Biggest College Football Rivalries and How to Handicap and Bet on Them
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Published: Fri Sep 18, 2026, 8:25 pm ET
Read Time: 17 minutes
Rivalries are one of the defining features of college football. Some divide states, others divide families, and many have been played for generations. From Alabama-Auburn and Michigan-Ohio State to Texas-Oklahoma and Army-Navy, the biggest college football rivalries bring additional history, emotion, and attention to an already unpredictable sport.
For bettors, however, the importance of a rivalry does not automatically make it a better betting opportunity. History and familiarity can provide useful context, but current team quality, injuries, scheduling, and other factors should carry much more weight when handicapping a rivalry game.
This guide looks at 20 of the biggest rivalry matchups in college football, along with other notable rivalries from around the sport. We will also examine what can make rivalry games different, what bettors should consider when handicapping them, and how rivalry context can fit into your overall college football betting process.
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Quick Links
- Biggest College Football Rivalries
- What Makes College Football Rivalry Games Unique?
- How to Handicap College Football Rivalry Games
- How to Approach Betting on College Football Rivalry Games
- Other Betting Information
- FAQ
What Are the Biggest College Football Rivalries?
There is no official ranking of the biggest rivalries in college football, and the importance of individual matchups can vary by region, generation, and the success of the programs involved.
However, certain rivalries stand out because of their longevity, intensity, traditions, memorable games, championship implications, or continued prominence on the college football calendar. Some are played for famous trophies, while others are known by names that have become almost as recognizable as the teams themselves.
Top 20 College Football Rivalries
The 20 rivalries below are among the biggest matchups in college football. They span different conferences and regions, but each has remained significant through a combination of history, tradition, memorable moments, geographic ties, championship stakes, or national interest.
Michigan vs. Ohio State — The Game
Few rivalries have shaped the national college football landscape as consistently as Michigan-Ohio State. Known simply as The Game, the matchup traditionally comes near the end of the regular season and has frequently carried Big Ten championship and national championship implications.
The rivalry combines two of the winningest and most recognizable programs in the sport with more than a century of history. Coaching tenures, individual seasons, and even eras of Michigan and Ohio State football are often remembered in part by what happened when the Wolverines and Buckeyes met.
Alabama vs. Auburn — Iron Bowl
The Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn divides a state where college football is deeply woven into everyday life. The rivalry dates to the 19th century, and its history includes national championship contenders, major upsets, and some of college football's most memorable finishes.
Both programs have experienced extended periods of national prominence, giving many Iron Bowls significance beyond Alabama. Conference championships, College Football Playoff aspirations, and national title hopes have all been affected by meetings between the Crimson Tide and Tigers.
Texas vs. Oklahoma — Red River Rivalry
Texas and Oklahoma meet annually in Dallas for the Red River Rivalry, one of college football's most distinctive neutral-site games. The Cotton Bowl is split between burnt orange and crimson, creating an atmosphere unlike almost anything else in the sport.
The rivalry survived the programs' move from the Big 12 to the SEC and remains one of the biggest games on both schedules. Texas and Oklahoma have frequently entered the matchup with conference and national championship ambitions, while unexpected results have added to the rivalry's history.
Army vs. Navy — Army-Navy Game
Army-Navy occupies a unique place on the college football calendar. The rivalry between the United States Military Academy and United States Naval Academy extends beyond conference standings and postseason positioning, and the annual game is one of the sport's most recognizable traditions.
The matchup can also present an unusual handicapping challenge. The service academies have traditionally leaned heavily on option-based rushing offenses, while their familiarity with each other can make preparation different from a typical non-conference game.
USC vs. Notre Dame
USC and Notre Dame have built one of college football's premier intersectional rivalries despite being separated by roughly 2,000 miles. The programs first met in the 1920s, and their annual series has connected two of the sport's most recognizable programs across generations.
The rivalry has featured numerous Heisman Trophy winners, national championship contenders, and many games with national implications. The winner receives the Jeweled Shillelagh, adding another tradition to a rivalry already defined by history and national reach.
