MHR Scouting Services- Top 25 Rivalries
Welcome to another Addition on the MHR Scouting Services. We have saved our introductions until later but for now we will introduce the TOP 25 College Football Rivalries. You will see that some cross conferences which shows you that there is a lot of history behind college ball. Strap on your seat belt because it can be a bumpy ride. As always if you have questions ask and someone will answer! With out further ado...
Top 25 College Football Rivalries
1. Ohio State vs Michigan
Series Record: Michigan leads 58-40-6.
Award: Ohio State players get a gold charm in the shape of a pair of pants if they win.
No rivalry has a better combination of history and championship implications than Michigan vs Ohio State. Since 1913, the two teams have combined for all or part of 70 Big Ten titles and the have finished 1-2 in the standings 15 times since 1968.
2. Oklahoma vs Texas
Series Record: Texas leads 57-39-5.
Trophy: The Golden Hat
Known as: "The Red River Shootout". The winning team's state is supposed to get ownership of the Red River for one year until the next game. It's one the few rivalries that are played on a neutral field. These two teams play in Dallas, Texas which is is exactly halfway between the two schools, Austin, Texas, and Norman, Oklahoma.
3. Alabama vs Auburn
Series Record: Alabama leads 38-32-1
Trophy: Omicron Delta Kappa-James E. Foy V Sportsmanship Trophy
This college football rivalry is number one as the fire, passion and hate between the two schools is unlike any other. This game literally stops a state. The teams didn't play from 1907 to 1948 because after the 1907 game, they couldn’t decide which referees to use. The trophy for this game isn't as important as the ownership of the state that comes with a win.
4. USC vs Notre Dame
Series Record: Notre Dame leads 42-31-5
Trophy: The Jeweled Shillelagh
The winner of this game has gone on to win the national title 19 times, plus these two schools have produced 11 Heisman winners.
5. Army vs Navy
Series Record: Series tied 49-50-7
Award: Gold cloth stars to put on their letter sweaters for victories
Notes: This game probably has more history and tradition than any other rivalry in the country. This game is also part of the Commander-In-Chief trophy(Army, Navy, & Air Force)
6. Lafayette vs Lehigh
Series Record: Lafayette leads 73-62-5
Known as: "The Game"
This is the most-played rivalry in college football history.
7. Florida State vs Miami
Series Record: Miami leads 29-21
Since the 1987, Florida State has lost out on playing for the national championship five times because of losses to Miami. The two teams have met 13 times in the last 18 years when both were ranked in the top ten. Since 1983, these two teams have combined for more national titles than any other two rivals in the country.
8. Texas vs Texas A&M
Series Record: Texas leads the series, 70-34-5.
This was voted the top college football rivalry in a USA Today online poll.
9. Florida vs Georgia
Series Record: Georgia leads the series, 45-35-2.
Known as: "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party"
Georgia may hold the series lead, but Florida has had Georgia's number since 1992. This rivalry is one of only a few that is played on a neutral site, Jacksonville, FL.
10. Nebraska vs Oklahoma
Oklahoma leads the series, 41-37-3.
The 1971 game was considered by many, the greatest college football game of all-time. 19 times during this series, one of these two teams have been rated #1.
Since your head is probably spinning here is something to bring you back to earth:
Now Back to the gridiron:
11. Harvard vs Yale
Series Record: Yale leads 64-49-8
Known as: "The Game"
This game is the third most-played in history; only Layafette-Lehigh and Princeton-Yale have been played more often.
12. Auburn vs Georgia
Series Record: Auburn leads 52-48-8
"The Oldest Rivalry in the Deep South" . Like many other games, these two even argue about the overall record between the two teams. The schools played the first SEC overtime game in 1996. Both teams played their first College Football game against each other in 1892 in Atlanta, which Auburn won 10-0.
13. USC vs UCLA
Series Record: USC leads the series, 38-27-7
Known as: The battle for the Victory Bell
The winning team paints the bell in their color to match the gold: blue for UCLA, cardinal for USC.
14. California vs Stanford
Stanford leads the series, 54-40-11.
Known as: "The Big Game"
The rivalry has a history of tight scoring games, with 50 having been decided by 7 points or less.
15. Minnesota vs Wisconsin
Series Record: Minnesota leads 59-48-8
Trophy: Paul Bunyan's Axe
This is the oldest rivalry in NCAA Division I-A. The teams have met every year since 1907. Before Paul Bunyan's Axe, the teams played for the "Slab of Bacon", a piece of wood with the word "BACON". The idea was that the winning team "brought home the bacon".
