Top 10 up-and-coming rivalries in college football

Nov 15, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 59-24. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

8. Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Wisconsin Badgers

These two college football programs are ahead of us and already took steps to turn this into a rivalry by creating the inaugural Freedom Trophy last year. But this new rivalry between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Wisconsin Badgers will be a huge one in the future.

This will now be an annual divisional match-up in the newly formed Big Ten West, and both programs are at the level where they expect to win that division every year. The return of Paul Chryst to Wisconsin means that there is a 100 percent chance the Badgers will still be as successful as they have been in years past.

Mike Riley is more up in the air with Nebraska, but the Cornhuskers will always have a good football program simply because of their tradition. These are by far the two most elite Big Ten West teams, and they will be playing for the same thing in the years to come.

The funny thing is these states do not border each other, but the importance of the game and the new trophy that exists along with the thirst of both fan bases to make this a rivalry is why this will explode.

Remember, from the 1990s until about 2004 Tennessee-Florida was the most hyped up rivalry every year despite having no history and no regional similarities. The same could happen to Nebraska-Wisconsin.

Next: #7: Utah-Colorado