The 10 Best College Rivalries

By Victoria Robertson on September 28, 2015

Rivalries in general are a large part of what makes sports so interesting, and college rivalries are no different. Rival games give you a perfect opportunity to be unreasonable with friends of opposing teams, and are also something to look forward to during the season, bringing out more school spirit than ever.

Rivalries make the sports world go ‘round, and here are some of the best college rivalries out there right now.

1. Ole Miss – Mississippi State (The Egg Bowl)

Dating back to 1901, the Egg Bowl is a match-up between Ole Miss and Mississippi State for the Golden Egg Trophy – which is where the rivalry’s other name, “The Battle for the Golden Egg,” comes from.

Ole Miss leads the rivalry 56-26-5, but even with such a large lead, the game is usually close, making for some great football.

2. Oregon – Oregon State (The Civil War)

The Civil War isn’t just a great name for a rivalry, but an accurate one. The two Oregon schools first faced off in 1984, and have been rivals ever since. And their rivalry doesn’t end at football, as there are academic rivalries as well as rivalries within other sports.

Oregon currently holds the lead at 61-46-10, and this will definitely be a rivalry worth keeping an eye on.

3. Wisconsin – Minnesota (Paul Bunyan’s Axe)

It’s a unique take on the traditional rivalry, as the schools add their own unique spin to this one (which is also where it gets the odd name).

In 1948, Paul Bunyan’s Axe was implemented into this rivalry: when a teams wins, they get the Axe to keep on their campus for the coming year.

It’s odd, but it’s fun. An Axe might not always be better than a trophy, but for these two teams, it certainly is.

4. Florida – Florida State

Florida has the perfect temperatures, it’s beautiful and it’s a major tourist destination – why not have a fun rivalry as well?

The Gators currently lead the Seminoles 34-23-2, with a win streak of nine compared to the Seminoles’ four. However, Florida State is now trying to continue their win streak, increasing it from two to three in hopes of passing up that old streak that begun in 1977.

Can they do it? You better watch to find out.

5. Clemson – South Carolina (The Palmetto Bowl)

Tigers vs. Gamecocks, a rivalry with a 66-42-4 lead in the Tigers’ favor.

The Palmetto Bowl gets its name from the media/fans’ word-of-mouth, adopting the Palmetto State moniker and transferring it to their school’s rivalry; and it stuck.

Plus, this rivalry is the second longest (behind the Wisconsin – Minnesota rivalry) in college rivalry history, so I’d say it’s a pretty big deal.

6. Lafayette – Lehigh (The Rivalry)

If your team’s rivalry is literally referred to as “The Rivalry,” it’s automatically one of the best.

But the name aside, the rivalry between Lafayette and Lehigh is the most-played as well as the longest running, uninterrupted, annual rivalry series.

Dating as far back as 1884, The Rivalry has its stake in history and continues to pit fans against one another even today. When your rivalry is older than the trophies, it’s going to be one of the best.

7. UCLA – USC

The Bruins and Trojans have a close rivalry, with the Trojans coming out ahead at 44-31-7.

The best part about this rivalry is the proximity of the opposition – 12 miles! When both teams are located in the same city, you’re in for one of the greatest, and probably most annoying, rivalries ever.

8. Harvard –Yale (The Game)

Ah, yes, the Harvard – Yale rivalry. While most of us aren’t even smart enough to get into the schools, The Game is one that nobody wants to miss, if not just for some entertainment. And yes, even the brainiacs can have awesome football rivalries.

While the rivalry runs deeper than the pigskin, it’s still one that football fans alike can’t get enough of. Yale currently leads 65-58-8, making it a close one as well. And who doesn’t love that?

9. Georgia – Georgia Tech (Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate)

What a fun name, right?

The Georgia – Georgia Tech rivalry is yet another that’s been around for quite some time (it dates back to 1893).

Right now, Georgia leads 64-40-5, despite having lost last year’s match-up. Will Georgia Tech continue fighting back, or will Georgia turn back around and stop the Yellow Jackets from continuing a streak? Watch and find out.

10. Army – Navy

And last, but definitely not least, is one of the most fun match-ups of all: Army vs. Navy. The United States Military Academy goes head to head with The United States Naval Academy for one of the most well known rivalries out there.

The Navy Midshipmen currently hold lead over the Army Blacknights at 59-49-7.

The rivalry has been around since 1890 and has been annually played for the past 85 years. The Navy is currently on its longest winning streak, now at 13 wins and hoping for a 14th this year.

Watch to see if they’ll get it on December 12 at 2 p.m. on CBS.

So if your big rivalry game is coming up, get ready, because you’re in for a real treat.

So go out there and trash talk the other team, hype up your own and have a blast, because really, that’s what the rivalries are all about … that and bragging rights, of course.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format