Ranking college football’s 5 best rivalries since 2010

Over the past 10 years, there have been some intriguing rivalries that have caught some attention. Let’s break them down.

Over the past 10 seasons, there have been college football rivalries that have lived up to the hype. These matchups are more balanced in terms of wins and losses and not on the overall notoriety of the rival. In other words, rivalries in college football are better on paper as opposed to the actual reputation and prestige of the rivalry between the two programs.

From 2010-19, we will look at the most intense, competitive and best college football rivalries over the past 10 seasons.

We will look at the overall 10-year record and more when analyzing the best college football rivalries over the past decade. Here is the breakdown that each rivalry will be looked at.

Explanation of Rivalry Breakdown

The 10-year record of the rivalry for each school: For example, Oregon is 9-1, and Oregon State is 1-9 over the span of the last 10 seasons of the Pac-12 interstate rivalry.

The five-year record of the rivalry for each school: An example is, USC is 4-1, and UCLA is 1-4 over the span of the last five seasons of the intense rivalry between the two California schools.

The biggest margin of victory for each school during the 10-year span of the rivalry: For example, Washington’s 35-point victory in 2015 and Washington State’s three-point win in 2012.

The number of games between the two schools of the rivalry that went into overtime and or was determined by four or fewer points: An example is, in 2018 Arizona State defeated Arizona by one point by a final score of 41-40. Also, in 2010 Arizona State beat Arizona by a single point with the score being 30-29, and in 2009, Arizona defeated Arizona State by a field goal with the score end up being 20-17. In total, three games in the rivalry between the two in-state Pac-12 teams were determined by four or fewer points with none of the games going into overtime during the decade span.

The number of times both teams were ranked in the top 25 when they faced off against one another during the last 10 years: For example, Texas Tech and TCU have faced each other when each school was ranked in the top 25 over the past 10 seasons when they faced one another: In 2012 Texas Tech was ranked No. 17 and TCU No. 23. There were times when one of the teams was ranked No. 25 but not the other.

Point System

• Over the 10-season span, 10 points for the rivalry being evenly split at five wins each. Over the 10-season span, eight points for two win-loss difference (6-4/4-6), six points for four win-loss difference (7-3/3-7) and four points for a six win-loss (2-8/8-2).
• Over the five-season span, five points for the rivalry having only one win-loss difference (3-2/2-3) and three points for a two win-loss difference (4-1/1-4).
• Four points for each game during the 10-season span was decided four points or less and three points for each game that went into overtime during that span of time.
• Eight points for each time both teams were ranked in the top 10 when they faced each other over the past 10 seasons. Five points for each time both teams were ranked in the top 25 when they faced off against one another.

Criteria for being included in the ranking of college football rivalries

• During the span of the rivalry, the difference in wins and losses can not exceed two losses — meaning the rivalry has to be 6-4/4-6 over the past 10 years. The only exception being is if the rivalry between the schools is 7-3/3-7, over the span of the past five years it must be  3-2/2-3.
• The two teams have had to play one another at least 80 times over the course of the rivalry between the two schools.
• The two teams have had to play each other during each of the past 10 years.

There are many reasons why college football rivalries are so great and meaningful to the fanbases of the teams. When they are competitive and intense, the rest of college football watches in large numbers.

Let’s begin to look at the best college football rivalries of the past 10 seasons based on the above criteria.