Florida vs. Georgia
Florida and Georgia meet annually in Jacksonville in one of the SEC's signature rivalry games. The neutral-site setting creates a split-stadium atmosphere, while the rivalry has frequently played an important role in conference and national championship races.
The balance of power has shifted multiple times over the decades. Those changing fortunes have produced distinct eras in the rivalry while ensuring that Florida-Georgia remains one of the most anticipated games on both schedules.
Texas vs. Texas A&M — Lone Star Showdown
The Longhorns and Aggies spent more than a century building one of the sport's great in-state rivalries before conference realignment interrupted the series after the 2011 season. However, Texas's move to the SEC in 2024 restored the Lone Star Showdown to the annual schedule.
The rivalry carries obvious in-state significance, while its return as an SEC matchup adds another layer. Recruiting, conference positioning, postseason ambitions, and bragging rights can all intersect when two of Texas' biggest football programs meet.
Florida vs. Florida State — Sunshine Showdown
Florida and Florida State have played annually for decades in a rivalry that has often carried national consequences. The matchup became particularly prominent as both programs emerged as national powers, producing a run of games featuring highly ranked teams and championship implications.
Because the Gators and Seminoles play in different conferences, their meeting does not directly affect a conference race. It can still reshape the national picture, especially when one or both teams enter the game in contention for the College Football Playoff.
Miami vs. Florida State
Miami and Florida State helped define an era of college football when both programs regularly competed for national championships. Their meetings produced star players, dramatic finishes, and several famous games decided by missed field goals.
The rivalry remains one of the ACC's most recognizable matchups even when the teams are not simultaneously competing near the top of the national rankings. Its combination of in-state recruiting battles, memorable games, and championship history has given it a lasting national profile.
Clemson vs. South Carolina — Palmetto Bowl
Clemson and South Carolina meet for in-state bragging rights in the Palmetto Bowl, a rivalry dating to the 19th century. The programs play in different conferences, but their annual meeting has remained a fixture late in the regular season.
The matchup can also create an unusual late-season spot. Conference championship and postseason possibilities may already be taking shape, yet both teams still have an emotionally significant non-conference rivalry to navigate before the regular season ends.
Michigan vs. Michigan State
Michigan and Michigan State compete for the Paul Bunyan Trophy in one of the Big Ten's biggest in-state rivalries. The Wolverines have the more decorated overall football history, but the Spartans have repeatedly had opportunities to disrupt their rival's conference and national ambitions.
The programs' familiarity and proximity contribute to the intensity surrounding the game, while the rivalry has produced its share of upsets and memorable finishes. It also provides an annual battle for recruiting and bragging rights within Michigan.
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State — Egg Bowl
The Egg Bowl between Ole Miss and Mississippi State is one of the SEC's most colorful rivalry games. The schools compete for the Golden Egg Trophy, and the matchup traditionally occupies a prominent place around Thanksgiving.
National stakes can vary significantly from season to season, but the importance within Mississippi remains constant. Coaching changes, bowl eligibility, and the opportunity to spoil a rival's season can all add to the significance of the matchup.
Oregon vs. Oregon State
Oregon and Oregon State have one of the longest-running rivalries in college football. Conference realignment separated the Ducks and Beavers at the conference level, but the programs have met since in non-conference play.
The change provides an example of how college football rivalries can evolve without disappearing. Conference standings may no longer connect the programs as they once did, but geography, history, recruiting overlap, and generations of familiarity continue to give the game significance.
Washington vs. Washington State — Apple Cup
Washington and Washington State play for the Apple Cup in another rivalry reshaped by conference realignment. The Huskies' move to the Big Ten ended the programs' shared conference affiliation, but the rivalry has continued as a non-conference series.
The matchup remains an important date for both fan bases. Although conference implications have changed, generations of history and the battle for in-state bragging rights continue to make the Apple Cup one of the Pacific Northwest's defining college football games.
BYU vs. Utah — Holy War
BYU and Utah meet in the Holy War, one of the most intense rivalries in the western United States. The programs spent years in different conferences after previously sharing conference membership, but Utah's move to the Big 12 reunited the schools as conference opponents.
