Just for the sake of having maybe one college football post whose responses aren't all variations on "my conference is better than your conference" (the grownup's equivalent to "my dad can beat up your dad")...
The Most Hate-Filled Rivalries in College Football
5. BYU-Utah. No, neither is a first-tier program at the moment, but that doesn't make the cauldron of revulsion bubble any less merrily. This one's got everything: private-school pretty boys vs. ordinary public-university types, Mormons vs. everyone else, and the crushing realization afterwards that even when you win, you still live in Utah.
4. Michigan-Ohio State. When a good three-fourths of your year is spent in god-awful cold weather, you gotta have something to keep you warm at night. For these guys, that ruddy glow comes from the inner heat of utmost loathing. I think the Woody Hayes quote said it best - when asked why, already up 34 points, he went for two after a touchdown against the Wolverines: "because I couldn't go for three."
3. Oklahoma-Texas. While Texas leads the overall series, it's been pretty much even over the last 60 years, which always makes for a good grudge match. Texas fans hate Oklahoma because it's damn near blasphemy to suggest that anyone or anything is as good as its equivalent in Texas. And Oklahoma people hate Texas because, well, hating Texas is just plain common sense.
2. Army-Navy. You'd think that this would be a good-natured rivalry, given that in the end all of these guys are fighting for the same side. Yeah, right. The only reason this one isn't numero uno is that there aren't actual killings at the yearly game (of which I am aware).
1. Auburn-Alabama. No contest. Not even close. It's like two trailer park women staging their yearly scheduled catfight. Just awe-inspiring hatred. I think if you told an Auburn fan that Jesus rooted for Bama, he might just offer to bring his own hammer and nails and do the job himself.
So there are my top five - tell me who I've slighted, and why I'm wrong.
Well, you know I have to move your #4 to #1 (shocker), but I would say this is a good representation of the top CFB rivalries. The noted exceptions not listed here, that should be considered:
USC v. UCLA
Cal v. Stanford
Florida v. Florida State
Some of these have lost their luster of late, but the fans still get going when these games come around each year.
I agree that the "Iron Bowl" involves the most true hatred among the respective fan bases, but in terms of the stakes the OSU v. scUM rivalry has no equal. This game decides something other than bragging rights almost every season.
Good list. This kind of thing is always interesting.
Pete, have to agree with your additions here and you could probably add South Carolina v Clemson, Georgia v Georgia Tech. While not on the same scope as florida v F state or OSU v Wolves it is still pretty intense.
oregon vs oregon state..... in eugene, home of the oregon ducks, we have a very LARGE O on the side of skinners butte , overlooking downtown eugene, and it seems everytime the beavers beat the ducks, a bunch or ?? who knows how many?? go up and , paint the O orange.. (the colors of OSU) this has been going on for years.... but as years have gone by.. its beginning to be very hard to see the large oregon O... why?? the trees are starting to hide it!!! of course eugene, oomy lets not top some trees up there so we can see it!!!! maybe a spotted owl nesting in them????? you see eugene,oregon very political correct city... in downtown eugene.. recently they repaved a city street?? in guess what??? bricks?? yea good job!!! after a year or two the street was falling apart!!! umm doesnt take an #### to think umm how did that happen??? hey why not this time , pave it in paper!!!!!!!
No question that for me it is OSU v Mich but I would have Auburn v Bama at #2 followed by Army v Navy because I am a Soldier. I just dont think that you can compete with the OSU v Mich rivalry based on the amount of times that game has had national title implications and how huge and packed both of those stadiums are every year for that game. When you are talking 105,000-111,000 rivalry fans in attendance, it doesnt get any better than that. Go Bucks! Just Win Baby! Believe me when i say that these fans really dont like each other and it isnt just during football season.
They are all great. The biggest one in these parts is the ASU/UofA game. There seems to always be somebody being carted off the field and true hatred in the stands. True in-state rivalry.
Thats right BUCKEYEZZ! You hear that Hoit, I hate you man!
Well, I will reseve some respect for you and Pig as ordinary, run of the mill good guys. HOWEVER, your ill-advised CFB allegiance to the most horrifically di####able team of all time is telling.
I expect your "Game" post up no later than Sunday AM on the 11th. First things first though, each team needs to get by MSU and Wisky this weekend. Now don't go pulling an "Appalachian" on me and bringing down the value of The Game". Kapeeeeesh?
OSU v. _ichigan is always out of control. Nobody plays for bigger stakes more consistently.
It's a good list, but like Pete said, I have to include Florida/FSU on the list. I don't really know too much about the BYU/Utah rivalry, but I will take your word on that one.
Due to my Buckeye blood, I probably would probably rank them
1. OSU v Mich
2. Auburn/Alabama
3. Army/Navy
4. Oklahoma/Texas
5. Pick 'em- I'm not familiar enough with all the other rivalries and I'm sure I'd be leaving someone out.
And Hoit, you just put it all in perspective. 18 days...WOW! I never thought of it like that yet.
Last edited by The_Sports_Intellectual on October 31st at 1:52 PM.
I'd agree with all of the above who put OSU/Michigan at the top when you figure in the higher stakes. I just think Auburn/Alabama has more good old-fashioned go-to-hell spirit.
Wilson, I thought long and hard about USC/UCLA, and it may just be never having lived there, but it never seemed to be quite as vicious. And USC/ND, while one of the best rivalries out there, seems to have too much mutual respect to compare to the others in terms of venom - I'm pretty sure the fans of each of the teams on my list are convinced that their rivals hump billy goats for kicks.
I thought about including an honorable mention list so I could add my Volunteers and their nemesis the Gators, but they just didn't stack up in my view (I think Tennessee fans hate Florida, while Florida fans no longer see UT as a legitimate threat). If I had done honorable mentions, OSU/Oregon, Clemson/SC and Georgia/GT were the first three I thought of. Florida/FSU seems like a rivalry on the decline, but I'm open to being convinced on that one.
Twashk, on the USC-UCLA game, all I can say is just watch it! There is mutual hate from each school that goes back for generations! Look on youtube and look at some of the videos of big hits, most are SC vs UCLA. Huge rivalry!
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I grew up in Tennessee and bleed big orange (bleeding a lot lately) with the Volunteers, then later moved south to New Orleans for school and found my true home. I had no choice but to become a Saints fan, which led to many years of abuse from fans of teams that actually win games, so 2006 was a nice break. I mainly follow college and pro football, as well as some college basketball. I have a particular dislike for televised baseball (live games are a good excuse to sit in the sun and drink beer), except as a means for napping. Someone once told me that people who complain that baseball is boring are the same ones who think that five minutes is too long for sex. That might explain why my wife spends so much time "shopping," but it still isn't going to make me like baseball.
