Welcome to rivalry week! I wont list all of them, but will get the more notable ones. Rivalry week has stretched out to 3 weeks in the last several years, but most of them are being played this weekend.
No. 17 Texas A&M at Texas
This rivalry goes beyond football, and stretches into all the major sports between the two schools, called The Lone Star State Showdown. Points are warded for each win in a sport, and gets tallied up at the end of the year...the school with the most points wins the challenge. It is the 3rd longest running rivalry in the FBS. Texas won last year, 49-39.
West Virginia at Pittsburgh
The Backyard Brawl is always a slugfest, as these two teams go at it. Even more, the conference is almost always on the line when they meet up (since they have been in the BE), and thats no different this year. If Pitt loses to WVU, and both win the following week, WVU can claim the BEC. WVU won last year 19-16, but trails all-time 61-38-3.
No. 2 Auburn at No. 11 Alabama
The Iron Bowl is the named dubbed for this matchup, due to Alabama's involvement with the iron and steel industry some years back. This year, Alabama can play spoiler, even though Auburn still has to play in the SECCG. Alabama has won the last two, but Auburn is looking to change that. Alabama leads all time, 40-33-1.
Colorado at No. 15 Nebraska
This rivalry is only about 30 years old and really started due to the two being in close proximity to one another, and being in the same division. NU has dominated the series, 48-18-6, as they have played one another several times prior to the 80's.
No. 4 Boise State at No. 19 Nevada
Not a rivalry game, but more or less the last chance in which someone can really threaten BSU. Nevada has had some close calls and has actually lost once, but they are at home. Winner takes the WAC title.
Michigan at No. 8 Ohio State
This is The Game to many folks. A feirce rivalry that has been owned by OSU since coach Tressel came in 2002. OSU has won the last 6. If you really want to know the history of this rivalry, I suggest you look it up...its quite interesting. Michigan has the all-time record at 57-43-6.
No. 10 Michigan State at Penn State
This rivalry awards the Land Grant Trophy to the winner. The reason for this trophy is because these two school's are the oldest land-grant schools in the nation. This is one of the newest rivalries in the nation, only starting to play for the trophy since 1993. PSu leads 13-4 all time.
Virginia at No. 16 Virginia Tech
This rivalry has been going on since 1895, known as the Commonwealth Cup. However, the actual trophy is only about 14 years old. VT has dominated the series this decade, with UVA winning only once since 1999.
Indiana at Purdue
These two teams play for the Old Oaken Bucket, which started back in 1925. It is the oldest rivalry trophy in FBS football, and one of the most famous. Purdue has owned this series, winning 70 times, and only losing 36 times, with 6 ties.
Kentucky at Tennessee
The Vols have won this game 25 straight times, with the last loss coming in 1984 It is one of the most lopsided rivalries in the nation.
Kansas vs. No. 14 Missouri
Played at Arrowhead stadium in Kansas City, MO. The trophy is the Indian War Drum, and this is one of the most intense border wars around. In fact, its called The Border War (now Showdown), and is the most even-keeled rivalry in the nation, with Mizzou slightly ahead all-time, 55-54-9. If KU wins, it will tie the series completely. Mizzou won last year in a thriller, 41-39.
No. 5 LSU at No. 12 Arkansas
This is the Battle for the Golden Boot, which LSU won last year. This year, Arkansas gets to play spoiler, and help its own BCS stock, if they can win. LSU leads the all-time series, 34-19-2. Arkansas has won two of the last three meetings.
Brigham Young at No. 20 Utah
This is called The Holy War, as BYU is owned by the Church Of Latter day Saints. Ironically enough, Utah has nothing to do with anythign religious, other than being in a Mormon state. This rivalry is fierce, and goes beyond football. Many of the fans do not get along, as mormons do not drink alcohol or even coffee, and many times Utes fans like to taunt them by doing so at games. Utah leads the series all-time, 53-34-4, with BYU winning last year in OT.
Florida at No. 22 Florida State
This is one of the great rivalries in all of football, as many times, both of these schools are not only ranked, but HIGHLY ranked, with bowl implications on the line. In fact, they even met once in the Sugar Bowl. Florida owned FSU back in the day, but is only 18-17-1 in the Bowden era. Bobby is now gone, and Jimbo hopes to continue that tradition.
