College football fans have little problem giving love to the biggest rivalries in the sport, but others deserve more appreciation and love than they get.
To put it simply, there is no shortage of things that make college football great. From watching young men mature, develop and simply grow, to spending Saturdays posted up in front of the television watching the great competition, to having pride in a school, to many, many more. Also in that category is the rivalries that play out year after year and provide an extra jolt of entertainment for fans.
A great college football rivalry is hard to beat. While the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, Real Madrid C.F. and FC Barcelona and other professional rivals are always great, there’s something palpably different and better about two schools whose players and fans are genuinely invested in the worst interest of another school’s team. And seeing that play out on the field is even better.
College football rivalries are everywhere, not just the big games you hear about.
When you look at the greatest college football rivalries throughout the country, the heavy-hitters are abundantly obvious. The Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn, The Game between Ohio State and Michigan, the Army-Navy game, and plenty of others are annual events that fans simply must tune into — even if you aren’t a fan of one of the teams playing.
While those all-time great rivalries should never be glossed over and deserve the shine that they get due to their quality and history, they aren’t the only rivalries that deserve talking about. Some rivalries do get glossed over or at least don’t get talked about as much as they should. These are the unsung heroes of college football rivalries.
Looking back at things like history, memorability, and overall quality, many college football rivalries need more love than they get. With that in mind, let’s dive into the 25 most underappreciated rivalries in college football.
25. SMU Mustangs vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Lists of historical greats in college football don’t often include the SMU Mustangs and the TCU Horned Frogs.
The latter enjoyed a great deal of success during the Gary Patterson era, while the former saw some glory years before infamously receiving the NCAA’s death penalty after the 1986 NCAA season. However, this is a historic matchup with a great victory totem and a long-running story of battles between the two schools.
SMU and TCU play annually for the Iron Skillet. While some claim that the trophy’s origins came from SMU fans cooking frog legs at the pre-game festivities to take a shot at TCU’s mascot, others claim that it was simply created as a trophy that should be awarded to the winner of the game between the two programs. In either case, it’s one of the more unique trophies handed out in the sport for a rivalry game.
Through the 2025 season, these two teams have squared off 104 times since their first game against one another back in 1915. Over that time, it’s the Horned Frogs that hold the edge, posting a 54-43-7 record overall. Of course, SMU dominated the rivalry before receiving the death penalty that shut down the program winning 15-straight games up until 1986.
24. Miami Hurricanes vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Many of the rivalries that are featured on this list are, despite being underappreciated, quite storied. There is a ton of history involved in a number of these games that play into what makes them so great.
The rivalry between the Miami Hurricanes and the Virginia Tech Hokies doesn’t qualify in that regard, even if there is still a great deal of bad blood between the two programs whenever they face off.
For starters, Miami and Virginia Tech first faced off in 1953 and played sporadically over the next 38 years. After the Hokies became members of the Big East in 1991, though, the two teams have played every year since 1992. That has continued since 2004 as well when both programs elected to join the ACC as part of the conference’s expansion.
Early on in the rivalry — before it was a rivalry, even — Miami was wholly dominant over the Hokies, winning the first 12 meetings between the two teams.
This rivalry took off in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The teams were ranked second and third when they met in 2000, a game won by No. 3 Miami. Three years later, the Hokies were victorious to snap a Hurricanes winning streak. Then, in their first year as ACC foes, they played for a berth in a BCS game as top-10 teams and Virginia Tech was victorious.
Although the new-ish rivalry has lost some of its shine in recent years, there is still a great deal of quality recent history between these two teams. As they remain part of the ACC, let’s hope both programs rebound and revitalize the rivalry in a big way. It's also a rivalry that gave us one of the greatest regular season moments ever seen.
23. Lafayette Leopards vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Most college football fans aren’t looking at a new college football season and getting excited for the Lafayette Leopards and the Lehigh Mountain Hawks playing one another. However, fans in Pennsylvania aren’t included in this.
This is a game that sells out every year, usually well before the day of the game. That gets fans of both teams quite hyped. After all, you don’t earn the ominous nickname of The Rivalry for nothing.
The Rivalry is the most played college football rivalry game in the country. There have been 161 meetings between the two teams to date, and they’ve played every year since 1897 — in addition to have played annually except in 1896 since they first squared off in 1884.