16. Kansas vs Missouri
Series Record: Series tied 52-52-9
Known as: "The Border Showdown"
Trophy: The Indian War Drum
Notes: It's the second-oldest rivalry in Division I-A.The war drum has a picture of a Jayhawk on one side and the MU logo on another. This game was known as the "Border War", but after 9/11, two schools changed the official name to the "Border Showdown".
17. Florida vs Florida State
Series Record: Florida leads 28-19-2
In the 1990's, these programs were two of the best in the country.
18. Alabama vs Tennessee
Series Record: Alabama leads 43-37-7
Trophy: The winning team gets victory cigars
The victory cigar tradition for Alabama was started in the Bear Bryant era; Tennessee took up the tradition for themselves in the 1990's.
19. Virginia vs Virginia Tech
Series Record: Virginia Tech leads 44-37-5
Trophy: The Commonwealth Cup
20. Washington vs Washington State
Series Record: Washington leads 63-28-6
Trophy: The Apple Cup
Another Quick Break to allow the east coast representation show their stuff:
And now for the final five rivalries...
21. Arizona vs Arizona State
Series Record: Arizona leads 44-33-1
Trophy: The Territorial Championship Cup
Known as "The Big Game". The Territorial Cup is the oldest prize given as part of a rivalry series. First given in 1899, the cup had been missing for fifty years until being recently discovered.
22. Mississippi State vs Ole Miss
Series Record: Ole Miss leads 58-37-6
Trophy: The Golden Egg trophy
The "Golden Egg" trophy is in the shape of an old-time football. Because of its ovalesque shape, it resembles an egg.
23. Indiana vs Purdue
Series Record: Purdue leads 66-35-6
Trophy: The Old Oaken Bucket
24. Georgia vs Georgia Tech
Series Record: Georgia leads 56-38-5
Known as: "Clean, Old-fashioned Hate"
25. Clemson vs South Carolina
Series Record: Clemson leads 62-36-4
Known as: "Battle of the Palmetto State"
I hope that this article was educational and kept your attention. If there is anything the MHR Scouting Services can do please let us know. E-mail me by clicking My name. Thank you
This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR
2 recs |
13 comments
Comments
Man...nothing hotter than chicks in tight jeans.
I gotta get to work so I couldn’t read the post yet, but I’ll put a rec on there just for the pics!!
I’ll comment later today when I get a chance to read the entire thing on my lunch break. ;)
by Tim Lynch on May 16, 2008 7:20 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
The list is accurate
I just wish some local rivalries could make it into the Top 25 (local being Colorado):
CSU vs CU (The Rocky Mountain Showdown…not a great history, but better recently)
CU vs Nebraska (Whether Nebraska wants to admit it or not!)
CSU vs Wyoming (The Border War)
CSU vs Air Force (No name that I’m aware of)
Air Force vs Army/Navy (Part of the Commander-in-Chief Trophy)
Us vs Them (anyone from CO against anyone else…BRING IT!) :o)
I am SOOOOO ready for football now!!!
~Uffdah
by Disco_Stu on May 16, 2008 8:31 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
there are a few other rivalries too....
Here’s my central US bias coming out…..
Kansas vs Missouri….will always be the Border War to me….they have been fighting since the days of John Brown! see
Kansas vs Kansas State….Sunflower showdown always a classic. (even when they sucked)
Colorado vs Colorado State….what other rivalry forced the Denver police to shoot tear gas into the crowd?
Sadly, the OU Nebraska lost its luster.
fader nation is a conquered nation
by mdierk on May 16, 2008 8:34 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
sorry....
here’s the big reason for the KU/MU border war…..
fader nation is a conquered nation
by mdierk on May 16, 2008 8:36 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
The Civil War’s always good, The Backyard Brawl (Pitt is slowly starting to gain an upper hand), and Penn State has a few “rivalries” that haven’t been the best “rivalries” recently
Good stuff
by phantom818 on May 16, 2008 11:24 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Army-Navy in 1942-43
Here’s a testimonial by Ben Colmery (Navy class of 1943) about one of those games:
In 1942, America fought a two-front war, and transportation was strained. No trains or buses could carry spectators to games. Navy was the home team in Annapolis. West Point sent its team, but no rooting section. The Navy decided it would be sportsmanlike to balance the cheering, so two battalions were designated as “Army cadets.” I was in one of those battalions. We gave Army cheers and sang Army songs all through the game. On game day, after the national anthem, we actually yelled “Beat Navy!”