No. 23 North Carolina State at Maryland
This is not a rivalry game, but is an extremely important game in the ACC picture. Its easy: NCST wins, they meet VT in the ACCCG. They lose, FSU will meet VT. Thats it. On a side note, Maryland does not have a real rival game.
North Carolina at Duke
Of course, this is one of the most famous rivalries in the history of sports....in basketball. When t comes to football, pretty much anyone outside of these two schools never really pay attention. These two teams play for the Victory Bell, and UNC leads the all-time series 41-20-1. Since 1990, Duke has only one once.
Louisiana-Lafayette at Louisiana-Monroe
Dubbed The Battle In The Bayou, there really isnt much information about it, wehn it started, of the overall records between the two.
No. 18 South Carolina at Clemson
Big time rivalry between the ACC and SEC goes way beyond sports. IN fact, this rivalry is much more poltical than atheltic. For more information on it, check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina–Clemson_rivalry. Its interesting and sad all at once. Clemson leads the series 65-38-4, but USC won last year.
No. 25 Mississippi State at Mississippi
Known as the Egg Bowl, aka The Battle For The Golden Egg (because football's back in the day had a slight "egg" shape) is a fierce SEC rivalry. It dates back to 1901. Ole Miss leads the series 60-40-6, with MSU winning it last year.
Georgia Tech at Georgia
This has one of the greatest names for a rivalry game...ever: "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate". How bad is it? Even GT's fight songs proclaim "to hell with Georgia!". Yes, its THAT serious. UGA has owned tghe series, 60-39-5, winning last year 30-24
No. 13 Oklahoma at No. 9 Oklahoma State
Not only is this a rivalry game, it also has divisional consequences attached to it. This is the Bedlam Series, and like the Lone Star Showdown, this series goes through all sports and has a point system is in place. In football, The Sooners have owned the series, and its not even close. In fact, it is one of the most lopsided rivalries ever: 81-16-7, with Oklahoma winning 7 straight.
Notre Dame at USC
This series is awfully elite, producing the most national titles (21), Heisman trophy winners (14), All-Americans, College Football Hall of Famers, and future NFL Hall of Famers (21) than any other collegiate series combined than any other football rivalry. They play for the Jeweled Shillelagh, and while ND owned them in the 80's, USC has taken it to them the last decade: USc has won the last 8.
No. 17 Texas A&M at Texas
This rivalry goes beyond football, and stretches into all the major sports between the two schools, called The Lone Star State Showdown. Points are warded for each win in a sport, and gets tallied up at the end of the year...the school with the most points wins the challenge. It is the 3rd longest running rivalry in the FBS. Texas won last year, 49-39.
West Virginia at Pittsburgh
The Backyard Brawl is always a slugfest, as these two teams go at it. Even more, the conference is almost always on the line when they meet up (since they have been in the BE), and thats no different this year. If Pitt loses to WVU, and both win the following week, WVU can claim the BEC. WVU won last year 19-16, but trails all-time 61-38-3.
No. 2 Auburn at No. 11 Alabama
The Iron Bowl is the named dubbed for this matchup, due to Alabama's involvement with the iron and steel industry some years back. This year, Alabama can play spoiler, even though Auburn still has to play in the SECCG. Alabama has won the last two, but Auburn is looking to change that. Alabama leads all time, 40-33-1.
Colorado at No. 15 Nebraska
This rivalry is only about 30 years old and really started due to the two being in close proximity to one another, and being in the same division. NU has dominated the series, 48-18-6, as they have played one another several times prior to the 80's.
No. 4 Boise State at No. 19 Nevada
Not a rivalry game, but more or less the last chance in which someone can really threaten BSU. Nevada has had some close calls and has actually lost once, but they are at home. Winner takes the WAC title.
Michigan at No. 8 Ohio State
This is The Game to many folks. A feirce rivalry that has been owned by OSU since coach Tressel came in 2002. OSU has won the last 6. If you really want to know the history of this rivalry, I suggest you look it up...its quite interesting. Michigan has the all-time record at 57-43-6.
No. 10 Michigan State at Penn State
This rivalry awards the Land Grant Trophy to the winner. The reason for this trophy is because these two school's are the oldest land-grant schools in the nation. This is one of the newest rivalries in the nation, only starting to play for the trophy since 1993. PSu leads 13-4 all time.
