Biggest Rivalry in College Football

[bucksfan2]

This otta be fun.........

[Sea Ray]

I honestly don't know so I will obstain

[WrongVerb]

FSU grad here and Florida/Florida State is a bigger rivalry than The Worlds' Biggest Cocktail Party.

OSU/UM is still #1 though, by far, because it started with a Michigan land grab.

[dabvu2498]

I honestly don't know so I will obstain

Ditto. Furthermore, I don't care!

[RedTeamGo!]

2nd biggest is Toledo vs Bowling Green State University

[cumberlandreds]

Army/Navy is still pretty big among the service people.

[MWM]

The most genuinely contentious rivalry is BYU/Utah. Doesn't have the long-standing tradition and it doesn't have the national significance the others have, but there's real life hatred involved based on religious beliefs. I grew up on OSU/Michigan, but the intensity of this rivalry was nothing like I'd experienced before. It's different.

[gonelong]

ESPN ranked "The Game" as the greatest rivalry in sports (not just NCAA football). ESPN. 2007-01-03 (http://espn.go.com/endofcentury/s/other/bestrivalries.html) - Others have done the same.


The two sides can't even stand to live in the same state. ;)
They won't even call each other's school by name
The two teams have historically been on equal footing - so each games means something (everything!) year after year.
They don't root for each other. Ever.
When people say they be happy to go 1-11 if they would beat "that team", they mean it.
Combined seating of 210,000+
Don't take breaks for 40-ish years (I'm just not that into you)


GL

[bucksfan2]

There are some great rivalry's out there that fall below the radar. The Wide Right FSU Miami games were epic in the 90's. There is an intense hate between USC and Clemson that I haven't witnessed elsewhere. The Civil War in Oregon is another classic rivalry that often gets forgotten outside of Oregon. The Texas vs A&M game the day after Thanksgiving was a must watch for a long time, even when A&M was over matched. I think Navy vs Army would be a great game to attend but the level of play has fallen off considerably from what it once was.

[Sea Ray]

Wabash-DePauw is one of the best rivalries in the midwest. The schools just aren't very big

[RedTeamGo!]

Massilon vs Canton McKinley

[gonelong]

The Civil War in Oregon is another classic rivalry that often gets forgotten outside of Oregon.

This one has been grabbing my attention for the last few years. Part of the reason for that is the game has been relevant from a Pac12 championship perspective, a Rose Bowl perspective, a Heisman perspective, and the BCS perspective. Now imagine that OreSt had the same impact as Oregon nationally and then extend that for decades.

For arguments sake, the Civil war could be the greatest rivalry ever from a local point of view ... but it has to have massive and lasting impact from a national perspective to measure up. That's the difference between the Civil war and Aub/Bama, OSU/Mich, and others ... IMO.

Conference titles are won/lost on both sides, Rose Bowl/BCS bowl appearances are on the line, Heismans are won/lost, National championship opportunities are won/lost.

GL

[IslandRed]

Depending on perspective, there are a few ways to measure rivalries:

1. The number of people with a dog in the fight
2. The amount of fight in the dogs
3. The degree to which people without a dog in the fight have ever given a rip

But ultimately, all rivalries are local. Nearly everyone overestimates how "important" their rivalry is when it comes to the third item above. When it comes right down to it, if there isn't a high-stakes sweetener that year, few care but the people with the dogs.

[KronoRed]

FSU grad here and Florida/Florida State is a bigger rivalry than The Worlds' Biggest Cocktail Party.

OSU/UM is still #1 though, by far, because it started with a Michigan land grab.

Maybe to you guys it is, but not to most Gators.

[WrongVerb]

Maybe to you guys it is, but not to most Gators.

Had to find a rival you guys could actually beat once in awhile? :D

[WMR]

Does your rivalry ever have someone shoot a fellow fan because they're "not upset enough" over their team losing? No? You lose. :lol:

[KronoRed]

Had to find a rival you guys could actually beat once in awhile? :D

Check the record bud, lucky for you guys that Muschamp came along ;)

[reds1869]

I have quite few friends who attended Auburn. The hatred they have for Bama is amazing.

[New York Red]

This is basically an Ohio State site, so I'm not surprised by the results. I think it would be more accurate if you couldn't vote for your own school. I would vote Alabama/Auburn in football well ahead of anyone else, even though Ohio State and Dayton were my second favorite schools when I was growing up. The Bama/Auburn winner has won the last four national championships. That's kind of tough to top. You also have the same state angle. That automatically gets the edge over rivals from different states. When do OSU and Michigan fans ever encounter each other? I would think it's rare.

