The 17 Biggest College Football Rivalries

Georgia vs. Florida

The Georgia and Florida rivalry is played between the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators, as both teams are members of the eastern division of the SEC. It’s believed that they first met at the beginning of the 20th century, and they have faced off nearly every year since 1926. 

The game is almost always held in Jacksonville, Florida — neutral territory. Because of the tailgating and team spirit, this game is unofficially referred to as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”

Army vs. Navy

Another classic rivalry that extends beyond the field is the Army Black Knights vs. the Navy Midshipmen. The Army-Navy rivalry parallels the friendly feud between the different branches of military service in the United States, and it has been going on since the teams first squared off in 1980. They’ve met 123 times over the course of history, and the Navy currently holds the lead. 

Ohio State vs. Michigan

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines first met on the field in 1897, and they’ve gone face-to-face 118 times over the course of their rivalry. The coach for the Buckeyes in the 1960s, Woody Hayes, was known for his hatred of the Michigan State team, and victory between them typically ends in a Big Ten East title win.   

Oklahoma vs. Texas

The rivalry between the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns can be traced back to 1929. They’ve faced each other continuously since, though the first “Red River Showdown” between the teams was in 1900. In fact, the first time they duked it out, Oklahoma wasn’t even a state. Texas leads the rivalry, but Oklahoma holds the title for the largest victory between the two. 

California vs. Stanford

The California Golden Bears of the University of California, Berkeley, and the Stanford Cardinal team of Stanford University are engaged in a brawl known as the Big Game. It’s the oldest rivalry on the West Coast, and the teams first met in 1892. Since then, they have played a total of 125 games, and Stanford currently holds the lead. 

Harvard vs. Yale

The Harvard and Yale rivalry is one with literary, political, and historical significance that dates back to 1875 when the teams first met on the field. President Theodore Roosevelt actually attended the second game between the two schools when he was a student at Harvard College, and he went on to save the sport of football in the United States. The man considered to be the “father” of football, Walter Camp, was captain of the Yale football team in the late 1870s.  

Texas vs. Texas A&M

This Texas-based rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies lasted from 1915 to 2011. They played 118 games, with Texas holding the lead, until Texas A&M moved from the Big 12 Conference to the Southeastern Conference.

Florida State vs. Miami

Another in-state rivalry is the one between the Florida State Seminoles and the University of Miami Hurricanes. Their first meeting was in 1951, and the 2006 game between the two was rated the highest-watch college football game on ESPN. Currently, Miami leads, but Florida State has the longest winning streak between the two. 

Notre Dame vs. USC

The Notre Dame and USC rivalry is a little more spread out, taking place between the University of Notre Dame football team, the Fighting Irish, and the University of Southern California football team, the USC Trojans. 

Their rivalry first began in 1926 and is considered one of the strongest and most lasting in football history. They’ve played every year except during wartime and the COVID-19 pandemic, and Notre Dame is currently in the lead. 

UCLA vs. USC

Notre Dame isn’t the only great rival for USC. They also share a rivalry with the UCLA Bruins of the University of California, Los Angeles. This is one of the more unusual rivalries in football history because the teams share a major city in common and are located just over ten miles apart from one another. 

Clemson vs. South Carolina

Clemson University and the University of South Carolina are both located in South Carolina, and the schools have faced each other in many sports over the years. The Clemson Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks have shared a rivalry since the 19th century, though they are currently in different conferences.  

Penn State vs. Pittsburgh

The Penn State and Pittsburgh rivalry is also based in-state, referred to as the Keystone Classic. They first met in 1893 and have played 100 games over the course of their rivalry, with Penn State currently holding the lead and Pittsburgh holding the winning streak record. 

Georgia vs. Georgia Tech

Just 70 miles apart, the Georgia Bulldogs from the University of Georgia and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from the Georgia Institute of Technology have a rivalry that spans over 100 years. They first met in 1893 and have played 116 games throughout football history. Both teams hold four national titles to their name.

Nebraska vs. Oklahoma

The Nebraska and Oklahoma rivalry features the Nebraska Cornhuskers from the University of Nebraska and the Oklahoma Sooners from the University of Oklahoma. They first met in 1912 and held a strong rivalry until the late 1990s, when the Big 12 Conference was formed. Oklahoma currently leads the rivalry, but Nebraska holds the title for the biggest victory by points. 

Iowa vs. Minnesota

The Iowa Hawkeyes from the University of Iowa and the Minnesota Golden Gophers from the University of Minnesota first met in 1891. They have played 116 games through the course of the rivalry, and the prize has been a bronze statue of a pig, Floyd of Rosedale, since 1935. 

Lafayette vs. Lehigh

The Lafayette and Lehigh rivalry holds several distinctions, one as the most played rivalry in football history, with 158 games, and one as the longest uninterrupted rivalry, with games since 1884 and only one interruption in 1896. When these two teams first met, there weren’t even trophies, and the winning team kept the game ball. 

The Lafayette Leopards are currently in the lead over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks and hold the biggest winning streak, but Lehigh has claimed the biggest victory of the rivalry. 

Honorable Mentions

Of course, these aren’t the only NCAA teams with rivalries that go way back. Here are a few honorable mentions with match-ups you won’t want to miss:

• Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
• Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
• Arkansas vs. LSU
• Wisconsin vs. Minnesota (AKA the “Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe”)
• Arizona vs. Arizona State
• Utah vs. BYU (AKA the “Holy War”)
• Missouri vs. Kansas

It’s plain to see that there’s no shortage of noble battles across the United States — giving football fans even more wins to celebrate. Whether you’re a distinguished alumnus or a lifelong fan, we know you have a few teams whose showdowns are an annual must-see. Don’t pick and choose! 

Let TickPick help you see all your teams give their nemeses a run for their money.

Watch Your Favorite Football Rivalries With TickPick

Rivalries and competition have long been a staple of football history, and it’s easy to see why. They add extra excitement to every game, giving fans the chance to cheer louder and take pride in the teams they love yesterday, today, and for many more games to come.

And there have been a great many interesting and exciting rivalries throughout the history of the game, whether in-state, like Auburn and Alabama, or Georgia and Georgia Tech, or across state lines, like Notre Dame and USC. Some of these rivalries date back over a hundred years and are as much a piece of American history as they are sports history.

When you’re ready to see your favorite rivaling teams face off first-hand out on the field, TickPick is ready to help. We’re excited to be your first stop for all the best tickets at all the best prices, and we’re proud to share information and stories about football past, present, and future. 

We even make saving on your favorite teams’ tickets easy, which means games all season long. Begin planning your next rivalry matchup with TickPick today.