By bsd987, Section College
Posted on Thu Sep 22 2005 at 10:35 AM EST 
More on: (all tags)
This is in response to TrevorE2W's article.
I came up with what I thought were the 24 best rivalries and made a top 15 from there. The other eight are honorable mention.
The Biggest College Rivalries
15. Cortland State-Ithaca (Football)
This is as fierce as D-III rivalries get. The Cortaca Jug has gone to the winner of this rivalry since 1959. Unfortunately for Cortland State, Ithaca has dominated the series recently. Cortland beat Ithaca in Ithaca's 1988 National Championship season. However, Ithaca gained revenge with a second round win in the playoffs.
14. BYU-Utah (Everything)
The Holy War is only holy until these two teams get on the battle field. Then it is deadly. Utah has historically dominated the series. However, BYU has the national title. The rivalry is just as fierce in basketball, with numerous NCAA births decided in this match up.
13. Oklahoma-Nebraska (Football especially)
Although they don't play annually anymore thanks to the stupidity of the Big XII, the brutal history of this rivalry keeps this on the list. There is a reason they played the "Game of the Century." This once was a Top 5 rivalry. Hopefully it will be again.
12. Lehigh-Lafayette (Everything)
120 and counting. Within the next 84 years, one of these teams will reach 100 wins over the other. Currently 73-62-5 Lafayette. Unlike most other 100+ rivalries, the teams actually agree on the record. But that is about it. And this ain't just a football rivalry, as these teams carry the Pennsylvania hate into all other sports.
11. Georgia-Auburn (Football especially)
These two teams have literally played and beaten up on each other forever. This game matters more than the Cocktail Party or Good Old Fashion Hate. It is "The Oldest Rivalry in the Deep South" and filled with more hate and competitive contests than any other. Auburn's 52-48-8 lead in the series is indicative of the evenness of the rivalry. To boot, these two teams played in the first ever overtime game in SEC play.
10. Michigan-Ohio State (Football especially)
Do I honestly have to say anything more? This is one of the classic rivalries. We all know what happens that Saturday before Thanksgiving, but we can never predict it.
9. Boston College/Boston University/Northeastern/Harvard (Hockey especially)
This Holiday tournament is by far hockey's regular season biggest. The Beanpot is more than just a hockey tournament: it is the bragging rights for the entire state for a year. And with four competitive teams, anything can happen.
8. Minnesota-Iowa (Wrestling especially)
Although this has not always been the biggest rivalry, it has always been a rivalry. And with the national emergence of Minnesota in the `90s, it became the rivalry. The highlight came when two years in a row, Iowa came back on the final day at the NCAAs to win keep Minnesota from its first title. Minnesota then won two years in a row. These teams are fierce football rivals as well.
7. Oregon-Oregon State (Everything)
Who says the Civil War was fought in the 1860s? It has been fought 108 times since, including one in the 1980s where neither team was able to score! There were years where this season finale would keep both teams from going winless, but over the last decade the two teams have become competitive.
6. Kentucky-Louisville (Basketball)
There is so much history in this rivalry. From Adolph Rupp to Denny Crum to Rick Pitino and all the stars and superstars who played for them. Not to mention the seven combined National Titles. Not bad for two Midwestern schools from Kentucky. Oh, and with Pitino now at Louisville, this rivalry is even fiercer.
5. Johns Hopkins-Maryland (Lacrosse)
This is the only match up to have been played 100 times in the history of college lacrosse. With bragging rights and frequently the number one spot on the line in the regular season, these games are heated. Three times they have met for in the title game. Hopkins has won 35 titles since 1891; Maryland has won 9 since 1936.
4. Texas-Texas A&M (Football)
The bonfire tragedy only made this hated rivalry fiercer. Texas leads 72-34-5, but you'd think it were 50-50 during the game. The day after Thanksgiving makes or breaks every Aggie and Longhorn's heart.
3. Duke-North Carolina (Basketball)
Eight miles of road and countless hate-filled games separate these two academic and basketball superpowers. UNC may have had the better history, but Duke has bridged the gap with three titles in the last fifteen years to UNC's two. When these teams play, whether it's at Cameron or Dean Smith or the ACC tournament or the NCAA tournament, everything is on the line.
2. Harvard-Yale (Everything)
The two schools produce presidents, scientists, everything, and yes, starting centers in the NFL (Matt Birk). But nothing is more important than winning "The Game" each year, especially when an Ivy crown is on the line.
1. Army-Navy (Everything)
Say what you want about every other rivalry, this one follows over into the classrooms, the government, and into service for the country. Not to mention that game the first Saturday of each December.
Honorable Mention (no order):
Georgia-Georgia Tech (Football especially)
Anything called "Good, Old-Fashioned Hate" is worthy of honorable mention.
Florida-Florida State (Football especially)
It is required by law that these two teams meet alternating years at home. Talk about hatred between a girl's nursing school and Florida.
Auburn-Alabama (Everything)
Too common a response. That is my only excuse.
Grambling State-Southern (Football)
Bayou Classic each Saturday after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, the game will not be held at the Superdome anymore after more than 30 years there.
Florida-Georgia (Football especially)
Too one-sided. Georgia dominated under Dooley and Florida dominated under Spurrier. It was never back and forth.
West Virginia-Virginia Tech (Everything)
I once got punched for changing the channel when a Va Tech fan was watching this football game. Need I say more?
Minnesota-Wisconsin (Everything)
Border war as good as it gets. Paul Bunyan's axe....
Stanford-Cal (Everything)
"The Big Game" came into the spotlight with "The Play", but these schools have hated each other in every sport since the beginning of time.
Montana-Idaho (Football especially)
Idaho dropped the rivalry after Montana beat the 1-A Vandals four years in a row. They could pick it back up.
Indiana-Kentucky (Basketball especially)
So much tradition in these two bordering states and this rivalry stands for the history of basketball.
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