[RedTeamGo!]

This is basically an Ohio State site, so I'm not surprised by the results. I think it would be more accurate if you couldn't vote for your own school. I would vote Alabama/Auburn in football well ahead of anyone else, even though Ohio State and Dayton were my second favorite schools when I was growing up. The Bama/Auburn winner has won the last four national championships. That's kind of tough to top. You also have the same state angle. That automatically gets the edge over rivals from different states. When do OSU and Michigan fans ever encounter each other? I would think it's rare.

Toledo, OH

Metro Population: aprox 650,000

Closer to Ann Arbor than Columbus - basically split right down the middle between UM and OSU.

[New York Red]

Toledo, OH

Metro Population: aprox 650,000

Closer to Ann Arbor than Columbus - basically split right down the middle between UM and OSU.
I find that really hard to believe. (The split right down the middle part)

[RedTeamGo!]

I find that really hard to believe. (The split right down the middle part)

I lived in toledo until I was 27. Did you?

[New York Red]

I lived in toledo until I was 27. Did you?
Easy, big guy. I didn't call you a liar. Just wondering how you determined the split right down the middle part. I have been to, and through, Toledo several times. I don't recall a lot of Michigan fans. Did they grow up there or are they drawn to the area for economic reasons? It just seems odd that an Ohio city would be half Michigan fans when those states don't even border each other. Agreed?

[RedTeamGo!]

It just seems odd that an Ohio city would be half Michigan fans when those states don't even border each other. Agreed?

Um, what? No, I do not agree - how do you not know Ohio and Michigan share a border?

Toledo is ipart of why there is such a big rivalry:


conflict between the states is restricted primarily to the Michigan–Ohio State rivalry in American football;[52] the Toledo War is cited as the origins of the animosity represented in today's rivalry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_War

You want to talk about animosity between two fanbases? There was an actual "war" at the origin of the UM/OSU rivalry.

Toledo is right on the border of Michigan. You can get to UM from Toledo in less than an hour. It takes a little over 2 hours to get to Columbus from Toledo.

I grew up in the 90s surrounded by many Michigan fans. You go to any sports bar on a saturday and there are usually as many UM fans as OSU.

[MWM]

I spent considerable time in Toledo when I was younger. It's absolutely a Michigan town as much as OSU.

And this is definitely not an OSU site. There are just as many, if not more, people who passionately dislike the Bucks than are fans.

[New York Red]

Doh ... I forgot about that stretch of Ohio/Michigan border. Hard to believe I grew up a huge geography nerd, eh? :oops:

I even dated a girl from Perrysburg for a couple years. I'll just assume I developed temporary brain damage during this thread.

[RedTeamGo!]

Doh ... I forgot about that stretch of Ohio/Michigan border. Hard to believe I grew up a huge geography nerd, eh? :oops:

I even dated a girl from Perrysburg for a couple years. I'll just assume I developed temporary brain damage during this thread.

My GF (now wife) lived in Perrysburg too. If we ever move back to the Toledo area we will definitely live in Pburg, such a nice town. Ever go to Swig in downtown Pburg?

[New York Red]

My GF (now wife) lived in Perrysburg too. If we ever move back to the Toledo area we will definitely live in Pburg, such a nice town. Ever go to Swig in downtown Pburg?
It's been almost 25 years, so I don't remember much about the town. I know in the summer we spent a lot of time on her dad's boat. I don't even remember the name of the river. It was an Indian name, I think. Maumau?

[Redsfaithful]

that an Ohio city would be half Michigan fans when those states don't even border each other.

What

Oh, whoops didn't see this was already brought up.

[gonelong]

It's been almost 25 years, so I don't remember much about the town. I know in the summer we spent a lot of time on her dad's boat. I don't even remember the name of the river. It was an Indian name, I think. Maumau?

The Maumee: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maumee_River

I had a streak of 15 years or so when I went walleye fishing there. Haven't been there in a few years.

GL

[RedTeamGo!]

It's been almost 25 years, so I don't remember much about the town. I know in the summer we spent a lot of time on her dad's boat. I don't even remember the name of the river. It was an Indian name, I think. Maumau?

