College Football is a sport full of passionate fans, from students, alumni, faculty, and even nearby residents. The deep traditions and history of college football in the United States have created many fun moments for fans, including football rivalry games.

The biggest football rivalries are typically between the most historic programs, like Alabama, Michigan, and even the service academies. Still, over the years, new rivalries have formed with new foes and new faces. There are many factors that go into ranking a rivalry, but we have the top 15 college football rivalries to consider when betting on NCAAF at BetUS Sportsbook.

15. Florida-Florida State

Only 150 miles separate these two schools. This rivalry is between the two oldest schools in the state, with Florida leading the rivalry 37-28-2 all-time. While it does not have the same punch as Florida State-Miami, this is still an entertaining rivalry with close proximity, making the final spot in our list of the 15 best college football rivalries.

14. Notre Dame-USC

The farthest rivalry in our list, this matchup spans 2,000 miles in the United States from coast to coast. This historic matchup once drew 120,000 fans to Soldier Field, and the two programs don’t need an in-state rivalry to spark a heated matchup. Notre Dame leads the series 51-38-5 all-time.

13. Alabama-Tennessee

What school has the most rivals? I would have to say Alabama, which is why they are the first team listed twice, with Alabama having multiple rivalries around the nation. When you are in a program as good as Alabama, you will make a lot of enemies.

Alabama leads this rivalry 57-39-7, including a 15-game win streak over Tennessee in the 2000s. This is the game Tennessee circles on their calendar every season.

12. BYU-Utah

How could one not mention the “Holy War” in a list of greatest rivalries? This battle of Mormons earns a spot in the top 15 simply out of the uniqueness of the rivalry and its religious ties. Utah leads the rivalry 62-35-4, with a caveat that BYU does not recognize the first six meetings, claiming the series is 59-32-4.

11. Oregon-Oregon State

Originally named the “Civil War” (dropped in 2020), this rivalry over Oregon features one of the most boring college football games of all time, which was a 0-0 tie in 1983. Still, this rivalry has produced some great moments, and everyone loves a good in-state rivalry. Oregon leads it 67-49-10 all-time.

10. California-Stanford

We have the battle of Socal in USC and UCLA, and then there’s the battle of NorCal. California and Stanford is a hoity-toity rivalry that has pitted two close-in-proximity schools against one another in a battle of supremacy for a century. Stanford leads this matchup 65-49-11 all-time.

9. Harvard-Yale

While it is maybe the least exciting rivalry nowadays, no one can deny this is the most historic rivalry in college football, even over Army-Navy. Harvard is the original college of the United States, and Yale is not far behind. These two schools shaped the way football grew in America, and while these two teams play at the FCS level now, this is one of the original college football rivalries of America.  Yale leads it all-time with a 69-61-8 record.

8. Florida-Georgia

This rivalry is so heated that the two teams can’t even agree on how many times they have played! The Bulldogs claim they have 101 meetings, while Florida claims it is 100. This is because the “first” meeting was in 1904 and the Gators say they hadn’t officially started their football program yet. Either way, Georgia still leads the rivalry 55-44-2 all-time, and also won their first “official” meeting, according to the Gators, 37-0. Different date, same result. Get over it Florida.

7. Florida State-Miami

While this is not one of the most historic rivalries, this in-state rivalry has produced some great games, including their 2006 meeting which is one of the most-viewed college football games of all time. This was a close call between these two schools and Florida-Florida State, but ultimately this earns the seventh spot because it is a closer rivalry, with Miami holding a thin lead of 36-33 all-time.

The first meeting came in 1951, with Miami winning 35-13. This is one of the closest rivalries in college football, making it a great watch every year. Can Florida State tie it up within the next few years?

6. Mississippi-Ole Miss

Speaking of close rivals, the next rivalry on our list is between two schools just 75 miles apart. Ole Miss and Mississippi is another in-state rivalry and a battle for supremacy over Mississippi. 

This rivalry, lasting over a century, began in 1901, with Mississippi State winning 17-0. However, that game did not set the pace for this rivalry, as Ole Miss leads it all-time 65-46-6. This rivalry has had some bad blood, with a fight breaking out on the field in 2018 with four players being ejected.

5. USC-UCLA

Another in-state rivalry, this historic matchup has divided the southern part of California for nearly a century. The first meeting came in 1929, with USC delivering a 76-0 beat of UCLA, which would set the tempo for a rivalry USC has dominated. USC leads this rivalry 50-34-7 all-time.

This is one of the closest rivalries in college football, quite literally, with the campuses of USC and UCLA being separated by only about 12 miles. This battle of Los Angeles is the biggest rivalry in California between the two best programs in the state.

4. Oklahoma-Texas

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the rivalries. These two teams are fifth and sixth on the most winningest programs list (Texas is fifth), perfectly capturing the meaning of this rivalry. Donned the “Red River Rivalry”, this is a classic matchup of bordering foes in Oklahoma and Texas.

This classic war of programs has had 120 total meetings, with Texas leading 64-51-5. The first meeting was in 1900, which kicked this rivalry off with a 28-2 win for Texas.

3. Alabama-Auburn

You knew we wouldn’t be able to get too far into this list without an Alabama sighting. Alabama is the second-winningest college football program of all time and perfectly embodies the passion this game can create in regions. There aren’t many atmospheres in America that can beat a game played in Tuscaloosa, especially when it is against rival Auburn.

This rivalry, nicknamed the “Iron Bowl”, has created some of the most memorable moments in the history of college football. First meeting in 1893, when Auburn won the initial game, this rivalry has been maybe the most popular, due to the fact that it is the biggest rivalry between in-state foes.

Alabama as a state does not have a professional football team, so their Super Bowl every year is when Alabama and Auburn meet on the field. Alabama leads this rivalry 50-37-1.

2. Michigan-Ohio State

If your question is what is the biggest rivalry in college football? From a purely competitive aspect, Michigan vs. Ohio State is the greatest college football rivalry. Michigan is the winningest college football team of all time and is the only program with over 1,000 wins. However, Ohio State is third all-time on that list right behind Alabama in second.

This rivalry has had 119 meetings, with the first coming in 1897, a 34-0 Michigan win. That original meeting set the pace for this rivalry, as Michigan leads it all-time 61-51-6. This rivalry is so historic, its nickname is simply “The Game”. That is good enough for the second rank on this list.

1. Army-Navy

If you are wondering what is the oldest rivalry in college football? That would be Army vs. Navy, which met first in 1890, with the Navy whomping the Army 24-0. Not only does this rivalry get the number one spot for its history as the oldest college football rivalry, but this is also the most patriotic rivalry in football. Two service academies going at it in America’s favorite pastime (sorry baseball, I said it). There are few things more patriotic than this rivalry.

The Navy leads this rivalry with a 62-55-7 record. This is the most-played college football rivalry with 124 total meetings, and with its patriotic ties as well, this has to be number one on the list.