The rivalry combines geography, institutional differences, and decades of football history. Its return to a shared conference also gives the matchup direct significance in the Big 12 standings in addition to the bragging rights that have always accompanied it.
Oregon vs. Washington
Oregon and Washington have built one of the West Coast's most significant rivalries through more than a century of meetings between the Pacific Northwest programs. Both have enjoyed periods of conference and national prominence, giving the rivalry importance beyond regional bragging rights.
Conference realignment carried both programs from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, allowing the rivalry to continue as a conference matchup. Recent meetings have also reinforced its national relevance, with championship stakes adding another chapter to an already heated series.
Georgia vs. Georgia Tech — Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate
Georgia and Georgia Tech close the regular season with Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, an in-state rivalry between programs from the SEC and ACC. The schools first met in the 19th century, and their annual game remains one of the South's longstanding rivalry traditions.
The relative strength of the programs has varied considerably over time, but the geographic connection has endured. The annual matchup gives Georgia Tech an opportunity against its biggest in-state opponent while providing Georgia with a traditional non-conference finale.
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin — Paul Bunyan's Axe
Minnesota and Wisconsin play for Paul Bunyan's Axe in one of the oldest and most frequently contested rivalries in college football. The neighboring Big Ten programs have been meeting since the 19th century, and the trophy has become one of the sport's most recognizable rivalry prizes.
The game has often been played late in the regular season, adding conference positioning and bowl implications to an already established rivalry. More than a century of meetings and the geographic connection between the schools give the series an identity that extends beyond any particular era.
Georgia vs. Auburn — Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
Georgia-Auburn is known as the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry and dates to 1892. The two SEC programs have met well over 100 times, and the series has featured conference champions, national contenders, and numerous games that affected the SEC race.
The rivalry's longevity is only part of its importance. Georgia and Auburn occupy neighboring states and recruit many of the same areas, while both have spent significant stretches competing at the highest level of the sport.
Alabama vs. Tennessee — Third Saturday in October
Alabama and Tennessee meet in the Third Saturday in October, one of the SEC's traditional rivalry games. Although the matchup has not always literally been played on the third Saturday of the month, the name remains closely associated with a series that dates to the beginning of the 20th century.
The competitive balance has shifted substantially during different periods, but the rivalry's significance has endured. When both programs are nationally relevant, the game can become one of the SEC season's biggest matchups, while its history keeps it prominent even when the stakes are lower.
Twenty games cannot capture every important rivalry in a sport with more than a century of history. Conference realignment has also interrupted some famous series, while others remain important despite no longer being played every season.
Here are 12 more notable college football rivalries.
Other Notable College Football Rivalries
| Rivalry | What Defines It |
| USC vs. UCLA | Los Angeles' two major college football programs compete for the Victory Bell in a rivalry that combines city bragging rights with a long history of conference meetings. |
| Iowa vs. Iowa State | The Cy-Hawk rivalry pits Iowa's two major FBS programs against each other in an annual non-conference game played for the Cy-Hawk Trophy. |
| California vs. Stanford | The Big Game is one of the West Coast's oldest rivalries and is played for the Stanford Axe. Its history includes "The Play," one of college football's most famous finishes. |
| Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State | Bedlam was an annual in-state fixture before Oklahoma's move to the SEC interrupted the football series. Its long history and statewide significance keep it among college football's notable rivalries. |
| Notre Dame vs. Michigan | Two of the sport's most historically successful programs have produced a major intersectional rivalry, although scheduling gaps have prevented it from becoming a permanent annual fixture. |
| Nebraska vs. Oklahoma | Once a defining rivalry in the Big Eight and Big 12, Nebraska-Oklahoma frequently carried conference and national championship implications before conference realignment separated the programs. |
| Pitt vs. West Virginia | The Backyard Brawl is built on geography, history, and considerable animosity between two programs separated by a relatively short distance. The series has returned periodically after a lengthy interruption. |
| Virginia vs. Virginia Tech | The Commonwealth Cup determines in-state bragging rights between Virginia's two major FBS programs and has long been an important late-season matchup for both schools. |
| North Carolina vs. NC State | The Tar Heels and Wolfpack share an ACC and in-state rivalry shaped by geographic proximity, recruiting competition, and frequent meetings. |
| Louisville vs. Kentucky | The Governor's Cup brings together Kentucky's two most prominent college football programs in an annual ACC-SEC rivalry with significant in-state bragging rights. |
| Arizona vs. Arizona State | The Territorial Cup rivalry predates Arizona statehood and remains one of the defining games for both programs. |
| Harvard vs. Yale | Known as The Game, Harvard-Yale is one of college football's oldest rivalries and an important part of the sport's early history and Ivy League tradition. |
What Makes College Football Rivalry Games Unique?
