Ranking the Pac-12's Rivalries

The Pac-12 conference has produced many great moments. A lot coming in rivalries.

Each Pac-12 team has a rival, and a name, like "The Big Game," "The Apple Cup," or "The Civil War." And each game has had a special moment, whether it be thwarting a BCS Title bid, a miraculous win, or a Rose Bowl bid at stake.

Other than Utah against Colorado, each rivalry has stood out with special moments, tradition, or big games. With two of the Pac-12's rivalries already in the books and four to go, we all have the delightful treat of watching rivalry football.

When these teams battle on the gridiron, you know some magic will be worked into the game, and the game will feature something incredible.

Now, we find out which one is the best.

6. Utah vs Colorado

Since this rivalry was put on a 49 year hiatus, it definitely falls to the bottom.

When these two teams reunited in the Pac-12, a rivalry blossomed between the Buffs and the Utes. The two have met 57 times, with the last meeting being a Utah win in 1962.

There is no trophy or name for this game yet, but if it brings something special in their first Pac-12 meeting there may be a new big game blossoming. Utah has a chance at playing in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship game and they must beat Colorado.

While neither team is elite, and Colorado is down in the dumps, this game has some implications on the conference. On Black Friday, Colorado has an opportunity to thwart something special, and they both have an opportunity to start a special tradition.

Let the rivalry begin!

5. Arizona vs Arizona State, Territorial Cup

The Territorial Cup has certainly brought a lot to both schools.

2010 and 2011 brought very exciting games. Arizona State toppled Arizona in double overtime last year as a missed extra point by Arizona cost the Wildcats the win (twice). In 2011, Arizona got payback, rallying from a 27-17 fourth quarter deficit to stun Arizona State 31-27.

After a long streak of Arizona State domination, the Wildcats have claimed the Cup three of the past four years, and they lead the all-time series 47-37-1.

While 2011 wasn't anywhere close to their best year, Arizona found a way to beat Arizona State, finally receiving a good sign in Nick Foles' final season as a Wildcat. Backup Bryson Beirne hit Juron Criner for the winning touchdown in 2011.

While this isn't the most prestigious rivalry in the Pac-10/12, it has definitely had it's moments. 

4. Washington vs Washington State, Apple Cup

Currently, the Apple Cup isn't anywhere near the Pac-10/12's best rivalries, because both teams are struggling. Washington is 6-5, and Washington State is 4-7. Their combined record is 10-12, the best in a long time. 

But if you rewind time a little bit, you can relive the glory days, when these teams were atop the Pac-10/12, and the Apple Cup determined Rose Bowl's. So, those are relived when the Huskies take on the Cougars.

Washington is 66-31-6 in this rivalry, and they have won the last two meetings. In 2010, Jake Locker hit Jermaine Kearse with 44 seconds left, and Washington went bowling thanks to that win. In 2006, Washington prevented Washington State from bowling with a 35-32 Apple Cup win.

November 26, next Saturday, is the next Apple Cup, as Washington tries to improve their bowl status and Washington State tries to keep Paul Wullf in as coach.

While there has definitely been better times for the Apple Cup, there is no reason to avoid this key Pac-12 matchup.

3. USC vs UCLA, the USC-UCLA Game

Although this rivalry has no official name, the Pac-10/12 conference has had many Rose Bowl bids and big bowl game positions decided by this game between UCLA and USC.

Reggie Bush, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Rick Neuhiesel, and Maurice Jones-Drew are five of the many big name players that have battled this game out on the gridiron.

USC has won the last four games, with the 2007 and 2008 battle deciding a Rose Bowl bid (USC won the Rose Bowl in both years) and the 2009 and 2010 games showing what USC football is made of.

Both teams have storied football traditions, and both teams are regulars in the Rose Bowl, but USC is 43-28-7 in this annual game. On November 26 at the Coliseum, 9-2 USC takes on 6-5 UCLA, as the Bruins try to clinch a berth in the Pac-12 Championship.

This game has always had implications. And unlike some rivalries, it still does. 

2. Oregon vs Oregon State, Civil War

For the past 3 years, the Civil War has had huge implications on the Pac-10/12's Rose Bowl bid, and it has even taken that role over the USC-UCLA game, for that matter.

One of the most storied rivalries in college football takes place between Oregon and Oregon State every year, and even if one team isn't as good (Oregon State is 3-8), there always seems to be something crucial at stake.

If the Ducks fend off Oregon State, they clinch the Pac-12 North, and they should cakewalk past the Pac-12 South champion. So, in hindsight, for the fourth straight year, this game has the Rose Bowl on the line.

In 2008, Oregon denied Oregon State a Rose Bowl win with a crazy 65-38 win, as GameDay traveled to Corvallis for the big game. In 2009, LaMichael James ran for three touchdowns as the Ducks found their way to the Rose Bowl with a 37-33 win.

On Saturday, the Pac-12 North and likely the BCS picture will be solved yet again by the Civil War game. Oregon leads 58-46-10 in the annual rivalry, which is rising up, up, up as we speak.

1. California vs Stanford, the Big Game

Once you see the 1982 Big Game and how it ended, you know you have a storied football rivalry.

California's five-lateral, 57-yard kickoff return as time expired headlines a brilliant rivalry between California and Stanford, a rivalry that Stanford leads 57-46-11. This annual game has ended with last-second magic many times, and it usually comes down to the end of the game.

After a long streak of Cal domination, Stanford is back, and the Cardinal used a convincing Big Game victory over Cal to make their way to the Orange Bowl in 2010. And after a 31-28 win over Cal in 2011, Stanford has a clear path to another BCS game.

In 2009, Stanford was ranked seventeenth, and they had Toby Gerhart on their side. Shane Vereen of Cal, however, ran for 193 yards and three touchdowns, and Mike Mohamed intercepted an Andrew Luck pass with just over a minute left to seal a Golden Bear victory.

This game has always had some kind of mid-tier bowl game, unless it had even more at stake, like the 2010 and 2011 games. The Big Game has always been big, and the football tradition between these teams tops all in the Pac-10/12.