The Hatfields & McCoys: Greatest College Football Rivalries, Part I
In 1878, a feud broke out between West Virginia and Kentucky involving two neighboring families. There are a few different theories about what spawned the feud between the two sides. The most widely accepted is that the fight started over the ownership rights of a pig.
In the end, Floyd Hattfield lost a court decision to Randolph McCoy after a testimony from Bill Stanton who claimed the pig belonged to McCoy. Incidentally, Stanton was a relative two both families. Regardless of that fact two Hattfield brothers killed Stanton for his testimony.
What ensued was 13 years of bloodshed which resulted in more than 10 deaths. Finally in 1891 the families agreed to stop the fighting. Yet, an actual treaty between the families was not signed until 2003.
Had the families waited another five to ten years before they began killing each other; they could have formed football teams and settled all disputes on the gridiron.
College football has produced its fair share of great rivalries. None of course have been as violent as the Hattfields and McCoys but a few come close.
Here is part I in a two part series of the greatest college football rivalries of all-time.
20. Southwest Classic: Arkansas V. Texas A&M
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Known as “The Southwest Classic” Texas A&M and Arkansas first played in 1903. Texas A&M won the game 6-0.
In 1939, A&M’s team would shutout Arkansas 27-0 in route to a national title.
Arkansas would dominate the series in the 50’s and 60’s winning nine straight from 1958-66. One of those victories was a 17-0 victory for the 1964 national championship Razorback team.
The two teams played annually from 1934-1991 as members of the Southwest conference until re-alignment put the rivalry on hold for 18 years.
The final game between the teams as members of the southwest conference came in 1991. A&M defeated Arkansas 13-3.
The teams would revive the rivalry in 2009 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Arkansas crushed the Aggies 47-19. Arkansas would win again in 2010 giving them a 40-24-3 edge in the series.
Both universities signed a long term deal allowing for these two teams to play annually in Cowboys stadium for the next ten years.
19. The Civil War: Oregon V. Oregon St.
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Every year in Oregon, two teams battle for the Platypus trophy and more importantly, for bragging rights. The century old rivalry between the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers is the seventh oldest in college football.
The game is so bitter it is nicknamed the “Civil War,” and over the years these two teams have been anything but civil to one another. The Ducks and Beavers have played 113 times with Oregon holding the series lead at 57-46-10.
The two teams have played in a number of exciting games. Yet, it has been the rowdy behavior of students and fans that truly make this a fun and sometimes dangerous game to be involved with.
After an Oregon victory in 1910, the police were called to break up two opposing groups of fans at a train station in Corvallis. Over the years, students from both schools have been kidnapped and forced to do degrading things such as; repaint the hillside “O” at Oregon and then slide down it naked or walk around the campus in Corvallis wearing “I’m a dumb duck sign.” In 1960, an Oregon student kidnapped the Oregon State homecoming queen. The woman was returned unharmed but the incident escalated the already dangerous behavior exhibited by both sides.
In recent years the rivalry has been one of the best in college football. In 2009, the Pac 10 title was on the line. Oregon won the game 37-33 and earned a berth in the Rose Bowl. It was the first time in the history of the rivalry that a Rose Bowl berth was up for grabs.
The two teams meet Saturday, December 4th for the 114th time. A win for Oregon will guarantee the Ducks a second straight Pac 10 title and could send them to the national championship in Glendale.
18. The Border War: Kansas V. Missouri
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On October 31, 1891 Kansas and Missouri met for the 1st time in what has evolved into one of the bitterest rivalries in college football. Missouri holds the all-time series lead 55-54-9 after 118 games, making this one of the closest and also the second oldest college football rivalry.
How serious do the two sides take this game? Former Kansas coach, Don Fambrough, refused doctors recommendations to head across the state line to Missouri, for medical attention, saying "I'll die first!” Missouri's former coach, Norm Stewart would make his players stay in Kansas City, Missouri, before playing games at Kansas. He refused to buy gas in Kansas and would discipline players for dining in the state.
The two programs have gone back and forth over the years with no team winning more than five games in a row.
