5 Most Heated College Football Rivalries

Sports rivalries don’t get much better than they do in college football.  After much thought and consideration, here what we think are the five most heated college football rivalries. Do these make your list?

 

5. Florida State Seminoles vs. Miami Hurricanes

All time record Miami leads (31-27). The battle for the Florida Trophy is a fun game to watch every year. In 2006, the game recorded the highest ratings of any college football game (regular or post season) in ESPN history.

 

4. Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners (The Red River Rivalry)

Texas leads (60-43-5). The Longhorns and Sooners have played the Red River Rivalry a total of 108 times, with Texas having the edge. The two teams have been nationally ranked in the top 25 throughout nearly all of this rivalry, giving national title implications, which is what keeps this one more heated than the temperature during pre-season.

 

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. University of Southern California Trojans (Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh)

Notre Dame leads (45-35-5). Two private schools with academic and athletic traditions of excellence. The Fighting Irish and the Trojans are rumored to have begun the rivalry when Irish head coach Knute Rockne’s persuaded him that Los Angeles was more suitable for annual games than snowy Nebraska.

 

2. Auburn Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (The Iron Bowl)

Alabama leads (42-35-1). It has become one of the most exciting games to watch every year due to the high talent level both teams have been able to garner over time. If next year’s Iron Bowl ends anything like last year’s, I’m sure this will also be an amazing game to watch.

 

1. Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (The Game)

Michigan leads (58-45-6). This season finale between both teams that is simply called “The Game” by many of its viewers has enough hatred to spawn an all-out war between Michigan and Ohio. This is undoubtedly the most heated rivalry in college football as it has in many cases directly decided who wins the Big Ten title and who goes to the Rose Bowl, which has also in some instances affected who gets a shot at a national championship.

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