Great college football rivalries are about more than the 60 minutes on the clock.
They’re about family traditions, regional pride and bragging rights — the games that mean just a little bit more.
Some are defined by more than a century of history. Others have produced unforgettable finishes, national championship implications or moments that fans still talk about years later.
And then there are the rivalries where the hate runs so deep that, for one weekend each fall, nothing else seems to matter.
From the pageantry of America’s Game and the chaos of the Iron Bowl to the passion of The Game and the state fair spectacle of the Red River Rivalry, these matchups capture what makes college football so special.
They bring together generations of fans, turn states into divided households, and give players a chance to become part of a legacy.
Ranking college football rivalries is, of course, subjective — and that’s part of the fun. We expect fans to debate what belongs higher, lower or maybe not on the list at all.
So, with that in mind, here are our Top 25 rivalries that define college football.
25: Oregon-Oregon State
Generations of Oregonians have grown up choosing between the Ducks and Beavers. That choice comes with all the highs and lows of a rivalry where one Saturday can make a season unforgettable — or leave fans counting the days until the next meeting.
- First game: 1894
- Nickname: None; the schools dropped the Civil War name in 2020
- Series record: Oregon leads 70-49-10
- Next game: Series resumes in 2028 at Oregon State
24: Washington-Washington State
It is about Washington pride, turning friends into rivals and families into divided households. Whether you grew up on the west side or the east side of the state, this game gets talked about at work, around the dinner table and long after the final whistle.
- First game: 1900
- Nickname: Apple Cup
- Series record: Washington leads 78-34-6
- 2026 game: Washington won 24-10 on Sept. 6
23: Georgia-Georgia Tech
In the Peach State, you’re either a Bulldog or a Yellow Jacket (the campuses are separated by 70 miles) — and there’s not much middle ground. Family loyalties, old grudges, in-state pride and a healthy dose of dislike for the other side have kept this rivalry going for over 130 years.
- First game: 1893
- Nickname: Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate
- Series record: Georgia leads 73-41-5
- 2026 game: Nov. 28 at Georgia
22: BYU-Utah
In a state where college football loyalties run deep, this matchup brings together generations of family traditions, heated debates and memories. It’s a game that can split families, dominate conversations and give one side a full year to remind the other which team came out on top.
- First game: 1896 (according to Utah); 1922 (according to BYU)
- Nickname: Holy War
- Series record: Utah leads 62-37-4 (according to Utah); Utah leads 59-34-4 (according to BYU)
- 2026 game: Nov. 7 at Utah
21: Kansas-Missouri
A rivalry with roots stretching back to the bitter days of the Border War, which was retired as a nickname in 2004. The return of this series in 2025 after a 13-year hiatus brought back a rivalry that families had talked about for years, giving both sides a chance to revive old arguments.
- First game: 1891
- Nickname: Border Showdown
- Series record: Missouri leads 58-55-9
- 2026 game: Missouri won 38-21 on Sept. 11
20: Cal-Stanford
These schools, separated by about 50 miles in the San Francisco Bay Area, have spent generations trading jokes, traditions and stories. For fans, it’s a chance to settle old arguments, celebrate their school and make sure their side gets to talk about the win for the next year.
- First game: 1892
- Nickname: The Big Game
- Series record: Stanford leads 65-51-11
- 2026 game: Nov. 21 at Cal
19: Michigan-Michigan State
The Wolverines and Spartans have produced their share of unforgettable finishes and upsets, making this one of the Big Ten’s most emotionally charged games every fall. With fans spread throughout the state, there’s no shortage of pride at stake when these longtime rivals meet.
- First game: 1898
- Nickname: None
- Series record: Michigan leads 75-38-5
- 2026 game: Nov. 7 at Michigan
18: Harvard-Yale
Few games carry the history and tradition of these Ivy League rivals. It’s a chance for fans to be part of a matchup that has taken place for more than 150 years with the kind of pageantry that makes it unlike anything else on the college football calendar.
- First game: 1875
- Nickname: The Game
- Series record: Yale leads 72-61-8
- 2026 game: Nov. 21 at Fenway Park in Boston
17: Alabama-LSU
This is one of the SEC’s biggest annual showdowns, a game that can bring conference and national championship implications to an already-intense rivalry. There’s usually something significant at stake, making this one of the games both fan bases circle on the schedule.
- First game: 1895
- Nickname: None
- Series record: Alabama leads 58-27-5
- 2026 game: Nov. 7 at LSU
16: Clemson-South Carolina
There’s no escaping this rivalry in the Palmetto State. Clemson and South Carolina fans live alongside each other, work alongside each other and spend all year waiting for Thanksgiving weekend, when the outcome can shape the mood of the state for the next year.
- First game: 1896
- Nickname: Palmetto Bowl
- Series record: Clemson leads 74-44-4
- 2026 game: Nov. 28 at Clemson
15: Minnesota-Wisconsin
One of the longest-running rivalries in the sport has produced countless memorable games. It’s built on proximity, tradition and a desire to beat the team from the neighboring state. For fans, there’s no better way to end the season than owning bragging against your biggest rival.
- First game: 1890
- Nickname: Border Battle
- Series record: 63-63-8
- 2026 game: Nov. 27 at Wisconsin
14: Auburn-Georgia
This is more than an SEC rivalry. It’s a matchup with over 130 years of history, two passionate fan bases and a long list of memorable finishes. It’s a rivalry that has produced iconic moments, unforgettable finishes and plenty of games with major SEC and national implications.
