Chris Wilds
College football has always been fueled by rivalries—real rivalries. Games that split households, divide entire states, end friendships, and become the axis upon which entire seasons turn. No sport captures the raw emotion of a grudge match like college football, and today we’re ranking the top ten rivalries in the country as they stand right now. After that, we’ll explore in depth why The Game is not just number one, but unquestionably the greatest rivalry in sports.
We begin at No. 10 with Oregon vs. Oregon State, a game once known as the “Civil War.” This rivalry may not have the national reach of others on this list, but inside the state of Oregon it is fiercely personal. There are no trophies, no marketing slogans—just the raw desire to control bragging rights for the next 365 days. Oregon State has played spoiler more often than outsiders realize, giving this matchup an unpredictable, gritty edge that remains one of the West’s most underrated battles.
At No. 9 is USC vs. UCLA, a rivalry steeped in the culture and drama of Los Angeles. When these two meet in the Rose Bowl, the city feels split in half. As former Bruin Eric Kendricks once said, “You’re either cardinal and gold, or blue and gold—no in between.” While USC has historically dominated, the crosstown stakes and Hollywood flair make this rivalry a staple of college football tradition, even if its national impact fluctuates.
Coming in at No. 8 is Miami vs. Florida State, a showcase of raw athleticism and recruiting pipelines as deep as any in the nation. The rivalry has produced iconic heartbreaks—“Wide Right” still echoes through the ACC—and Clinton Portis described its intensity perfectly: “There’s a different speed in that game. It’s personal.” When both teams are rolling, the energy rivals any game in the country.
At No. 7, we head to Jacksonville for the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party: Florida vs. Georgia. Split straight down the middle of TIAA Bank Field, this rivalry is an SEC spectacle defined by red, blue, and pure Southern chaos. All-American David Pollack said it best: “You see red everywhere, then you see blue. It’s madness.” The buildup, atmosphere, and stakes are unmatched in the SEC East.
No. 6 is the oldest feud in the sport: Harvard vs. Yale. Though the programs no longer influence the national title picture, the historical weight of The Game cannot be overstated. Yale legend Calvin Hill once said, “Even if you lose every other game, beating Harvard makes you a legend.” The rivalry helped shape the sport itself, and its tradition keeps it high on any ranking.
At No. 5 we find the Red River Rivalry—Oklahoma vs. Texas—played annually at the Texas State Fair in a stadium split perfectly 50/50. Former Texas coach Mack Brown called it “a line in the sand every year,” and that’s exactly what it is. Year after year, this game has legitimate conference, playoff, and recruiting implications, delivering chaos in a way few rivalries can.
Sitting at No. 4 is USC vs. Notre Dame, a coast-to-coast clash of blue-blood programs that has been a fixture since 1926. Lou Holtz once said, “We measure our season by this game,” and for decades this matchup has pitted tradition against tradition, producing Hall of Famers, Heisman winners, and unforgettable moments that shaped the sport.
No. 3 on the list is Army vs. Navy, a rivalry that transcends football itself. The pageantry, the uniforms, the cadences, the stakes beyond the scoreboard—everything about this matchup feels sacred. Navy’s Keenan Reynolds summed it up perfectly: “It’s not just a game—it’s tradition, it’s family, it’s country.” This rivalry garners national respect every year regardless of records.
Runner-up at No. 2 is the Iron Bowl—Alabama vs. Auburn—arguably the most intense in-state feud in America. Bo Jackson once described it as a rivalry that “splits families” and breaks friendships, and he wasn’t exaggerating. From the “Kick Six” to Saban’s dynasty, this rivalry has delivered some of the sport’s most dramatic and impactful moments, all while dividing the entire state of Alabama for generations.
And then there is No. 1: Ohio State vs. Michigan—the only rivalry worthy of being called The Game. This isn’t just the greatest rivalry in college football; it’s the greatest rivalry in American sports. The stakes are unrivaled, the hatred is real, the history is heavy, and the consequences ripple through the national landscape every single year. No other rivalry—NONE—consistently produces top-10 matchups, conference-deciding games, playoff implications, and generational moments the way this one does.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day captured the essence of The Game following the 2024 matchup when he said, “The Game is not just a game—it’s our life. It’s our identity.” For players at Ohio State and Michigan alike, this matchup defines their legacy. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State’s phenom receiver, didn’t hesitate when asked about it: “We’re not losing to Michigan the next two years… Hate. You know. With everything in me, I hate them.” Some may call it harsh, but any Buckeye or Wolverine knows it’s simply the truth.
Former Ohio State legend Earle Bruce once said, “We’ve had 11-1 and 10-1 football teams that lost to Michigan, and they’re not even mentioned in the second breath.” At Ohio State, you can be great—but if you lose The Game, that greatness becomes a footnote. Even Woody Hayes admitted its unmatched importance during his battles with Bo Schembechler: “Damn you, Bo, you’ll never win a bigger game.”
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore acknowledges the same reality: “This is the most important game of the year… we put everything we’ve got into winning this game.” Both programs build their seasons, their training, and their culture around this one matchup. Entire careers rise or fall on its outcome.
What separates The Game from every other rivalry is how often it carries national implications. According to ESPN and CBS Sports, Ohio State and Michigan have met as ranked opponents 50 times—more than any other rivalry in college football history. The winner often claims the Big Ten title, secures a playoff berth, and dominates the recruiting trail. The television audience is consistently the highest-rated of the regular season. America stops to watch because everyone knows this isn’t just a football game—it’s a war.
As we often remind fans, “Throw the records out.” Whether it’s the Ten-Year War, “The Spot,” or the many Games of the Century, this rivalry delivers stories that last for generations. It shapes identities. It divides states. It fuels passion. And most importantly, it defines the sport as a whole.
No matter how the rankings shift, no matter how the conferences evolve, Ohio State vs. Michigan stands alone at the top. It is the beating heart of college football. It is the measuring stick of greatness. It is, simply, The Game.
And as Ryan Day said: “You only have so many of these games. Let’s not be crying the last game of the season.” For Buckeye Nation, the mission remains the same every year: stay focused, stay hungry, and be ready to dominate the biggest stage in sports.
