Sep 13, 2014; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends tackle Penn State Nittany Lions safety Jesse Della Valle (39) at High Points Solutions Stadium. Penn State Nittany Lions defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Some rivalries last forever, some die off and new ones form all the time. Here are the top 10 up-and-coming college football rivalries to watch for in the near future.
With conference realignments, new divisions forming, new teams entering FBS and the Power Five conferences, new college football rivalries have formed every year for the past two decades.
Yes, many rivalries have died off, but the new rivalries that have formed have been epic. Match-ups like Alabama-LSU and Oregon-Stanford have been must-see entertainment. But what about the future?
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The constant changing landscape in college football and the new teams that are slowly becoming powerhouse programs are making for consistent rivalries that you never would have thought of before.
This stretches across all Power Five conferences and a few Group of Five schools too. So what makes a rivalry? Pure hatred and the fight over some sort of regional supremacy is one thing.
But then comes the big one: how much does the game matter? The impact of the game is now what makes a rivalry the most important, and that is why Alabama-Auburn is a much bigger rivalry than Michigan-Ohio State (although that could change in two years).
Based on the way certain teams have played the last few years, it is clear that certain rivalries are about to explode on the scene.
Here are the top 10 up-and-coming college football rivalries.
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Oct 4, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Memphis Tigers wide receiver Roderick Proctor (18) carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Paul Brown Stadium. Memphis won 41-14. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
10. Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Memphis Tigers
A historic basketball rivalry due to the constant changing of conferences both schools have gone through in the past, the Memphis Tigers and Cincinnati Bearcats have had plenty of periods where they played each other in football on an annual basis as well.
But it never meant what it means now.
The Tigers and the Bearcats joined the UCF Knights last year to capture a share of the American Athletic Conference Championship. We are leaving UCF out of this because, as you can see in an article we wrote back in January, the Knights are not too far away from becoming a major football powerhouse and joining a Power Five Conference.
Meanwhile, Memphis and Cincinnati are likely right where they can be in terms of football success, and with the Tigers finally reaching the football potential they always had under Justin Fuente, do not be surprised if this becomes a yearly fight to win the AAC. Houston and East Carolina will be in the mix, but these two schools are just so similar.
They are urban schools in major football states playing in a conference on the cusp of a Power Five conference. And they will be competing for conference championships in the future if nothing changes.
Next: #9: Utah-Boise State
Nov 29, 2014; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Jay Ajayi (27) is tackled by Utah State Aggies linebacker Nick Vigil (41) during the second half at Albertsons Stadium. Boise State beats Utah State 50-19. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
9. Boise State Broncos vs. Utah State Aggies
Teams that historically played in the WAC and switched conferences quite a few times are now settled in the Mountain West Conference…in the same division.
The Boise State Broncos are obviously the standard for Group of Five college football teams, and they have been for the past 10 years. Even the departure of Chris Petersen did not change that, as shown by last year’s season.
But the Utah State Aggies have been an up and coming team for a while now, ever since Gary Andersen began turning them around. Matt Wells has kept the success, and for the past two years the Aggies lost their biggest weapon in quarterback Chuckie Keeton and still managed to have very good seasons.
The program is on the rise, and despite losing 50-19 to the Broncos last year, it is slowly bringing in new and better talent. This is a great divisional rivalry between two teams in states that border each other that are in relatively the same region.
And in the near future, they could very possibly be playing for the same thing, meaning this game will have an incredible impact on each of their seasons.
Next: #8: Nebraska-Wisconsin
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
Nov 29, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Shay Fields (5) carries the football as Utah Utes defensive back Brian Blechen (4) and defensive back Eric Rowe (18) defend in the first quarter at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
7. Colorado Buffaloes vs. Utah Utes
This is a rivalry that was meant to be. Two teams that are Mountain region teams and would fit better in the Mountain West Conference are in the Pac-12, and they are identical in terms of what their programs can become.
Add in the fact that they will play annually in the same division, and this rivalry is sure to explode.