On top of that, The Rivalry has long been tightly contested, as the Mountain Hawks hold just a slim 82-74-5 advantage over the Leopards.
Even more interesting about The Rivalry is that there is no actual trophy for the game, a rarity among many rivalries in the sport. The team simply keeps the game ball, paints it with the score, and then displays it in the trophy case. That bit of simple tradition is a nice touch, even if we don’t have some crazily named totem to hang our hats on with this rivalry.
Though this might not be a game between big-time programs or even FBS schools (Lafayette and Lehigh play in the FCS’s Patriot League), it’s a rivalry that deserves a strong place in college football lore. These two schools are just 17 miles apart and The Rivalry isn’t going anywhere anytime soon because of that, in addition to its rich history.
22. Bowling Green Falcons vs. Toledo Rockets
Proximity is always a great way for a college football rivalry to take shape and that is most definitely the case when it comes to the Bowling Green Falcons and the Toledo Rockets. The two schools are only 20 miles apart and are both located right off of Interstate-75 in Ohio.
As such, the rivalry matched up that was once called The Black Swamp Showdown (referring to the area of Ohio in which the schools are located) has since been called the Battle of I-75.
The rivalry between Bowling Green and Toledo was once played for the Peace Pipe Trophy. Rightly so, though, the trophy was discontinued after the 2010 meeting in trying to not disrespect the Native American population and is no longer handed out. Since then, the two teams have battled for the Battle of I-75 Trophy.
One thing that certainly makes the Battle of I-75 great is that neither of the two teams has ever had a great edge in the rivalry. Currently the series is dead even at 43-43-4.
Because these two teams play in the MAC and are rarely in the national spotlight, the Bowling Green-Toledo rivalry is certainly underrated. However, when you delve into the evenly matched history between the two teams and the strong rivalry that’s been built because of how close the schools are to one another, it’s one of the better games in the country annually.
21. Indiana Hoosiers vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Since 1925, the Purdue Boilermakers and the Indiana Hoosiers have competed on the gridiron for the Old Oaken Bucket. The trophy is a reference to an old poem written by Samuel Woodworth in 1817 that describes the state of Indiana and the sense of pride and enjoyment that comes from being from there. Thus, it’s an apt award to hand out to the winner of this intrastate college football rivalry matchup.
While the trophy was first handed out in 1925, the game between Purdue and Indiana has been played since 1891 and has been played every year since 1920. Overall, the rivalry has been played 127 times and the Boilermakers have a hefty advantage with a 77-44-6 record over the Hoosiers since their first meeting.
In recent years, though, there has been much more parity in the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket. There is always history and state pride on the line when these two teams meet, giving it some glory regardless. However, more parity has helped it gain a little steam.
20. Oregon Ducks vs. Washington Huskies
When you think of the two dominant college football programs in the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies likely come to mind. Both teams made the move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, so it only stands to reason that the two squads battling it out each year have created a great rivalry between the two schools — one filled with several wild instances.
Possibly the craziest moment of any game mentioned on this list came in 1962. The game played at Husky Stadium was tied late in the action. Oregon running back Larry Hill was about to break the tie and potentially win the game for the Ducks when Washington fans rushed onto the field and tackled him to break up the play. Talk about not wanting to see your rival win — that’s a new level of doing what you can as a fan.
Meeting for the first time in 1900, the Huskies and Ducks have played 118 times to date, and almost continuously as well.
Why this rivalry has become a bit underappreciated, though due to the breakup of the Pac-12 as a Power-5 conference. On top of that, though, Oregon has dominated the last 22 meetings, winning 17 of those games.
19. Auburn Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Often called the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers have never had any love lost between the two teams. These are two programs with rich football traditions and rabid fanbases in the southeastern United States. With both teams playing in the SEC, there’s a good reason this rivalry has long been a great one that is always highly contested and heated.
Georgia and Auburn first played one another on the gridiron in 1892 and have met 130 times through the 2025 season. The Bulldogs hold the edge overall in the rivalry, having gone 66-56-8 against the Tigers throughout their games against each other. Furthermore, the Bulldogs got a big laugh in 2017 as, even though they lost to the Tigers in the regular season, they overcame Auburn in the SEC Championship Game.
That highlights one of the best parts of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry and something that makes it quite special. From the "Prayer at Jordan Hare" to the infamous 1986 fire house incident, all the way to 2025's controversial fumble call, this game always seems to provide something unique.
