Top Ten American College Rivalries

In the USA, college rivalries run deeper than just the game.  Check out our run-down of the top ten College Rivalries in American Colleges - a need to know if you are heading out to the USA!...... 10.  Lafayette vs Lehigh Lafayette leading 76-62-5.  The two institutions are located seventeen miles apart in eastern Pennsylvania. This is the most-played rivalry in college football history, having played 147 times since 1884, with only a single interruption in 1896.  The Rivalry is so old, that it predates football trophies: the winning team just used to keep the game ball.  In 2006, ESPNU ranked the Rivalry No.8 in their Top Ten College Football rivalries, and Sports Illustrated has told its readers that seeing it "is something you have to do once in your life." 9.  Nebraska vs Oklahoma Oklahoma leads the series 42-37-3 Also known as "OU-Nebraska", this is an American college football rivalry game played by the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team of the University of Nebraska, and the Oklahoma Sooners football team of the University of Oklahoma.  The rivalry continued in the Big 12 Conference until 2010, although the rivalry was more prominent when both teams were members of the former Big Eight Conference before 1996.  These teams have been involved in several historic match-ups, such as the Game of the Century, where the teams came into the game ranked one and two in the Associated Press Poll, often making these games of great importance in deciding the national championship. Historically, the rivalry's most distinguishing quality had been the grudging respect and appreciation between the two tradition-rich programs. Also of note is the game's former status as the premier Thanksgiving Day game for the middle of the country.  The 1971 game was considered by many to be the greatest college football game of all-time. 8.  Texas vs Texas A&M Texas leads the series, 70-34-5 For 117 years, the Texas and Texas A&M rivalry has epitomized college football.  These schools have met every year since 1915 and their fight songs explicitly reference each other.  This rivalry was voted the top college football rivalry in a USA Today online poll. 7.  Florida State vs Miami Miami leads 30-23 Since 1987, Florida State has missed out on playing for the national championships 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 10.  Since 1983, these two teams have combined for more national titles than any other two rivals in the country.  6.  Florida vs Georgia Georgia leads the series 46-37-2

This rivalry attracts huge crowds, and the associated tailgating and other events earned it's nickname as the "world's largest outdoor cocktail party". This rivalry is one of only a few that is played on a neutral site - Jacksonville, Florida.  The first game acknowledged by both schools was held in 1915, and except for the 1943 season when Florida did not field a team during World War II , the teams have met every year since 1926.

 5.  USC vs Notre Dame Notre Dame leads 42-32-5 This is a game played by the Notre Dame fighting Irish football team of the University of Notre Dame, and the USC Trojans football team of the University of Southern California.  Notre Dame and USC have traditionally been counted amongst the elite programs in college football - the winner of this game has gone on to win the national title of 19 times, plus these two schools have produced 11 Heisman winners.  This football rivalry, which began in 1926, is considered to be one of the most important rivalries in college football. 4.  Army vs Navy Navy leads 52-41-6 This game most likely has more history and tradition than any other rivalry in the country. It also plays a significant role in determining the recipient of the Commander-In-Chief trophy. 3.  Ohio State vs Michigan Michigan leads 57-41-6 Ohio State players get a gold charm in the shape of a pair of pants if they win. Since 1913, the two teams have combined for all or part of 70 Big Ten titles and have finished 1-2 in the standings 15 times since 1968. 2.  Alabama vs Auburn Alabama leads 38-33-1 The passion and hatred between these two schools is unlike any other. The teams didn’t play from 1907 to 1948 – apparently after the 1907 game as they couldn’t decide which referees to use. 1.  Oklahoma vs Texas Texas leads 58-40-5 Known as the "Red River Shootout" - the winning team’s state is said to get “ownership” of the Red River until the next game. Played on a neutral field in Dallas, Texas, exactly halfway between the two campuses – Austin, Texas, and Norman, Oklahoma.