The 25 Best SEC Football Rivalries

Here is my list for the best rivalries in the SEC.  Teams outside the conference are also included such as Georgia Tech in the Tech-Georgia rivalry. The rankings are based on several factors including history, number of games, proximity, competitiveness, recent relevance and the hate/respect factor. 

1. Alabama-Auburn (Iron Bowl) 72 times met, Alabama leads 38-33-1

- Hands Down

2. Florida-Georgia (World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party) 85, Georgia leads 46-37-2

- Keeps getting better

3. Auburn-Georgia (Deep South's Oldest Rivalry) 111, Auburn leads 53-50-8

- The most “respected” rivalry

4. Tennessee-Alabama (Third Saturday in October) 90, Alabama leads 45-38-7

- Two winningest programs in the SEC

5. Florida-Florida St. (Battle for the Governor's Cup) 52, Florida leads 31-19-2

- Rivalry is fading a bit

6. Ole Miss-Miss St. (Egg Bowl) 104, Ole Miss leads 59-39-6

- Underrated, intense rivalry

7. S. Carolina-Clemson (The Palmetto Bowl) 105, Clemson leads 64-37-4

- Longest uninterrupted series in the south

8. Georgia-Georgia Tech (Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate) 102, Georgia leads 59-38-5

- Two very different schools only 70 miles apart

9. Tennessee-Florida (Third Saturday in September) 37, series tied 19-19

- UT won first 10 games of even series

10. Auburn-LSU (Tiger Bowl) 43, LSU leads 23-19-1

- Fast-rising SEC rivalry

11. LSU-Alabama (Saban Bowl) 71, Alabama leads 44-22-5

- Nick Saban instantly moved this rivalry way up

12. Arkansas-Texas 76, Texas leads 55-21

- One of the best “intermittent” rivalries

13. LSU-Ole Miss (Southern Tradition) 95, LSU leads 55-37-4

- Old-time rivalry is declining

14. Alabama-Miss St. (The 90-Mile Drive) 92, Alabama leads 71-19-2

- Lopsided rivalry of teams with closest proximity in SEC

15. Tennessee-Vanderbilt (I-40 Bowl) 102, Tennessee leads 69-28-5

- Beating Vanderbilt was General Neyland’s only job requirement

16. Florida-Miami (Battle for the Seminole War Canoe) 53, Miami leads 27-26

- Another intense “intermittent” rivalry

17. Tennessee-Kentucky (Border Bowl) 103, Tennessee leads 71-23-9

- UT holds nation's longest active winning streak over one team, 26 over Kentucky

18. LSU-Tulane (Battle for the Rag) 96, LSU leads 67-22-7

- The satin flag is fought for between these old SEC rivals

19. Georgia-South Carolina (The Border Bash) 60, Georgia leads 45-13-2

- Game means much more to South Carolina

20. Kentucky-Louisville (Battle for the Governor's Cup) 21, Kentucky leads 12-9 

- Bigger basketball rivalry

21. Ole Miss-Arkansas (The "Nutt" Bowl) 54, Arkansas leads 29-24-1

- Geographically close schools' rivalry revved up with Houston Nutt moving to Ole Miss

22. LSU-Arkansas (Battle for the Golden Boot) 53, LSU leads 33-18-2

-Winner receives heaviest trophy in sports, 175 lb. gold boot

23. Florida-Auburn 82, Auburn leads 42-38-2

- Annual rivalry stopped when SEC split divisions has memorable history

24. Tennessee-Georgia 37, Tennessee leads 20-15-2

- Competitive SEC East battle

25. Arkansas-Texas A&M 65, Arkansas leads 38-24-3

- Historical Southwest Conference rivalry will renew in 2009 in Dallas