Because of the strength of the SEC and the many rivalries that are involved in the conference — and even that both schools have other bigger rivals — the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry is a bit underappreciated. However, it’s still a historic and usually quality game between two prestigious programs in the sport.
18. Michigan Wolverines vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
When the Notre Dame Fighting Irish played the Michigan Wolverines for the first time, it was the first football game in Notre Dame history. That 1887 meeting is referred to as Michigan — who began playing football at the school in 1879 — teaching Notre Dame how to play football. That’s certainly a unique way for a rivalry to blossom, which adds something unique to the proceedings between the two teams.
Interestingly enough, Notre Dame and Michigan have only played 44 times in the history of their respective programs. However, even with the sporadic meetings before the 1980s and on, there was still always something special between the two teams. The 1936 clash between the then-No. 1 Fighting Irish and the No. 2 Wolverines was the first time that the top two teams in the AP Poll had faced off.
All told, the Wolverines have a 25-17-1 record in this matchup (not including the loss to Notre Dame in 2012 that the Fighting Irish had to vacate). And the selling point has always been two of the most prestigious college football programs ever squaring off, considering that these are two of the winningest teams in the history of the sport.
The rivalry between these two teams has taken some breaks over the years, most recently from 2015 to 2017 and is currently on a hiatus until 2033. However, it’s still one of the greatest in the sport that always brings out the best from both schools.
17. Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Oklahoma Sooners
There’s no question that the Red River Rivalry between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns is the biggest for those hailing from Norman. It has been for some time and the recent success of both programs has raised the stakes there. However, the rivalry between Oklahoma and the Nebraska Cornhuskers is one that holds a special place in college football history in its own right.
In both the Big Eight and Big 12 Conferences throughout the years, Nebraska and Oklahoma were often contending for supremacy in the league. Overall, they met 86 times and the Sooners earned the slight edge over the Huskers. OU has a 47-38-3 advantage over Nebraska in the rivalry, but that tight record does speak to the parity of the rivalry, as both great programs have been at the top of the sport throughout their history.
While there is a great deal of animosity between many college football rivals, that was never really the case between Oklahoma and Nebraska. They certainly don’t care for one another, but they also have palpable respect for the other program as well. There is so much tradition and success tied to both the Sooners and Cornhuskers that this is a nice touch to their clashes.
Having said that, Nebraska joining the Big Ten after 2010 has meant that these two teams simply don't play very often. That’s why it’s underappreciated.
16. Clemson Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
One of the most intriguing wrinkles about the rivalry between the Clemson Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks is the simple fact that they play in different conferences. While not entirely uncommon, having one ACC team (Clemson) and one SEC team (South Carolina) who face-off annually adds a bit more to an already heated in-state rivalry game. Not only are state bragging rights on the line, but so too are conference bragging rights.
Separated by 132 miles, the two schools first played against one another in 1896 in a game that was won by the Gamecocks, 12-6. They’ve played each other since 122 times through the 2025 season, making it the second-longest uninterrupted college football rivalry in the FBS. That’s sure to breed quite a bit of bad blood and hatred between these two schools as if duking it out for South Carolina pride wasn’t enough.
Overall, the Tigers have been the dominant force in the game dubbed the Palmetto Bowl. Clemson holds a 74-44-4 record over South Carolina in their meetings to date.
Clemson’s overall dominance and recent run are reasons the rivalry has become a bit underappreciated. No one is questioning that the fans of both teams care deeply, but the national audience seems to care far less than they have in previous years. Even still, the Palmetto Bowl is always a great scene that adds a ton of value to the college football world at large.
15. Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Playing a college football game for a trophy that’s called Paul Bunyan’s Axe (and that lives up to its name) is going to make for great entertainment.
That’s what the Wisconsin Badgers and the Minnesota Golden Gophers do every year when the two Big Ten rivals square off. Heck, even before Paul Bunyan’s Axe came into existence in 1948, the two teams played for the Slab of Bacon. You’ve got to love that.
With 135 games played since their first meeting back in 1890, the Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalry also holds the distinction of being the most-played rivalry game in FBS history. That certainly adds another element of intrigue to this matchup given the immense amount of history involved. Furthermore, the incredible parity over those meetings makes things even more fascinating.
