Hey guys, I'm a big fan of college football and I love the intensity that rivalries bring to it. So, just for fun, what's currently considered the most popular rivalry in college football?
Although it's subjective and can vary depending on which part of the country you're located, the rivalry between the University of Michigan (UMich) and Ohio State University (Ohio State), also known as "The Game," is often pointed to as one of the most intense and notable rivalries in college football.
This rivalry is rooted deep in history, with their first football match dating back to 1897. The intensity of the rivalry has been high since the start because of the cultural and economic conflicts between the states of Michigan and Ohio, which add fuel to the athletic competition.
As of the 2024-2025 academic year, both UMich and Ohio State remain in the same conference, the Big Ten, thus they have a game scheduled each year, usually the last game of the season for both teams, magnifying its importance. The matchup has often decided the conference champion and impacted the national college football rankings.
This is just one of many intense rivalries in college football - others include the Iron Bowl between Auburn University and University of Alabama, and the Red River Showdown between University of Texas (UT Austin) and University of Oklahoma (Oklahoma). Each has unique traditions and historic moments that contribute to the passionate rivalries we see today.
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