In 2007, with Kansas ranked no. 2 & Missouri no. 3 the two battled it out until the final minutes. Missouri prevailed 36-28 with the second largest crowd in Arrowhead Stadium history watching.
Traditionally the winner of the game is given the Indian War Drum and beginning in 2007 the winner also received the Lamar Hunt Trophy named after the legendary Kansas City Chiefs owner.
The 115th meeting between the teams will take place on Saturday.
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17. The Backyard Brawl: West Virginia V. Pittsburgh
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It is the oldest rivalry in the Big East conference as the two teams have played 102 times. Located 75 miles apart this game is aptly titled “The Backyard Brawl,” because of the close proximity of the two schools. The programs often go after the same recruits and the balance of power is often directly related to which school has the better recruiting class on a given year.
Pittsburgh leads the series 61-38-3. They hold the rivalry’s longest win streak with 15 straight from 1929-1946. The two teams have produced a combined number of 400 NFL players, 27 first round draft picks, and 157 All-Americans.
In recent years the game has produced some thrilling finishes. In 2007, the 100th game between the two schools resulted in the 2nd ranked Mountaineers falling victim to the 4-7 Pitt Panthers, 13-9. The loss knocked West Virginia out of BCS Championship contention. The game was voted “Game of the Year” by ESPNU.
Last year, West Virginia defeated the 8th ranked Pitt, 19-16. It was the most watched game in the history of ESPN2 and the rivalry.
Friday, the teams meet for the 103rd time in a game that could determine the Big East champion.
16. Paul Bunyan's Axe: Minnesota V. Wisconsin
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Ohio State and Michigan might be the Big Ten’s most storied rivalry but Minnesota and Wisconsin is the conference’s and Division I college football’s oldest.
These two teams first began playing back in 1890 and have played 120 times making it one of the most played college football rivalries of all-time. Minnesota holds the edge in the series 59-53-8.
The teams used to play for “The Slab of Bacon,” a piece of wood with an M or W carved in it depending on which way you look at it. Minnesota won 11 of the 14 games played for the trophy until it was lost in 1943.
Five years later, the “Paul Bunyan Axe” was created and is given annually to the winner of the game. The score of each game is recorded on the Axe’s handle. Each year the winning team runs the sidelines hoisting the axe.
15. The Holy War: BYU V. Utah
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For one day each year, the entire state of Utah divides between Red and Blue, and wage war on one another. It’s probably not the type of war you’re envisioning in fact it’s a Holy War (what an oxymoron). The Utah Utes and BYU Cougars are in-state rivals who have gone head-to-head since 1896, well depending on who you ask.
These two programs don’t agree on much of anything including when the first official game was played. According to Utah the first contest was in 1896 but BYU has the first game taking place in 1922.
The game is nicknamed the Holy War because BYU is a school partly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and The University of Utah is a public ran institution. For those involved it is really a battle of good and evil.
This rivalry is one that at times can get a little personal. Utah fans like to agitate BYU fans by drinking and cursing at games both of which are forbidden by the BYU honor code.
The close proximity of the two schools only adds fuel to the fire. BYU is in Provo, Utah and Utah calls Salt Lake City home. The two campuses are a mere 50 miles from each other.
BYU has the only national title between the two schools and that came in 1984. Utah holds the edge in conference titles; The Utes have twenty four to the Cougars twenty three. The overall series lead also belongs to Utah it currently stands at 53-34-4.
The two teams play for the 92nd time on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
14. The Third Saturday In October: Alabama V. Tennessee
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Until 1992, the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide met every year on the “Third Saturday in October,” (hence the name of the rivalry.)
This rivalry is one involving two of the more successful programs in college football history. Alabama lays claim to thirteen national titles and Tennessee has half that many with six. The overall series is 47-38-7 in favor of the Crimson Tide.
The two teams first began playing in 1903, a game won by Alabama. The Crimson Tide would win eight of the first ten games in the series. From 1905-1913, Tennessee lost 7 straight and did not score a point in any of the games.
