College Football Rivalry Games That Won't Even Be Close in 2016
Rivalry games in college football tend to transcend records, throwing those aside to put center stage the passion between (and hatred toward) schools who share a long playing history. Regardless of how the rest of the year goes, winning a rivalry game makes for a memorable season.
Too bad some of these games are apt to be quite one-sided in 2016.
For every rivalry game that goes down to the wire, there will be some that aren't even close. This is because one of the principles is much better than the other, and though anything can happen in these games, right now they have the potential of being lopsided.
Army vs. Navy
1 of 7
When: Dec. 10 (in Baltimore)
Series history: Navy leads 60-49-7
Last year's result: Navy 21-17
Even though three of the last four games have been decided by one score, the Army-Navy rivalry remains one of the most lopsided in college football. Navy has claimed 14 straight meetings and 17 of the last 19.
Expect this trend to continue, at least as long as Ken Niumatalolo has his option run game clicking at Navy while Jeff Monken struggles to establish his program at Army.
Niumatalolo, who turned down an offer to coach BYU this offseason, is 8-0 against Army. The final scores don't always tell the full story of the Midshipmen's dominance; since each team runs the option, it's hard to run up the score.
But Navy has clearly had the edge over the Black Knights during his tenure and will be heavily favored again this year. It doesn't have record-setting quarterback Keenan Reynolds anymore, but the system that has averaged at least 278 rushing yards in each of Niumatalolo's eight seasons will continue to be the difference.
2016 prediction: Navy 27, Army 13
Stanford vs. California
2 of 7
When: Nov. 19 at California
Series history: Stanford leads 61-46-11
Last year's result: Stanford 35-22
Cal has lost six in a row to Stanford, the last four by an average of 25.5 points, and that includes three years in which the Golden Bears had likely first-round NFL draft pick Jared Goff at quarterback. But even a rare talent like Goff wasn't enough to get them over the hump against their rivals from across the San Francisco Bay.
It didn't help that Stanford had its own franchise quarterback, all-time school wins leader Kevin Hogan, who succeeded another big-time passer in Andrew Luck. However, last year's outcome was influenced far more by Christian McCaffrey than anyone else.
McCaffrey, who went on to set the FBS all-purpose yards record in 2015, had what was then a school-record 389 all-purpose yards against Cal. He went on to shatter that record in the Pac-12 title game with 461 yards, but against the Golden Bears, he scored on a 98-yard kickoff return and a 49-yard catch while rushing for 192 yards.
Goff and Hogan are gone, but McCaffrey is still around for 2016. His presence alone is enough to give Stanford the heavy edge, even on the road.
2016 prediction: Stanford 45, California 16
South Carolina vs. Clemson
3 of 7
When: Nov. 26 at Clemson
Series history: Clemson leads 67-42-4
Last year's result: Clemson 37-32
If the 2016 season plays out like last year did, Clemson will have already wrapped up a spot in the ACC Championship Game when it battles Palmetto State rival South Carolina on the final weekend of the regular season. The Tigers might also be unbeaten again, meaning a loss would be devastating to their playoff resume.
And after a tougher-than-expected game in Columbia last November, expect Clemson to have much better focus against the Gamecocks this time around. After all, it will be going for a third straight win in the series for the first time since winning four in a row from 2002-05.
Deshaun Watson has tallied eight total touchdowns in two meetings with South Carolina, including in 2014 when (despite playing on a torn ACL) he threw two TDs and ran for two more. Last season, he had a TD pass and three rushing scores to go along with 393 yards of total offense.
If this game were at South Carolina, new coach Will Muschamp's first in the series, there might be upset potential like in 2015. Instead, Clemson should roll in what would be its final performance in front of the home crowd before what it hopes is another strong postseason run.