The only problem now is that while the Utah Utes are back in business as a very good college football team, the Colorado Buffaloes are still desperately trying to crawl out of a hole they have been in for more than 10 years. Mike MacIntyre has done everything he possibly can to this point to get the Buffaloes out of it.
But it is an extremely hard job.
The fans of both schools and the players want this to be a rivalry, and we believe that Colorado will eventually get back to being a solid program, which will make this one. And if MacIntyre succeeds there, it will also be a clash of styles with Utah’s power offense and defensive focus against Colorado’s passing and high scoring focus.
Yes, this should have happened three years ago. But we still believe the rivalry will matter very soon.
Next: #6: Duke-Georgia Tech
Oct 11, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Zach Laskey (37) is pushed out of bounds by Duke Blue Devils cornerback Breon Borders (31) and linebacker David Helton (47) in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
6. Duke Blue Devils vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Now this is an odd one. The Duke Blue Devils and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have pretty much played each other every year for decades, but nobody considered that a rivalry game.
With both teams in the same division now, though, and with Virginia Tech and Miami struggling to stay relevant, the arrival of Duke Blue Devils football under David Cutcliffe has changed everything.
Either Duke or Georgia Tech has won the division each of the last three years, and both teams appear as if they will continue to be very good. The Yellow Jackets have a consistent system under head coach Paul Johnson to assure that they stay relevant, even if they have some down years.
Meanwhile, the Blue Devils have slowly grown as a program under Cutcliffe, and even if this is a down year, the overall trajectory of the program points up.
So both teams should be very good teams in a very mediocre division in the years to come. Know what that means? Constant battles to represent the ACC Coastal Division and get blown out in the ACC Championship game. From their perspective, that means this will be a big rivalry.
Next: #5: Maryland-Penn State-Rutgers
Nov 1, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Akeel Lynch (22) runs with the ball against the Maryland Terrapins during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
5. Maryland Terrapins vs. Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Our first three-way rivalry hinges on a lot of things, but it is something we believe can really happen if things break the way they should. This could be the battle for Mid-Atlantic supremacy, although it would be better if West Virginia and Pitt were somehow able to get involved.
Anyway, the Maryland Terrapins and Rutgers Scarlet Knights both built lots of momentum by making a bowl game their first year in the Big Ten. The only catch is whether they can keep up the success because Penn State is about to explode back into a powerhouse under James Franklin.
Maryland has recruited very well under Randy Edsall recently for 2016 to be able to run the perfect system to compete. The same cannot be said for Rutgers, but Kyle Flood is an excellent coach who can overcome that.
There is a chance this becomes a two-way rivalry between just Maryland and Rutgers or Penn State and one of the two schools, but the unknown is why we put all three in together. And given that all three teams are in the Big Ten East, there could be a lot of meaning during these games.
The regional implications are huge along with the divisional implications, and let’s not pretend these teams will not grow to hate each other.
Next: #4: Arkansas-Missouri
Nov 28, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Keon Hatcher (4) catches a pass for a touchdown as Missouri Tigers defensive back Kenya Dennis (7) attempts the tackle during the first half at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
4. Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Missouri Tigers
This was set up just last year, and it is the perfect rivalry. Sure, they are in different divisions, which should change, but the Arkansas Razorbacks and Missouri Tigers have a natural border rivalry that has just been itching to burst on the scene.
And after playing their first annual match-up last year, this is set to be the inter-divisional SEC rivalry just like Tennessee-Alabama and Georgia-Auburn. And the best part is the level the programs are about to reach cohesively.
The Missouri Tigers have already proven what they will be under Gary Pinkel: a consistently good team every year with unheralded recruits that competes for the SEC Championship. The Arkansas Razorbacks, meanwhile, have shown that they are a program on the rise under Bret Bielema.
And things are about to only get better with them after going 7-6 last year.