Having said that, the reason the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe has become underappreciated is because of Wisconsin’s recent stranglehold on the rivalry. Before the 2018 loss, the Badgers had won 14-straight against Minnesota and had gone 21-2 overall in the previous 23 matchups. Minnesota has won four of the last five meetings. If the Golden Gophers can get things going more back-and-forth, how do you not appreciate a rivalry such as this?
14. Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans
When you think of the Michigan Wolverines‘ rivalries in college football, the first thought is rightfully about The Game against Ohio State. Of course, that rivalry is far from underappreciated and, instead, is one of the most celebrated games in the country every year.
However, the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy between Michigan and the Michigan State Spartans is a rivalry that is less heralded but deserves plenty of respect still.
The Wolverines and Spartans have met 118 times in the history of their programs through 2025, first playing one another in 1898. Furthermore, the two teams have played every year since 1910 except for 1943 and 1944 due to World War II.
Overall, Michigan has been a dominant force in the rivalry, winning 75 of the 118 meetings and tying in five other matchups. However, that’s a bit misleading for modern history.
As Michigan State joined the Big Ten in 1950 (and the Paul Bunyan Trophy’s inception was in 1953), the two teams have been much more evenly matched. The Wolverines still hold the edge, but by a much slimmer margin.
With a great trophy and great history, this is a rivalry game that deserves more national respect than it often gets. Again, that’s largely due to the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry and being in the shadow of that. But don’t ever sleep on Michigan-Michigan State, as it’s a game that almost always delivers the goods in terms of quality and drama.
13. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide first played one another back in 1895. They continued to renew the matchup sporadically over the next 60 or so years until 1964.
Since that time, the two teams have faced off annually. Furthermore, the stakes have only been raised since both teams became part of the former SEC West when divisions were created ahead of the 1992 NCAA season.
In recent memory, the biggest caricature of the rivalry has been the current Alabama head coach and former LSU head coach Nick Saban. Saban previously led the Tigers to a National Championship victory and LSU was dominant over the Tide while the head coach resided in Baton Rouge. Since Alabama hired Saban in 2007, though, they have ruled the rivalry. That has continued in Kalen DeBoer's first two years on the job in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama has been the victor more often than not in the rivalry, as well. The Crimson Tide are 58-27-5 over the 90 meetings between these two teams. That one-sidedness undoubtedly plays into the fact of why the rivalry is a bit under-appreciated. It’s so much so in favor of Bama that it’s almost difficult to call it a rivalry.
12. UCLA Bruins vs. USC Trojans
Battling for the Victory Bell annually, the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans don’t have to go far to find one of their most hated rivals. The two teams are separated by a mere 12 miles in the City of Los Angeles. Their geographical nearness naturally breeds a great deal of animosity between the teams and fan bases alike.
With their first meeting back in 1929, the rivalry between UCLA and USC has only grown over time. At this point, both student bodies have coalitions that protect their respective school statues because opposing fans have painted over them so many times.
Throw in the various groups from each school that compete annually in heated flag football games before the actual college football matchup, and it’s apparent how much disdain these two schools harbor for one another.
The rivalry reached its peak from 1965 to 1978 when a berth in the Rose Bowl was on the line in 11 of the meeting between the Bruins and the Trojans. And yes, USC holds a 53-34-7 record over UCLA in the history of the rivalry, with two wins in 2004 and 2005 vacated due to NCAA infractions. However, it has often been tightly contested and all bets are off when they meet up in a conference showdown near the end of the regular season.
This matchup comes in at the middle of this list, though, due to the glory years for both teams that haven’t been seen in the past few years. There is a reason to believe, however, that both Los Angeles teams can get things back on track and, hopefully, renew a great rivalry that will always hold a special place in the hearts of fans.
11. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Tennessee Volunteers
The Third Saturday in October isn’t just a date when it comes to SEC Football. No, it’s the moniker given to the annual matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers.
Though they haven’t always met on that exact date, specifically in the late 1990s and 2000s (they did so from 2016 to 2018), the historic name for the rivalry has stuck, and for good reason. It’s a great matchup with some fascinating history behind it.
Perhaps the greatest aspect of the rivalry and the most notable feature in the victory cigars that each team hands out. It began with Alabama in the 1950s, though it was technically against NCAA rules regarding both tobacco and benefits.
