Top 5 College Football Rivalry Games That Scream War
In college football, it’s a known fact that you’re always getting your money’s worth when it comes to each game. And that’s exactly what college football odds fans are all about, am I right? But much more so when said the game is between schools with a rivalry.
In a sporting discipline where school pride and bragging rights are important, college football rivalries are the epitome of a big game day. Season records don’t matter, as well as weather conditions or anything else, when it’s time to cheer for your school as it goes into a football battle against its most hated rival. Everything stops.

Now, with college football hosting so many schools and rivalries, pinning down the top five isn’t an easy job. You have to take various criteria into account.
Does the game hold national relevance? Is there a competitive balance amongst both contenders that make for better games? What’s the rivalry history like? And lastly, how feverish do fans get in each game?
With special mentions to Harvard vs Yale, Georgia vs Florida, Pitt vs West Virginia, Florida vs Florida State, Clemson vs South Carolina, and Ole Miss vs Mississippi State, here are our picks for the top five college football rivalry games.
1. Michigan vs Ohio State
Hands down, my favorite rivalry in all of college football. When your rivalry is called “The Game”, not just by all the college football news outlets around, but everyone who knows of the game, there are probably a few good reasons behind it. The historic Michigan Wolverines vs Ohio State Buckeyes football rivalry is one of the most heated and passional in all of the sports.
Even with the Wolverines having the biggest football stadium in the U.S., when “The Game” is played in Ann Arbor, Michigan Stadium always manages to feel too small to fit all the people that want to be a part of the event.
Historically, Michigan holds the series lead with 59 wins against Ohio State’s 51 and six ties, playing once annually since 1918, with the rivalry starting in 1897. Most importantly though, with each game always held toward the end of each season, depending on where both teams stand in the rankings, losing here could mean the end of championship dreams.
With the game taking place on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, what best way to close out one of the country’s favorite holidays than with one of the best football games in the land?
2. Auburn vs Alabama
The “Iron Bowl” as it’s known by football fans is a personal favorite. Between the historical hatred amongst both schools, the level of talent and competitiveness that both squads bring to the field, and the state of Alabama having this game as the biggest sporting event of the year, the Crimson Tide vs Tigers football game always delivers.
Since its first edition in 1893, the Alabama team has managed to keep a stronghold of the head-to-head record with 48 wins against 37 Auburn victories and one tie. Still, one game, in particular, stands as one of the best in not only the rivalry but college football’s history in general.
It was 2013, a chance to go to the BCS Championship game hung by a thread for both teams when in the last seconds, the “Kick Six” happened. With a last-second 109-yard field goal return from Chris Davis, Auburn sealed the deal and gave us one of the best finishes in the history of sports.
If you’ve never heard of the play, look it up, it’s to this day one of the most explosive moments in the history of the game.

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3. Oklahoma vs Texas
Have you been to the State Fair of Texas? It’s the fried food capital of the world and an all-around, over-the-top demonstration of everything that makes Texas what it is. Now add to it one of the most famous rivalries in college football and what do you get?
Known as the “Red River Shootout, or “Red River Showdown,” the Oklahoma vs Texas game, held annually at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas is everything you’d expect from a smackdown between hated rivals. Starting with a stadium packed with Sooners and Longhorn fans, with each school allowed to hold 50% of the venue’s seats this game features one of the best ambiances in all of college football.
A few years ago, Oklahoma was crushing opponents left and right while Texas looked like a somber version of its former self. It seems the tide has turned in favor of the Longhorns. Texas leads with 63 wins to 50 Oklahoma’s dubs and five ties. It doesn’t matter how each team performs in the season, because this game is different.
4. USC vs Notre Dame
No rivalry can brag about having as many former Heisman Trophy winners as the USC Trojans vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish annual showdown. We’re talking about college football royalty.
Starting in 1926 and held either in late November when played in LA or mid-October in South Bend, Indiana, having two of the most important college football teams square off makes up for thrilling games every year. With the Fighting Irish holding a 48-37-5 record lead over the Trojans, losing is never an option.
Lastly, add in playoff and national title implications are usually on the table and there’s nothing that can beat watching the Trojans and Fighting Irish go to battle.
5. Army vs Navy
What could make football, the most popular sport in America more popular? Pit the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen football teams on the gridiron and watch all sorts of patriotic sparks fly.
A year has 365 days. Out of those, 364 have the Army and Navy being teammates in the mission of securing the safety of the U.S., and its people. But there’s one day, where for a few hours, camaraderie is put on hold, and bragging rights to decide which military academy plays the best football goes down.
This is more than just another football game. The level of pageantry can make any American football fan burst into a fit of red, white, and blue pride. With a 62-53-7 record in favor of the Navy, when bragging rights take on a patriotic spin, it becomes a must-watch spectacle.
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