College football places enormous value on tradition, regional identity, and school loyalty, and rivalry games bring many of those elements together.
Familiarity can make these matchups different from a typical game. Annual rivals may have extensive experience with each other's coaches and systems, while returning players can participate in the same rivalry several times.
The stakes can also extend beyond a team's record. Rivalry games may affect conference races, College Football Playoff positioning, or bowl eligibility. Even when those stakes are absent, a team may have an opportunity to finish its season with a meaningful win or spoil its rival's postseason hopes.
Trophies, neutral sites, Thanksgiving weekend games, and other traditions can add to the circumstances surrounding a matchup. Conference realignment has changed some rivalries as well, separating longtime conference opponents while creating new scheduling arrangements.
Those factors can provide useful context for bettors, but rivalry games should not automatically be treated differently. Emotion and motivation are difficult to quantify, and neither guarantees that a team will outperform expectations.
Rivalry status provides context. It is not a substitute for handicapping.
How to Handicap College Football Rivalry Games
The same core principles to handicapping college football games normally apply to handicapping rivalry matchups. Evaluate each team's offense and defense, quarterback and line play, injuries, coaching, special teams, recent performance, schedule, and how the teams match up stylistically.
Current personnel should carry much more weight than rivalry history. The transfer portal and frequent coaching changes can leave the teams playing today with little connection to those from even a few years ago.
Recent meetings can still provide useful information, particularly when the same coaches, schemes, and core players remain in place. Older head-to-head trends are less valuable when they include different personnel, coaches, and levels of program strength.
Bettors should also be wary of rivalry clichés such as "throw out the records" or assumptions that an underdog will keep the game close because of emotion. Instead, determine whether the rivalry creates something tangible to consider.
Familiarity with an opponent's system, a neutral-site setting, unusual scheduling, conference or playoff implications, and experience from recent meetings can all matter. Incorporate those factors when they are relevant, but don't give the rivalry itself more weight than the matchup.
How Should You Approach Betting on College Football Rivalry Games?
The biggest rivalry games can generate substantial betting interest, especially when nationally ranked teams or College Football Playoff contenders are involved. That attention can create a temptation to bet simply because the game feels important.
A better approach is to treat the rivalry as one piece of the overall betting picture.
Keep the Rivalry in Context
Start with your normal college football handicapping process, then determine whether the rivalry adds anything meaningful.
Familiarity with an opponent, a neutral-site setting, late-season stakes, or recent meetings can provide useful context. Historical trends may also be worth considering when they involve similar coaches, personnel, or circumstances.
Account for those factors when they are relevant, but don't give the rivalry itself more weight than the current matchup.
Choose the Right Betting Market
Rivalry games offer the same broad range of betting opportunities as other college football matchups, including the moneyline, point spread, totals, and various team, game, and player prop bets.
Let your handicap determine which market makes the most sense. If you expect an underdog to remain competitive but are less confident it can win, for example, the spread may fit your analysis better than the moneyline.
Don't choose a bet first and then build a rivalry narrative around it.
Don't Force a Rivalry Angle
A major rivalry game can be entertaining without being a good betting opportunity. Sportsbooks know games such as Michigan-Ohio State, Alabama-Auburn, and Texas-Oklahoma will attract plenty of attention.
Don't assume an underdog has value because "anything can happen in a rivalry game" or back a favorite simply because it has dominated the series recently.
If your handicap and the available college football odds don't produce a bet you like, passing is a valid decision.
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