However, the Crimson Tide and Volunteers made it public in the mid-2000s and have since reported their violations in the interest of preserving the tradition, which is a fantastic touch.
Overall, Alabama has the edge in the rivalry, as they sport a 60-40-7 record, but things haven’t been as one-sided as that makes it seem. There have undoubtedly been times when Tennessee has been the clear king of the Third Saturday in October.
While the rivalry has seen many winning streaks by both teams throughout college football history, Alabama has been the clear owner of the Third Saturday in October in recent years, currently sporting the longest winning streak in the history of the rivalry at 15 games, although the Vols and Tide have split the last four meetings through 2025.
As such, the rivalry has become a bit underappreciated. It still holds a place in the hearts of football fans, however.
10. Washington Huskies vs. Washington State Cougars
The Washington Huskies and the Washington State Cougars conclude every regular season these days with the famed Apple Cup.
It’s a fitting name for the intrastate rivalry game in Washington, a major producer of apples in the United States. It’s also an annual contest that is always raucous and bursting with passion, even in instances like in 2018 when the matchup was a snowy affair.
Of course, the Apple Cup wasn’t introduced until 1962. However, the Huskies and Cougars have faced off since 1900 in a game that, interestingly enough, ended in a 5-5 tie. Since 1945, the two teams have met in every season, including twice in that 1945 campaign, as each team got to host a home game.
If you need any sign of how important the Apple Cup is to the college football fans in the state, the simple fact that the Governor hands out the trophy at the end of every matchup should stand as enough evidence.
And even when the two teams haven’t exactly been good — the 2008 matchup when the Huskies and Cougars had combined for one win to that point stands as an example — the fans don’t care any less.
As is the case with several rivalries that are mentioned throughout this article, though, the reason that Washington-Washington State makes this list is because of the Huskies’ dominance. Washington is 77-34-6 overall in the rivalry, which is incredibly one-sided. If it were a bit closer, perhaps it wouldn’t be an underappreciated rivalry at all.
9. Oklahoma Sooners vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Without question, The Bedlam Series goes down as one of the greatest names for a rivalry in college sports. While the rivalry nickname isn’t exclusive to just the college football matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, it’s an apt description of the annual meeting between the two programs. The long-standing clash between the two teams has often been heated.
First meeting back in 1904, the battle for in-state supremacy has long been contested between the Sooners and Cowboys. Incidentally, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have met every season since 1910, meaning that 109 of their 113 meetings in the history of the rivalry have come consecutively.
Perhaps the best anecdote to describe this rivalry’s passion came in that first meeting, though. Playing in windy, icy conditions, a gust blew a punt behind the kicking team and into Oklahoma State’s end zone. The ball then rolled into a nearby icy creek where both teams chased after it to try to earn points. Bedlam, indeed.
While the prestige of the rivalry between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State pushes it down this list, the reason it finds itself at all regarding underappreciated rivalries is because of how handily the Sooners have owned the rivalry.
OU is 91-20-7 in the history of the rivalry and, if Oklahoma State had been able to keep things closer, it might be properly appreciated by college football fans overall. Sadly, this is yet another rivalry that has been tabled due to conference realignment. For now, it looks like the earliest we'll see a return for Bedlam is in 2031.
8. Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Ole Miss Rebels
The Egg Bowl and the Golden Egg Trophy most certainly seem like an odd nickname and totem for a college football rivalry, particularly one between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Ole Miss Rebels. However, the reason that it has that moniker speaks to the greatness of the rivalry and the history behind it.
While the two teams first went head-to-head back in 1901, things came to a head in the 1926 meeting between the two teams, the Aggies (Bulldogs) and Red and Blue (Rebels) at the time.
After Mississippi State dominated the rivalry early on in their history, Ole Miss was able to get just their sixth victory in 24 games. As a result, the fans went wild and tried to tear down the goalposts. Things then escalated quickly. This has become one of the nastiest rivalries in the sport.
Mississippi State fans defended their home field in an absolute mêlée, using chairs as weapons to try to take on the raucous Ole Miss fans. Thus, a trophy in the shape of a 1920s football (which resembles an egg more than football) was created to give something for fans to celebrate in hopes of not having another incident like the one in 1926 break out.