- First game: 1892
- Nickname: Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry
- Series record: Georgia leads 66-56-8
- 2026 game: Oct. 17 at Georgia
13: Florida-Florida State
The Thanksgiving weekend matchup has produced decades of drama and memorable finishes. It’s a chance for fans to claim supremacy in the Sunshine State, settle a year’s worth of bragging rights and watch two programs with a combined six national titles since 1993.
- First game: 1958
- Nickname: Sunshine Showdown
- Series record: Florida leads 39-28-2
- 2026 game: Nov. 27 at Florida State
12: UCLA-USC
This Los Angeles rivalry is as much about geography — the schools are separated by 15 miles — and bragging rights as it is about football. It’s a chance for fans to settle the score, with conference implications, recruiting battles and plenty of pride adding to the stakes.
- First game: 1929
- Nickname: Crosstown Showdown
- Series record: USC leads 53-34-7
- 2026 game: Nov. 28 at UCLA
11: Nebraska-Oklahoma
Once one of the defining rivalries of the Big Eight and Big 12, the matchup regularly carried conference and national title implications while featuring legendary coaches and players. Even with the schools in different conferences, it remains one of the sport’s most historic rivalries.
- First game: 1912
- Nickname: None
- Series record: Oklahoma leads 47-38-3
- Next games: Sept. 15, 2029, in Norman and Sept. 14, 2030, in Lincoln
10: Pittsburgh-West Virginia
A rivalry that thrives on proximity, history and genuine animosity, with the schools separated by about 75 miles. Fans love the blue-collar intensity and regional pride, and the rivalry’s return in 2022 after a 10-year hiatus showed just how much both sides had missed it.
- First game: 1895
- Nickname: Backyard Brawl
- Series record: Pittsburgh leads 63-42-3
- Next game: Series resumes in 2029 and runs through 2036
9: Ole Miss-Mississippi State
A deeply personal rivalry because it divides the state, with generations of families and friends choosing sides. The game being played on Thanksgiving weekend adds to the stakes, turning an already-bitter rivalry into one of the most emotionally charged games of the season.
- First game: 1901
- Nickname: The Egg Bowl
- Series record: Ole Miss leads 67-46-6
- 2026 game: Nov. 27 at Ole Miss
8: Texas-Texas A&M
Two enormous fan bases convinced that their school is the state’s true football power, and the return of this rivalry after a 12-season hiatus has only added to the anticipation. The rivalry’s return reinforces how much history, tradition and bragging rights mean to fans of both teams.
- First game: 1894
- Nickname: Lone Star Showdown
- Series record: Texas leads 78-37-5
- 2026 game: Nov. 27 at Texas A&M
7: Florida State-Miami
Not many rivalries have produced the drama of this one, with the speed and swagger of schools that have spent decades battling for state supremacy. For fans, it’s a chance to show pride in their corner of the state and cheer for programs with a combined eight national titles since 1983.
- First game: 1951
- Nickname: None
- Series record: Miami leads 37-33
- 2026 game: Oct. 17 at Miami
6: Notre Dame-USC
Tradition, national prominence and a coast-to-coast clash of college football identities define this rivalry, even as it temporarily hits pause. With iconic uniforms, a combined 15 Heisman Trophy winners and a history stretching back a century, it always has a big-game feel.
- First game: 1926
- Nickname: Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh
- Series record: Notre Dame leads 51-38-5
- Next game: Week 1 of the 2030 season, played annually through 2033
5: Florida-Georgia
The rivalry is famous for its festive atmosphere, but the stakes are intensely serious. It’s a chance for fans to spend a fall Saturday in Jacksonville, talk plenty of trash and watch the winner walk away with bragging rights — and often a major boost in the SEC race.
- First game: 1904
- Nickname: World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party
- Series record: Georgia leads 58-44-2
- Upcoming games: Oct. 31, 2026, in Atlanta; Oct. 30, 2027, in Tampa. Game returns to Jacksonville in 2028 after $1.4 billion renovations on EverBank Stadium are complete.
4: Oklahoma-Texas
The rivalry takes over the State Fair of Texas and turns the Cotton Bowl in Dallas into a sea of crimson and burnt orange. For fans in these neighboring states, the combination of bragging rights as well as conference and national implications makes this a can’t-miss spectacle.
- First game: 1900
- Nickname: Red River Rivalry
- Series record: Texas leads 65-51-5
- 2026 game: Oct. 10 in Dallas
3: Army-Navy
The tradition, pageantry and pride of this matchup is unmatched. All fans know it’s about representing something bigger than football, honoring one of the sport’s greatest traditions and watching two service academies battle for a year’s worth of bragging rights.
- First game: 1890
- Nickname: America’s Game
- Series record: Navy leads 64-55-7
- 2026 game: Dec. 12 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
2: Alabama-Auburn
This is more than a rivalry. It’s a statewide obsession that can divide families. It’s an opportunity to own bragging rights in Alabama, spoil the other team’s season and witness another chapter in a rivalry famous for historic upsets, improbable comebacks and chaotic finishes.
- First game: 1893
- Nickname: The Iron Bowl
- Series record: Alabama leads 52-37-1
- 2026 game: Nov. 28 at Alabama
1: Michigan-Ohio State
Few rivalries carry the combination of history, hatred and national significance of this Thanksgiving weekend matchup. It’s a chance for fans to settle the score with a neighboring state, claim bragging rights and watch your team fight for a spot atop the Big Ten.
- First game: 1897
- Nickname: The Game
- Series record: Michigan leads 62-52-6
- 2026 game: Nov. 28 at Ohio State
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.