College Football 2011: 5 Rivalries That Need to Be Put to Bed

Spring football is in the air.

And while it leaves us fans scratching our nails raw for the most recent updates on how the team looks going into the summer, we can never really get enough with the 2011 college season five months away.

What better way to talk about football than to gripe and talk smack about a rival program?

When one thinks about rivalries in college football, the ones that immediately come to mind are Ohio State-Michigan, USC-Notre Dame, Florida-Florida State, Texas-Oklahoma and the like.

Those are the givens, the gold standard of college football clashes.

But on the opposite end of that spectrum, there are those that need to be relinquished.

Colorado vs. Colorado State: Rocky Mountain Showdown

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 04: Running back Raymond Carter #20 of the Colorado State Rams makes a pass reception and is stopped by linebacker Tyler Ahles #58 of the Colorado Buffaloes during the the Rocky Mountain Showdown at INVESCO Field at Mile High on Septem

Though recent history may suggest otherwise, the Rocky Mountain Showdown has been an overall unimpressive rivalry between a couple of Colorado programs struggling to gain the spotlight.

The Buffaloes have not experienced any resemblance of success since the days of Rick Neuheisel and Gary Barnett, which dates back to 1996-2005. And if there is anything significant to speak of during the Dan Hawkins Era, well, let's just stop there.

Colorado State has held its own since 1999, winning seven of 12 games to date.

But history tells a completely different story. Between 1934 and 1998, the Rams have won just five games in the series.

At first glance, and maybe even the second and fifth glances, this rivalry is glued together by two unimpressive programs in desperate need of different rivals.

Geography may tell one story, but history just shows big brother beating up on little brother.

Indiana vs. Michigan State: Old Brass Spittoon

Let's face it: The Hoosiers need to stick to basketball seeing as how their fortunes on the gridiron are less than spectacular.

In the contest for the Old Brass Spittoon, Michigan State has claimed 40 of the 53 contests over Indiana since the series started in 1950. 

Recently the Hoosiers have made more noise than history suggests, winning five of the 17 matchups dating back to 1990. But prior to the 1990s, you do the math. 

For such a relatively classic Big Ten rivalry game, it is has been very one-sided since its inception.

Michigan vs. Minnesota: Little Brown Jug

Perhaps just the fact that Minnesota has claimed a single victory (2005) in this series since 1987 should speak volumes about the all of the weight being thrown from Michigan's side of the rivalry.

The Little Brown Jug goes to the victor in this Big Ten showdown, and its inception in 1903 makes it one of the oldest rivalry games in the history of college football.

With the Wolverines holding a 66-22-3 advantage in the series, even the program's recent downward spiral can't open a sliver of hope for the Gophers.

Minnesota can gloat, however, about a nine-game winning streak from 1934 to 1942. But then again, the Gophers have been blanked 17 times in the series.

Boise State vs. Fresno State: Battle of the Milk Can

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BOISE, ID - NOVEMBER 19: Jeremy Avery #27 of the Boise State Broncos runs the ball against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Bronco Stadium on November 19, 2010 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Otto Kitsinger III/Getty Images)

This rivalry game official didn't begin until 2005, with the Bulldogs claiming that debut 27-7. But since both programs were members of the WAC starting in 2001, Boise State has simply owned the series, and it's not even close.

Since 2001 (the year Chris Petersen arrived in Boise as offensive coordinator), the Broncos have won nine of 10.

In those nine wins, Boise State holds a 26-point margin of victory. That's how not close this rivalry has gotten.

Although Fresno State can claim wins in the three meetings prior to 2001, it seems pretty clear that as long as Chris Petersen is around Boise, Fresno State stands little chance.

This one may have ended before it even began.

Utah vs. Utah State: Battle of the Brothers

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The Battle of the Brothers, an in-state rivalry between Utah State and Utah, is another case of bigger brother taking little brother to school.

The Utes' success is evident by the program's upward shift in BCS viability after moving to the Mountain West in 1999 subsequent to 37 years in the WAC.

Twelve years later, the crimson and white will make the move into the Pac-12, solidifying its BCS status.

Meanwhile, though the Aggies are firmly situated in the WAC, they have been completely left behind by the success of Utah's program.

Very mentionable, of course, is Utah's control of the series, holding a 77-28-4 record against Utah State, which hasn't won the matchup since 1997.

Right about now, the only thing the Aggies have going for them is that they occupy the same state.