Overall, Ole Miss has a 67-46-6 advantage in the rivalry (though two of their more recent wins were vacated due to NCAA violations). Even without those victories, the Rebels still lead the way.
This game makes the list of underappreciated rivalries, though, because it’s not been often that the two teams have been great at the same time, especially in recent memory. Even still, the passion that fuels the Egg Bowl is undeniable.
7. Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies
When it comes to in-state rivalries, there are a number to speak of in Texas — which makes sense given the size of the state and the number of high-profile college football programs that are present.
And the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies most certainly fit the bill when it comes to a rivalry. Their now-renewed annual meeting was one of the most high-profile games in the sport each season.
The two teams first went to battle on the gridiron back in 1894 and the Longhorns dominated the matchup early on. However, the game gained notoriety throughout the 20th century. For every year from 1915 to 2011, Texas and Texas A&M played one another, usually in the final game of the regular season.
In total, the Longhorns and Aggies have played 120 times and the former has a clear hold on the rivalry. Texas has a 78-37-5 record in matchups against Texas A&M throughout its history against one another. But with two teams that have enough bad blood to call out one another in their fight songs, that one-sided record isn’t relevant.
Unfortunately, though, Texas A&M’s decision to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC after the 2011 NCAA season has put the rivalry between these two on hold. Once Texas made the move to the SEC, the gloves were back on.
6. Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
Once upon a time, the matchup between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Pittsburgh Panthers was considered the most important rivalry in college football.
These two intrastate foes would often battle with not just in-state bragging rights on the line, but potential national implications as well. The longstanding showdown between these two teams separated by just under 150 miles has lost some of its luster since, but don’t tell that to the fans.
The Nittany Lions and the Panthers first faced off back in 1893 and it was Penn State that established dominance early on. They went 12-3 over the first 15 meetings in the rivalry. However, things have swung wildly in each direction over the years with both Pitt and Penn State going on runs of owning their opponent in this rivalry matchup.
Overall, Penn State holds a slight edge over their rivals, posting a record of 53-43-4 in the history of the rivalry. However, things in the rivalry slowed down a bit in the latter part of the 20th century.
With the Nittany Lions taking their program to the Big Ten and the Panthers entering the Big East and later the ACC, the two teams didn’t meet from 1993 to 1996. Then after meetings in each year from 1997 to 2000, didn’t face off again until the 2016 NCAA season. They squared off again in 2019, but not since.
5. Oregon Ducks vs. Oregon State Beavers
There has truly been nothing civil about the formerly-named Civil War between the Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers. These two teams have met 129 times since 1894, including squaring off every year since 1945. However, that streat will end with the Ducks hop to the Big Ten, as they aren't slated to meet again until 2028.
Located less than 50 miles apart from one another in the state, the Beavers and the Ducks have no love lost for one another.
If you need any evidence about how heated this rivalry is, you just need to look back at the history of this in-state skirmish. Back in 1972, the Ducks defeated the Beavers on the road in Corvallis and the fans stormed the field and took down one goal post.
When they went to take down the other, Oregon State fans incited a brawl as they tried to stop them. Add in the “capturing” of opposing students back in the 1950s and 1960s and the subsequent hazing and there’s plenty of bad blood to go around.
Overall, the Ducks have the edge in this rivalry. Oregon holds a 70-49-10 record against their in-state rivalry in this annual clash. Furthermore, they’ve also posted two eight-game win streaks, which both tie for the longest streak in the history of this rivalry game.
Unfortunately, the Oregon dominance over Oregon State in recent years has made this college football rivalry seem a little less meaningful on a national scale. When you consider the history, the proximity and the potential ramifications of the game, though, it's a game that deserves every fan’s attention.
4. Georgia Bulldogs vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
You’ve got to love it when a college football rivalry keeps things simple. That’s certainly the case when it comes to the name of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets‘ rivalry: Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.
From that alone, you know that these are simply two teams and fanbases that have no love for one another. It consistently shows whenever they annually meet for the final game of the regular season.
The first installment of this in-state rivalry took place back in 1893, a game won by the Yellow Jackets. However, it’s the Bulldogs that have ruled the rivalry historically. Georgia owns a 73-41-5 record against the rivalries over their 113 meetings throughout history, including an eight-game streak through 2025 - tied for the longest streak in the series with Georgia Tech's 8-game heater from 1949-1956.