2016 prediction: Clemson 51, South Carolina 20
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Kansas vs. Kansas State
4 of 7
When: Nov. 26 at Kansas State
Series history: Kansas leads 65-43-5
Last year's result: Kansas State 45-14
As much as Kansas would like to beat its in-state rival this fall, snapping a seven-game losing streak in the Sunflower Showdown, there are more important goals for the Jayhawks this season. Namely, winning any game.
Kansas' last two losses to the Wildcats are part of the nation's longest active losing streak, which stands at 15 games, including all 12 from the 2015 season.
K-State used last year's victory in Lawrence to help get bowl-eligible, and the same scenario could be in play this fall. The Wildcats might need to get their sixth win of 2016 against their rival since they finish the regular season the following week at TCU.
Bill Snyder, K-State's Hall of Fame coach who has been leading the program in Manhattan for all but three years since 1989, is 20-4 against Kansas and hasn't lost to the Jayhawks since 2004.
2016 prediction: Kansas State 47, Kansas 17
Kentucky vs. Louisville
5 of 7
When: Nov. 26 at Louisville
Series history: Tied 14-14
Last year's result: Louisville 38-24
It hasn't mattered when or where these Bluegrass State rivals have met in football of late, the result has been the same: a big win for Louisville and a devastating loss for Kentucky. The latter has become even more enhanced since the game was shifted from the start of the regular season to the end.
Louisville has won five straight in the series, and the last two victories have prevented the Wildcats from reaching bowl eligibility. That includes last November, when the Cardinals rallied from deficits of 21-0 in the first quarter and 24-7 at halftime behind freshman quarterback Lamar Jackson's 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
With Louisville a potential Top 10 team this season and Kentucky again hoping just to get to six wins, it's looking like major heartbreak could be in store for Mark Stoops' team again. And with the fourth-year coach entering 2016 on the hot seat, a loss to the Cardinals might be the final nail in his coffin.
2016 prediction: Louisville 37, Kentucky 19
Oregon vs. Oregon State
6 of 7
When: Nov. 26 at Oregon State
Series history: Oregon leads 63-46-10
Last year's result: Oregon 52-42
Both the North and South won their fair share of battles when the U.S. Civil War occurred in the 1860s. There's been no such balance in outcomes in the football version of the Civil War, as Oregon has claimed the last eight clashes while scoring 371 points in the process.
The Ducks have allowed 232 points during that run, and last year's game was one of three during the win streak where the margin was 10 points or fewer. But anyone who watched the 2015 game in Eugene knows Oregon had complete control of the game save for a handful of big plays it allowed to the listless Beavers.
Oregon State went 2-10 last year and was one of just three power-conference teams to go winless in league play last year, and it will again be among the youngest teams in the country this fall. The Beavers have dropped 11 in a row in the Pac-12, and despite some notable upset wins in Corvallis, they're absolutely dreadful at home against Oregon.
The last four Civil Wars in which OSU was the home team has seen Oregon win by an average of 24 points.
2016 prediction: Oregon 44, Oregon State 24
Central Florida vs. South Florida
7 of 7
When: Nov. 26 at South Florida
Series history: South Florida leads 5-2
Last year's result: South Florida 44-3
While several longstanding rivalries were cast aside by conference realignment, Central Florida's move from Conference USA to the American (nee Big East) helped create a new one among second-tier Florida schools. And to help boost the image of this burgeoning feud, last year's game was moved to Thanksgiving.
And it wasn't just turkeys that were slaughtered on that holiday. The 41-point loss completed a winless season for UCF, which saw coach George O'Leary retire midway through a year in which the Knights averaged only 13.9 points per game.
South Florida, which was shut out by UCF in the previous meeting, is a team on the rise after breaking through in 2015. Willie Taggart's third year in Tampa produced eight wins, the Bulls' most since 2010, and the dynamic junior combination of quarterback Quinton Flowers and running back Marlon Mack make them a strong contender to win the American's East Division.
UCF is starting over in Orlando, with new coach Scott Frost just hoping he's able to put together a competitive team in his initial season.
2016 prediction: South Florida 37, UCF 17
Statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com or Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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