The streak was the third longest recorded in the series. The longest streak also belonged to the Tide and took place from 1971-1981, under the coaching of the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. Alabama would also win 3 national titles during that span.
Tennessee has also enjoyed some success in the series. Notably, a 7 game win streak from 1995-2001 under Philip Fulmer. Along with the win streak over Alabama the Volunteers won a national title in 1998.
Lately, the Tide has regained control of this rivalry with four consecutive wins, including a 41-10 thrashing earlier this season.
13. Lone Star Showdown: Texas V. Texas A&M
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“The Lone Star Showdown,” is without a doubt the biggest game in the state of Texas. It is the third oldest rivalry in college football and was first played in 1894. In the 116 year history of the rivalry there has only been six seasons in which these teams have not played.
The game is one of the most important for both teams each year. The Aggies forever left their imprint on the rivalry and on the Longhorns famed mascot Bevo. Aggies students kidnapped and branded the famed steer in 1917. The Aggies branded “13-0” on the longhorn which just happened to be the score of the 1915 victory for A&M over Texas.
Texas responded by dominating the rivalry throughout the years. In total there has been 114 Lone Star games played and Texas has won 73 of them. The series record stands at 73-36-5.
However, the series has been much closer in recent years. The teams are 18-18 in their last 36 meetings heading into Thursday’s 114th Lone Star Showdown.
12. The Big Game: Cal V. Stanford
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“The Big Game” is played annually between the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford. The winning team takes control of the Stanford Axe, which is an axe head mounted on a wooden plaque with the scores of the past games played.
The teams played from 1892-1906, the early years were often volatile and due to concern over violence the teams opted to play rugby instead of football from 1906-1914.
There has been a number of big “Big Games” with thrilling and surprising endings.
In 1924, the teams played to a 20-20 tie and Stanford earned a trip to the Rose Bowl. In 1947 Cal beat Stanford 21-18 to ensure the Cardinal finished the season winless.
The most famous Big game of all-time took place in 1982. Stanford was leading 20-19 and the game looked to be over. On the final play of the game the Cal Bears lateraled the ball five times and scored the game winning touchdown. The winning touchdown is known simply as “The Play,” and is one of the greatest plays in college football history.
Stanford’s 48-14 victory earlier this season tied the most points record set by Cal back in 1975. In the 113 meetings between the two teams, Stanford has a 56-46-11 advantage.
11. Florida V. Georgia Football Classic: Florida V. Georgia
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The annual game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators is one of the most exciting and competitive rivalries in college football. Since 1933, the game has been played in Jacksonville, Florida and is nicknamed “The World’s Largest Cocktail Party.”
The two teams disagree on when the series officially began. If you go by Georgia’s official records it’s 1905 and Florida has the series beginning a year later.
The game has seen many crazy outbursts from fans throughout the years. In 1984, Florida fans charged the field and ripped down the goal posts after a 27-0 win. Georgia fans would respond the same way after a 24-3 victory the next year. The following year, school officials agreed to give the goal posts to the winning team in order to stop fans from tearing them down.
Both teams have showed a lack of regard for the other in blowout games. Most memorable in 1942, Georgia beat Florida 75-0. Some 51 years later Steve Spurrier called a pass late in a blowout over Georgia. The Gators would finish the game with 52 points. Spurrier boasted how he wanted to be the first to hang “half a hundred” on Georgia.
In 2007, the game was aptly titled “The Gator Stomp” after the entire Georgia team celebrated in the end zone following a first quarter touchdown. Georgia Coach, Mark Richt encouraged his team to rub it in this served as a great since of inspiration for his team. The Bulldogs went on to win the game 42-30. It was the first time in the history of the rivalry that both teams scored over 30 points.
2008 would give Florida a measure of revenge. Florida Coach, Urban Meyer insisted in the week leading up to the game that the actions of the previous year would have no bearing on the 2008 game. The Gators would beat down the Bulldogs 49-10 and go on to win their 2nd national title under Urban Meyer.
The two teams played a classic this season with Florida escaping 34-31 in overtime. The win was Florida’s 18th in the past 21 games although Georgia still leads the all-time series standings 47-40-2.
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