The Bulldogs’ dominance has been especially relevant since the mid-1960s, and since 1964 it's been almost all Georgia, with the Yellow Jackets only managing 14 wins since then.
Every time these two teams meet, it’s clear that Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate isn’t just a catchy moniker to attach to this game. From school newspapers consistently mocking one another to fight songs that are altered to disparage their rivals to much more, these fans aren’t about trying to have in-state love for one another — they want the other to fail and, specifically, to lose when they face off.
Because of Georgia’s recent dominance, though, this rivalry has become more underrated than it should be on a national scale. Even still, this is one of the classic southern rivalries in the sport and a game that fans of the sport should be invested in every time they meet in the final week of the regular season.
3. Pittsburgh Panthers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
Though they don’t reside in the same state, the Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia Mountaineers are separated by just 75 miles. In that stretch of land between, there is no doubt an array of fans that cheer for either side.
As a result, the meeting between the two teams has been dubbed the Backyard Brawl. It’s a rivalry that deserves more attention, especially considering that it’s not been in the spotlight in recent years.
The Backyard Brawl is one of the oldest rivalries in college football, as the two teams first played one another back in 1895. That game was won by West Virginia, but in the 108 overall games that the teams have faced each other in, it’s the Panthers that hold the edge, boasting a 63-42-3 record against their close rivals through 2025.
Despite the long history of the rivalry, though, perhaps the two best instances of the Backyard Brawl happened in the 2000s. The first was in 2007 when a sub-.500 Pitt team went on the road and upset the second-ranked Mountaineers, ending West Virginia’s BCS National Championship hopes.
Two years later, West Virginia returned the favor, as they knocked off a top-10 ranked Pittsburgh team on a thrilling field goal at the end of the 60 minutes of action.
2. BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes
You won’t find a nickname for a college football rivalry better than the Holy War. That’s the moniker given to the battle between the BYU Cougars and the Utah Utes, as the two in-state rivalries take the field against one another.
It’s not difficult to decipher how that name was earned for this rivalry, but that alone makes it a rivalry that deserves more attention than it often seems to get.
Though this has since changed, the Holy War was a game that had high stakes in terms of conference championships. Until the conclusion of the 2010 NCAA season, the Cougars and the Utes were members of the same conference, the WAC. As two of the best teams in the WAC, Utah and BYU’s annual meeting was often to decide who would emerge as the champion of that league.
If there’s one detraction from the BYU-Utah rivalry, it’s that the Utes have dominated historically. Utah has a 62-37-4 record overall against their in-state rivalries, including the infamous “Holy War in Sin City” Las Vegas Bowl meeting back in 2015 when the teams weren’t slated to meet in the regular season.
Despite the historical one-sided nature of the rivalry, though, the animosity between these two fanbases and the general fun that always transpires for outside onlookers is palpable when it comes to the Holy War. And again, you aren’t going to find a better moniker than that in the sport.
1. Harvard Crimson vs. Yale Bulldogs
There are a litany of prestigious football programs listed throughout talking about these great yet underappreciated college football rivalries. Put simply, the Harvard Crimson and the Yale Bulldogs aren’t on the level of many of them.
The Ivy League isn’t the SEC, ACC or any of the above. While that may all be true, it doesn’t lessen the importance and greatness of the Harvard-Yale rivalry. It’s one of the oldest rivalries in the sport and, as such, one of the most storied.
Harvard won the first meeting with Yale back in 1875, running away with the game by a score of 4-0. Since then, it’s been an evenly matched rivalry for the most part.
In 141 total meetings through the 2025 NCAA season, the Bulldogs hold the narrow margin over the Crimson with a record of 72-61-8. In addition to heated, evenly matched football, where the Harvard-Yale rivalry might go unmatched throughout college football is in regards to the students and fans.
Yes, they’re loud and always show up on the day of The Game. However, they’ve also given us a litany of tremendous pranks against one another.
In 1983, Yale students infiltrated the Harvard marching band and disrupted their performance. In 2004, Yale students also doctored fan signs to where the Crimson students held up cards that ultimately read “We Suck”. And that’s just to name a few.
This battle for the Little Red Flag may not ever have title implications or anything remotely close to that. But when you look at nearly 150 years of history between these two rivals, the stories that have come out of The Game, and the parity between these Ivy League foes, Harvard-Yale deserves even more love than it gets.
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