The Biggest, Fiercest, and Most Intense Rivalries in College Sports

By Ian Donnelly

College sports are steeped in tradition, but for a concept that feels as old as education itself there are very few consistencies in its history. Players and coaches change, rankings rise and fall, and even uniforms (I’m looking at you, Florida Gators) aren’t safe from the sands of time, but one thing holds true for teams and fans alike: rivalries.

The passion and history between school rivals is nearly impossible to leave behind, and in many ways these epic clashes are the lifeblood of college sports. Rival games serve as the crossroads between team pride, age-old grievances, and begrudging respect for the opponent, which makes for the most thrilling competitions any fan could ask for. So which rivalries are packed with the most excitement, resentment, and high-stakes action? Here’s our list of the college sports match-ups that are always worth tuning in for.

Michigan vs. Ohio State

The Wolverines and the Buckeyes have built a rivalry so monstrous that it defines the postseason of college football. Their head-to-head events over the years have determined the Big Ten Conference Title, the Rose Bowl match-ups, and the outcome of the national championship so many times that it’s no mystery why the meeting of these two teams is known solemnly as “The Game.”

The University of Michigan and Ohio State University have played each other since 1897, and legend has it that the football rivalry can be traced all the way back to the Michigan-Ohio boundary dispute of the Toledo War. It’s one of the longest standing grudges in football, and throughout the years each side has had their share of incredible victories and bitter defeats, from the illustrious faceoff between both undefeated teams in 2006 to the legendary Snow Bowl, which took place in 1950 during the worst blizzard on Ohio record.

No matter the context, the stakes are high every time these two schools meet, and the fanaticism never cools down. For example, one of the most well-known coaches in Ohio State’s history, Woody Hayes, refused to even say the word “Michigan,” always referring to the rival team as “that team up north.” Now if that’s not rivalry, I don’t know what is.

North Carolina vs. Duke

Describing the relationship between the University of North Carolina and Duke University as a rivalry is selling it terribly short—the energy released at these twice-a-year basketball games is so staggering that words can’t quite cut it. Ask any fan from either team about the reason for the rivalry, and you’ll get countless explanations regarding the divisions between the Tar Heels and the Blue Devils. But for two opposing teams, they have a lot in common. The universities are separated by a mere eight miles in North Carolina’s Tobacco Road country, are both prestigious universities, and have consistently ranked among the most elite men’s basketball teams for the last 60 years. In fact, North Carolina and Duke rank among the most victorious programs in NCAA men’s basketball history, and their achievements combined account for nine national titles and 137 players careers who went on to play in the pros.

But all these connections are null and void on the court. Every meeting between these teams is an electrifying and exciting faceoff, with decades of mythic match-ups and enough shoving and elbows that you might as well call it a brawl—just ask Eric Montross, who had to shoot free throws with blood streaming down his cheek in a 1992 game. But it’s all to be expected when North Carolina and Duke duel it out in a shared home turf that’s iconic in college basketball.

Auburn vs. Alabama

The clash between Auburn University and the University of Alabama, known as the “Iron Bowl,” is the quintessential football rivalry. This in-state opposition hasn’t lost steam since its spark in 1893, and fans of both the Tigers and the Crimson Tide take the spirit of competition to a whole other level. The rivalry is so fierce that the meeting of these two teams was called off from 1908 to 1948 because of a long-standing dispute over choosing unbiased referees. When the schools finally agreed to play again, the game had to be held in neighboring Birmingham so that some semblance of neutral ground could be established. But as everyone in Alabama knows, there is no pleading the fifth in this debate—you either yell “Roll Tide” or “War Eagle.”

If you haven’t already guessed, college football is closer to a religion in Alabama than it is to a sport. The state doesn’t have any professional sports teams so the fandom holds college ball to the highest of standards, and the David and Goliath matchup between the proud powerhouse of the Crimson Tide and the fiery drive of Auburn is the pinnacle of either team’s season. It’s a rivalry that divides neighbors, friends, and families alike with consequences that hold true long after the fourth quarter. Even the former Alabama head coach, Bill Curry, wasn’t safe from the longtime grudge. Curry went 26-10 in three seasons at Alabama, but despite his winning record he was relieved of his duties as coach after losing to Auburn for a third consecutive time. That’s how tense this competition gets—in Alabama, the Iron Bowl is everything.

UCLA vs. Arizona

Although UCLA and Arizona are latecomers to the rivalry game compared to the other teams on our list, the Bruins and the Wildcats have quickly made up for any lost time.  Since 1978, the year that Arizona joined the Pac-12 Conference, these two teams have been locked in a heated fight that extends far beyond the basketball court. They are the biggest names in their conference, transforming any mere match-up into a clash that has a ripple effect throughout the whole season. Everyone who has witnessed a game knows that UCLA and Arizona never just play for a win—they battle for the kingdom of West Coast basketball.

These two schools account for 22 out of the last 30 Pac-12 Conference titles, and at least one of the teams has competed for the Championship every single year. The teams have also served as the jumping off point for some of the biggest careers in basketball with more high-quality NBA point guards on their roster than some NBA teams can account for within their entire histories.

With so much talent in the same bracket, it’s easy to see why every game between the Bruins and the Wildcats is an unofficial bout for the West Coast crown. Each university looks to the other as a benchmark so when they compete head-to-head for points on the scoreboard, they’re also playing for future championship titles, recruits, and everything else in between. It’s an onion of a rivalry, and once you begin to peel back the layers, it makes for an exciting game whenever both teams take the court.

Army vs. Navy

The Army vs. Navy game embodies everything there is to love about college football: the competition, the team pride, and the fact that players take the field purely for the love of the game—as opposed to a shot at an NFL career. The rivalry between these two teams is so deep-seated that even those who never follow sports recognize its importance—it’s a match-up that’s as American as football itself.

Every year on the second Saturday in December, these two academies duel it out for a thrilling game that feeds a colossal intra-service rivalry, pitting West Point’s Cadets against the Naval Academy’s Midshipmen. It’s one of the most traditional and enduring bouts in college football with attendants ranging from freshmen students to sitting U.S. Presidents. The game has been nationally televised since 1945, and has been the site of monumental moments in football history including the debut of the instant replay and the introduction of football helmets.

The Army vs. Navy rivalry is a fierce one, but it’s competition in its purest form. Everyone in attendance can take pride in the spectacle of athletic ability, the parades, the jet flyovers, and the paratrooper shows. It’s a competition that serves to remind fans that we’re all essentially on the same team. With players battling it out for a year’s worth of bragging rights, it’s a game that never lacks for excitement.  But no matter the outcome, the rivalry empowers both sides to fight harder next year.

While there’s no shortage of excitement in any college game, there’s nothing quite like a head-to-head showdown of two rival teams. History gets made whenever these opponents meet, and now that you know the stakes for the biggest rivalries in college sports you can join the crowd and catch the team spirit!

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