Virginia at No. 16 Virginia Tech
This rivalry has been going on since 1895, known as the Commonwealth Cup. However, the actual trophy is only about 14 years old. VT has dominated the series this decade, with UVA winning only once since 1999.
Indiana at Purdue
These two teams play for the Old Oaken Bucket, which started back in 1925. It is the oldest rivalry trophy in FBS football, and one of the most famous. Purdue has owned this series, winning 70 times, and only losing 36 times, with 6 ties.
Kentucky at Tennessee
The Vols have won this game 25 straight times, with the last loss coming in 1984 It is one of the most lopsided rivalries in the nation.
Kansas vs. No. 14 Missouri
Played at Arrowhead stadium in Kansas City, MO. The trophy is the Indian War Drum, and this is one of the most intense border wars around. In fact, its called The Border War (now Showdown), and is the most even-keeled rivalry in the nation, with Mizzou slightly ahead all-time, 55-54-9. If KU wins, it will tie the series completely. Mizzou won last year in a thriller, 41-39.
No. 5 LSU at No. 12 Arkansas
This is the Battle for the Golden Boot, which LSU won last year. This year, Arkansas gets to play spoiler, and help its own BCS stock, if they can win. LSU leads the all-time series, 34-19-2. Arkansas has won two of the last three meetings.
Brigham Young at No. 20 Utah
This is called The Holy War, as BYU is owned by the Church Of Latter day Saints. Ironically enough, Utah has nothing to do with anythign religious, other than being in a Mormon state. This rivalry is fierce, and goes beyond football. Many of the fans do not get along, as mormons do not drink alcohol or even coffee, and many times Utes fans like to taunt them by doing so at games. Utah leads the series all-time, 53-34-4, with BYU winning last year in OT.
Florida at No. 22 Florida State
This is one of the great rivalries in all of football, as many times, both of these schools are not only ranked, but HIGHLY ranked, with bowl implications on the line. In fact, they even met once in the Sugar Bowl. Florida owned FSU back in the day, but is only 18-17-1 in the Bowden era. Bobby is now gone, and Jimbo hopes to continue that tradition.
No. 23 North Carolina State at Maryland
This is not a rivalry game, but is an extremely important game in the ACC picture. Its easy: NCST wins, they meet VT in the ACCCG. They lose, FSU will meet VT. Thats it. On a side note, Maryland does not have a real rival game.
North Carolina at Duke
Of course, this is one of the most famous rivalries in the history of sports....in basketball. When t comes to football, pretty much anyone outside of these two schools never really pay attention. These two teams play for the Victory Bell, and UNC leads the all-time series 41-20-1. Since 1990, Duke has only one once.
Louisiana-Lafayette at Louisiana-Monroe
Dubbed The Battle In The Bayou, there really isnt much information about it, wehn it started, of the overall records between the two.
No. 18 South Carolina at Clemson
Big time rivalry between the ACC and SEC goes way beyond sports. IN fact, this rivalry is much more poltical than atheltic. For more information on it, check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina–Clemson_rivalry. Its interesting and sad all at once. Clemson leads the series 65-38-4, but USC won last year.
No. 25 Mississippi State at Mississippi
Known as the Egg Bowl, aka The Battle For The Golden Egg (because football's back in the day had a slight "egg" shape) is a fierce SEC rivalry. It dates back to 1901. Ole Miss leads the series 60-40-6, with MSU winning it last year.
Georgia Tech at Georgia
This has one of the greatest names for a rivalry game...ever: "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate". How bad is it? Even GT's fight songs proclaim "to hell with Georgia!". Yes, its THAT serious. UGA has owned tghe series, 60-39-5, winning last year 30-24
No. 13 Oklahoma at No. 9 Oklahoma State
Not only is this a rivalry game, it also has divisional consequences attached to it. This is the Bedlam Series, and like the Lone Star Showdown, this series goes through all sports and has a point system is in place. In football, The Sooners have owned the series, and its not even close. In fact, it is one of the most lopsided rivalries ever: 81-16-7, with Oklahoma winning 7 straight.
Notre Dame at USC
This series is awfully elite, producing the most national titles (21), Heisman trophy winners (14), All-Americans, College Football Hall of Famers, and future NFL Hall of Famers (21) than any other collegiate series combined than any other football rivalry. They play for the Jeweled Shillelagh, and while ND owned them in the 80's, USC has taken it to them the last decade: USc has won the last 8.