The Maumee River

[New York Red]

That's the one. I haven't actually lived in Ohio in over 40 years, but for some reason I remember the rivers well. Even my little league baseball field (in Germantown) sat at the junction of the Little Twin and Big Twin rivers. I did a quick Google satellite image and it appears the old ballpark is now gone, so I'm going to pretend I'm the last t-baller to hit a HR into the creek there. P.S. -- my dad made the first scoreboard for that field, around 1968 or 1969.

Sorry for hijacking the thread. :)

[dabvu2498]

That's the one. I haven't actually lived in Ohio in over 40 years, but for some reason I remember the rivers well. Even my little league baseball field (in Germantown) sat at the junction of the Little Twin and Big Twin rivers. I did a quick Google satellite image and it appears the old ballpark is now gone, so I'm going to pretend I'm the last t-baller to hit a HR into the creek there. P.S. -- my dad made the first scoreboard for that field, around 1968 or 1969.

Sorry for hijacking the thread. :)

Would that have been at Kercher Park? I grew up on West Alexandria Rd. (aka Puddenbag Rd.) in Madison Township. Used to ride my bike to the DQ or Tastee Freeze or whatever it was in Germantown via Astoria Rd. past Kercher Park all the time.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Even my little league baseball field (in Germantown) sat at the junction of the Little Twin and Big Twin rivers.

Germantown = Valley View High School. Where former REDS (1993-1996) player Thomas Howard went to school. :thumbup:

[jojo]

Iron Bowl

http://www.thewareaglereader.com/2013/12/cremated-human-remains-ashes-dumped-on-pat-dye-field-at-jordan-hare-stadium/


UPDATE: We’re now told that sideline is the Auburn (duh) sideline at about the 40 yard line. In other words, right around where we all said OH MY GOD. It’s holy ground.

Enough said.

[New York Red]

Would that have been at Kercher Park? I grew up on West Alexandria Rd. (aka Puddenbag Rd.) in Madison Township. Used to ride my bike to the DQ or Tastee Freeze or whatever it was in Germantown via Astoria Rd. past Kercher Park all the time.
I wish I could say I remember any of those names, but I was only 8 when we moved away. We lived in the Hillcrest subdivision, up the hill from Route 4. I think there was a DQ or Tastee Freeze on the opposite end of town, towards IGA, Germantown Dam, etc. I could be wrong though.

[New York Red]

Germantown = Valley View High School. Where former REDS (1993-1996) player Thomas Howard went to school. :thumbup:
Yessir ... Valley View Spartans. I still have my Valley View Elementary School yearbook and a few of the programs from VV high school games.

[dabvu2498]

I wish I could say I remember any of those names, but I was only 8 when we moved away. We lived in the Hillcrest subdivision, up the hill from Route 4. I think there was a DQ or Tastee Freeze on the opposite end of town, towards IGA, Germantown Dam, etc. I could be wrong though.

That's the one. Kercher Park is down in the bottom next to the creek and not far from that IGA. Their high school team played down there for many years even after the new high school was built.

[redhawkfish]

I never served in the military, but I always look forward to the Army/Navy game each year. It might not be the biggest rivalry, but it is certainly a very special one! Game is starting soon!

[Reds Freak]

I never served in the military, but I always look forward to the Army/Navy game each year. It might not be the biggest rivalry, but it is certainly a very special one! Game is starting soon!

I just got done reading John Feinstein's book on the 1995 Army/Navy game. No it's not the game it was in the 1950s but I'd wager it is the most emotional rivalry in college football. I love this game.

[improbus]

Alabama vs. Auburn
-In State
-Only sports teams in the state anyone pays attention to
-Divides families
-Winner holds the last 4 national titles
-Big Brother vs. Little Brother (it wasn't until the '80's that Alabama would even go to Auburn)

OSU vs Michigan
-The most historically significant on a consistent basis
-Ebbs and flows (Michigan dominating Cooper, Tressell dominating, Woody, Bo)
-Huge fan bases
-Only portions of each state cares (unlike Alabama)

Army vs Navy
-Entire season in one game every year
-Has been irrelevant in national title picture for decades
-Coolest stadium atmosphere. It needs to be played in some sort of old, rickety, college stadium. It seems weird that it is in a modern NFL stadium. It ruins some of the aesthetics for me.

I would probably put Alabama vs. Auburn at one for the all consuming nature of it. It is the biggest event in the state every year. It comes up in conversation in May, regularly. Also, on the day after an Iron Bowl, I don't think there is a story I could read about the aftermath that I wouldn't believe. Towns could burn down, trees could be poisoned, militia's could be formed, the National Guard could be called in, etc... I would believe all of it.