen every year, nothing like the all-time monster in 2006.

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  11. Timothy Croley 7 months ago

    The Iron Bowl has to be top of my list, along with "The Third Saturday in October." After that I will say OSU-Michigan, etc. But hey, for some reason I may be partial to those two rivalries.

    memorable moments not mentioned above: 1985 Van Tiffin kicks a 52 yard field goal, into the wind, with no time remaining, to give Bama the victory over Auburn; 1992 Bama gave legendary coach Pat Dye a nice 17-0 retirement gift on their way to the NC; 2001 Bama as an underdog won in Jordan-Hare 31-7....Bama hasn't won since, but I believe all that will change a week from Saturday!!!

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  12. Gray Ghost 7 months ago

    Kris, great article, and well researched. The recap of the "Run Lindsay, Run!" brought back so many reminders. Our kids were small and napping in their rooms, I had the radio turned up and the TV volume turned down - Munson was at his best! I was on my knee's in front of the TV begging the Dawgs to do something. My wife was asking me to be quiet before I woke the kids up, and then Buck Belue hit Lindsay and I was hollering in unison with Munson Run! Lindsay RUN! Touchdown!!

    That play still give me goosebumps today! All of these you mentioned are great rivalries and help make CFB the great sport that it is. Excellent work. *****POTD

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    • Trey Jones 7 months ago

      Just the opposite for me, GG!

      I was in my dorm room watching the game on a little black and white set. Just when I thought the 80's would be the decade the Gators would come into their own, Lindsay, in 13 seconds, ruins everything for the blue and orange...

      A great play by a great player on a great team... sorry my boys had to be on the loosing side!

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    • Gray Ghost 7 months ago

      Trey, the sad thing for us Dawg fans is we have to go back so far to find such a good memory. After Spurrier kicked us for all of those years, we can't seem to show up at Jax.

      I was living in Jesup, Georgia when that game took place, and Lindsay Scott had starred there at Wayne County High. The city was going wild.

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  13. GeorgiaDawg 7 months ago

    Great article Kristopher.

    I would add Georiga/Georgia Tech... Called "Good Old Fashioned Hate" by those in the Southeast.... Georgia has dominated this rivalry the past 20 years much like UF has dominated UGA.

    and of course the South's Oldest Rivalry, Georgia and Auburn should also get a mention.

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  14. SportMonk 7 months ago

    Great read. You put in a bunch of stuff I didn't know but was interesting. You must have done a lot of research on this. Nice work.

    And no offense to "The Game," but the Red River Shoot-out is the best in the last several decades.

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  15. rod wood 7 months ago

    Hi Kristofer,

    Very good article. I follow college football pretty closely and I liked reading some facts about some of the other rivalries out there. Full disclosure: I'm a Trojan, so my view skews towards the Left Coast.

    Anyway, I'd just like to toss some facts out there from the best rivalry out here on the West Coast - USC/UCLA. I'd toss it somewhere in your Top 5 but I am, of course, a bit biased. Maybe the facts may sway you a bit:

    1. This might be the closest football rivalry in the nation. Both located in Los Angeles, the two campuses are only 10 miles from each other. While other rivalries are "border wars" or "in-state rivalries" this one is truly what it means to be neighbors. I certainly can't imagine another rivalry out there being this close. The South might be in a perpetual state of war if any of their rivalries were only 11 miles from each other.

    2. USC/UCLA used to share the same home stadium for 50+ years! UCLA played in the LA Memorial Coliseum until they moved to the Rose Bowl in 1982. I think this has contributed to the intensity of the rivalry. Can you imagine if Ohio State and Michigan had to share their home turf for the first 50 or 60 years of their rivalry? This arrangement would never have lasted in the South.

    3. Of course, USC/UCLA games has had its moments in the national spotlight. The Rose Bowl's Pac-10 rep has often hinged on the outcome of this game, more than any other series, but the highlight of this series might have been 1967 when a city championship, conference title, national title and Heisman Trophy all came down to this one game. I don't know if any other series can boast a game with all of these accolades on the line and have the game decided by one point. Even our own BabyTate calls OJ Simpson's run in that game the greatest run from a RB he had ever seen.

    By the way, some UCLA prankster just defaced the Trojan mascot on campus this past week, so I think this rivalry might be heating up again. Should make for a good game come December 6. You should tune in and check it out. Great article. I enjoyed it immensely.

    cheers,
    rodwood

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  1. Gail Hall 7 months ago

    I've never seen more animosity between two teams than Arizona and Arizona State. It gets not national attention because it rarely bears BCS implications, but they really hate eachother.

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