Both teams should be consistently good in the near future, which means they will have a lot to play for even as cross-division rivals. Better bowl positions in the SEC, potential divisional championships, and maybe, just maybe, national title implications some years could all be on the line when these border teams meet.
Welcome to another SEC rivalry.
Next: #3: Clemson-Florida State
Sep 20, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Karlos Williams (9) celebrates his overtime touchdown with teammates offensive tackle Bobby Hart (51) and offensive tackle Cameron Erving (75) against the Clemson Tigers for their 23-17 overtime win at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
3. Clemson Tigers vs. Florida State Seminoles
This has long been considered a rivalry anyway, at least ever since the Florida State Seminoles joined the ACC and then Tommy Bowden became coach of the Clemson Tigers, making for a father vs. son rivalry.
But Clemson was never quite on the level of Florida State with the exception of a few good years, and neither Bobby or Tommy Bowden are at their respective schools anyway now.
So, here we are with Jimbo Fisher and Dabo Swinney, and while Fisher has already restored Florida State back to national power, Swinney has just about put Clemson back on the map. He is reeling in Top Five recruiting classes and producing major wins year after year in the regular season and bowl games.
And in two years, the Tigers will likely start the season as a preseason Top Five team. That means Clemson and Florida State are about to be major divisional rivals as they compete in the highly competitive ACC Atlantic Division every year from now on. The success of Louisville and Boston College should turn this into a very tough division.
But Florida State and Clemson will be the ones competing every year to win it, and starting in two years, this game will have national title implications annually. The ACC is on the rise, and these two teams are the reason. So watch out for what comes of this game.
Next: #2: Baylor-TCU
Oct 11, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs running back Trevorris Johnson (24) scores a touchdown during the game against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
2. Baylor Bears vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Yes, yes, I know this is a long, historical rivalry already. But it was only restored three years ago, and for the first time in decades, this is now becoming a rivalry that actually has national implications.
The Baylor Bears and TCU Horned Frogs were the two teams left out of the College Football Playoff last year, as each had one loss, and they show no signs of loosening their grip on the Big 12 this year. Both programs have shown they can win without great recruiting classes but recruits that are the perfect fits for their systems, and both are entering this upcoming year with an extreme level of hype.
That will probably not be an isolated incident.
In the future, the fight for the Big 12 title is likely to be a four-way rivalry with Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor, and TCU.
Texas and Oklahoma are already arch-rivals. Baylor and TCU are on the way to reaching that same level. These are the two small, private, religious schools in Texas that are on the verge of becoming major college football powerhouse programs.
And the game could annually have national title implications from here on out, as it almost certainly will this upcoming year. Expect this to be a rivalry game that stops the college football world beginning this year.
It should have done that already last year. In many ways, this rivalry has already arrived.
Next: #1: Texas A&M-LSU-Arkansas
Nov 27, 2014; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Trey Williams (3) rushes for a touchdown during the first quarter against the LSU Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
1. Arkansas Razorbacks vs. LSU Tigers vs. Texas A&M Aggies
Here is another one in which a rivalry is restored, another is created, and the implications overall are huge. We have already mentioned that the Arkansas Razorbacks are a college football program back on the rise.
Their annual match-up with Texas A&M is a restored, old Southwest Conference rivalry between two programs that could be fighting for lots more than just better bowl positions. Arkansas-LSU is already a rivalry.
Meanwhile, the LSU Tigers have been a program with no natural SEC rival given that they are a powerhouse. But with Texas A&M continually getting better and recruiting great under head coach Kevin Sumlin, the Aggies are likely to become a consistent SEC powerhouse, meaning these two schools could be fighting for divisional titles very soon.
That makes the Egg Bowl, the Iron Bowl, and this three-way rivalry the three exciting factors of the SEC West for years to come. LSU and Texas A&M are almost sure to compete for national titles every year.
Arkansas and LSU is already a rivalry. Arkansas and Texas A&M is an old rivalry restored.
The combination of the three now in the same division makes this a three-way rivalry that has probably already blown up but is sure to blow up even more in the future.
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