Rivalry Week

From the Sidelines

113

This is the best week in College football, it is traditionally right around Thanksgiving, and this is where the heat gets turned up on College campus’s and in homes across America …..it is RIVALRY WEEK!  Every team in the country, from high school to the pros, has a natural rival, the one team they hate to lose to, the one that makes your whole year if your team wins, the one that proves your coach is an idiot……or a genius! It is maddening, heartening, blood pressure raising, thrilling and frustrated-for-the-whole-year time. Yes, passion reigns this time of year, and I love it.

College football seems to be the most intense of the bunch, and there are some serious rivalries all across America. I will mention just a few that some may know, and some may not. Just because they are not as pronounced as others doesn’t mean they are not as hotly followed by their fans. Here are the best rivalries that are less mentioned in College Football. I am not including Ohio State vs. Michigan because the whole world knows it is the King, and everyone in the universe has heard of it! (Alabama vs. Auburn would be #2!)

(#5) – Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss– The “Egg Bow or “Battle for the Golden Egg” has been going on since 1927. Even when both teams are less than mediocre, this is one of the most heated in the country. It has been noted that when a new baby is born in Mississippi, the hospital asks Mom and Dad “Are you a Rebel(Ole Miss)or a Bulldog (Miss. State). Whichever you answer, you are given a blanket with the mascot on the front of the blanket! Ole Miss leads at 65-46-6.

(#4) – Oklahoma vs. Texas– “The Red River Rivalry” dates back to 1900, before the Texans were the “Longhorns” and Oklahoma was a state! These are neighboring states separated by the Red River, part of the border between them. The Game is played in the Cotton Bowl, and the winner receives a golden cowboy hat. Texas leads the series 62-50-5.

(#3) – Florida vs. Georgia- This used to be called the “Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”, until everyone went all woke and proper and thought that was wrong. Because of the huge tailgate party and the intense dislike for each other, this is one we up north don’t hear a lot about…..but it is very intense! Since 1992 when the S.E.C. split into divisions, Florida and Georgia have combined for 25 S.E.C titles! Georgia leads the series 55-44-2.

(#2) – Clemson vs. South Carolina-This in- state rivalry dates back to the 1890’s! These schools are close together, and they play for the Palmetto Bowl trophy. The State shuts down on game day and is a great one to watch on T.V. Clemson leads the series72-43-4.

(#1) – Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia– Known as the “Backyard Brawl”, only 75 miles separates the two schools. Although Pitt has moved to the A.C.C. and West Virginia to the Big 12, this rivalry remains heated. They DON’T Like each other…..at all! I have always stated that one of the toughest places to play in all of College Football is Morgantown, West Virginia.  West Virginia leads the series 62-40-3.

There you have it—my top five best rivalries other than OSU/ Michigan and Alabama/ Auburn. There are others, of course, but out of all of them, I like watching these best. Rivalries like these are what makes College Football so great…..and what keeps people watching in the millions every year! Go ahead and take a peek at one of these this Holiday season….you will not be disappointed! That’s the way I see it…….from the sidelines.