I’m a sucker for sportsmanship to that degree, so I wish the rivalry would have ranked higher. It might not be relevant for championships, but one look at the crowds during the anthem and you’re guaranteed to get goosebumps. I believe Army returned the favor when the hosted the game at West Point the following year, too.
Please check out my blog at http://thefulldeck.blogspot.com/ , now redesigned and recommited!
by ejruiz on May 16, 2008 11:41 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Some thoughts on the Army Navy Rivalry
Notice there are only 38 teams mentioned in the top 25 Rivalries of CFB? Amry Navy is the #5 All time greatest rivalry and you have to consider that there are over 200 college teams out there. I dont know that I put these as the order but if most people call this the list than it is decent to see the Military Pride game up there as far as it is!
Until Terrell Davis makes it into the Hall of Fame, I refuse to acknowledge the existence of such a place other than the Ring of Fame at Mile High!
Davis to the Hall!
by Jon Tollerud on May 16, 2008 2:12 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is a great thing
I would put all three military games there…but Army/Navy is probably the best.
As for games that have the mos tradition, history, and meaning (which always overshadow the game on the field :o) )...the Commander in Chief trophy is one of my favorite!
~Uffdah
by Disco_Stu on May 16, 2008 6:43 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I Would Be Remiss...
Nice to see some Gator girls in the pics, but even a UF man and fan (as I am) has to tip his hat to the USC Song Girls. No wonder they rule the Left Coast; how could the opposition concentrate with that sort of distraction?! In all seriousness, the Florida reps in that pic are nice, but practically indistinguishable from at least 10,000 others on campus. Yes gentlemen, Gainesville is that attractive.
Please check out my blog at http://thefulldeck.blogspot.com/ , now redesigned and recommited!
by ejruiz on May 16, 2008 3:14 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
#1
you nailed the top one. i am a huge buckeyes fan, even before i first saw the broncos. in the early 70’s, college football was king, and i hated the local pro teams here in n.j.jets, giants, eagles. my favorite player was randy gradishar when i played pop warner, and he ended up in denver! the first time i saw him on tv with the orange crush(1976), i was like, THIS is my team.
back to the buckeyes/wolverines rivalry. john cooper had the highest winning pct. ever at ohio state, even surpassing the legendary woody hayes. but, he couldn’t beat michigan. so, they fired him. it is the focus of the football program, because if you don’t, you will be replaced. they always play the last game of the year, and it is usually for the conference title, a major bowl berth, or even a national championship game. to be undefeated, and then lose this game, is considered a disaster year. conversely, to be 1-10 and winning this game is an acceptable season. really. basically, one of these teams is breaking the heart of the other almost every year, for over 100 years. that’s a rivalry, and discontempt. to illustrate this, the buckeyes have a band that plays every year called “the dead schembechlers”, in reference to bo, the great coach at michigan. they all dress up as woody hayes(ohio state), bo’s mentor, and play songs like “bomb ann arbour now”, “m means moron”, “schembechler kicked my crippled dog”, and the like. check out deadschembechlers.com for everything i couldn’t even print here. you can get a feel for the general hatred level there, at least on osu’s side. the respect level, though, is also very high. when bo passed on a few days before the game recently (right after doing his show about the buckeyes game, coincedentally), the band cancelled their shows, and the kind words and support from ohio state were surprising to some. there is just a great deal of respect from both teams, probably coming from over 100 years of battle, and a pretty even record between the two. if you haven’t seen this game in action, you really should check it out. i believe the 100th meeting, in michigan, still holds the attendance record for a football game. it is, in many people’s opinion, the best rivalry in all of sports.
by davecheffy on May 16, 2008 3:22 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I am a high school senior....
and trying to decide between Florida and USC. Could you perhaps post a few more photos to help me make up my mind?
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of our own mind. - Emerson
by firstfan on May 18, 2008 12:19 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
If it is based on the girls you will be around I would sat FL
but my high school friend (snicker) the Song birds are THE most beautiful girls I have met face to face
Until Terrell Davis makes it into the Hall of Fame, I refuse to acknowledge the existence of such a place other than the Ring of Fame at Mile High!
Davis to the Hall!
by Jon Tollerud on May 18, 2008 8:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmmmm
I think you got the senior part right.
But darn it man! We still need to brush you up on your tech skills. You really need to swap avatars when you’re going to throw out something like that. Now I know why Mrs. Firstfan has you wearing that durned hat thingy! The girls see ya coming a mile away!
(sigh).
Our newest member is growing up on the computer too quick. Now he’s asking for pics. What are we going to do?
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe
by Steve Nichols on May 18, 2008 3:10 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

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