Top 25 CFB Rivalries (entering 2026)
- Thread starter LaQuintaHawk
- Start date
I’d rank our game with Wisconsin than Nebraska. Top 3 tough to argue. If talking all time I know it’s on hiatus but bedlam between OU and OSU along with no cal Stanford on the list.
I had no idea that we would have two of these in the top 25.
It seems the Iowa-Nebraska rivalry is maybe a bit underrated, and the Iowa State maybe overrated, because while everybody inside the state of Iowa cares about it, does ANYBODY outside the state of Iowa have a dog in the fight?
It seems the Iowa-Nebraska rivalry is maybe a bit underrated, and the Iowa State maybe overrated, because while everybody inside the state of Iowa cares about it, does ANYBODY outside the state of Iowa have a dog in the fight?
Does anyone outside the state of Alabama honestly have a dog in the Alabama-Auburn fight?..................just sayin.
The Iowa-Nebraska rivalry is far ahead of ISU. It is the rivalry clown fans wish they could have had with UN back in the Big 8/12, but it was never to be.
How?
Nebraska doesn't ever win.
And other than being a conference foe, Nebraska doesn't mean as much as ISU does, to Iowa's people or team
I agree that one of this two should at least replace L’ville vs Kentucky. To me, that rivalry is about equal to Purdue vs Indiana and they’re not on the list.
You can replace #25. As well, let’s keep it to FBS/CFP teams only.
Just to repeat, the clowns always wanted to be Nebraska's rival. Never came close, and here are the Hawkeyes playing the Huskers the day after Thanksgiving with rabid fan bases.
Good things just don't happen to clowns. Not since 1912.
Floyd of Rosedale. The rivalry with Minnesota is Iowa's greatest one, even if it doesn't make these national rankings.
Scratch #4 on that list (USC/ND) since it no longer happening.
Iowa/Minnesota belongs on the list considering what the history is of the games (not to mention the BEST trophy).
#6 on the list is a 3-way series which is different.
#5 is too low on the list.
What other series are in the “receiving votes” category?
Iowa/Minnesota belongs on the list considering what the history is of the games (not to mention the BEST trophy).
#6 on the list is a 3-way series which is different.
#5 is too low on the list.
What other series are in the “receiving votes” category?
Nobody outside of the two schools or states in any of these rivalries does. That's the nature of a rivalry. It's about two specific groups of people, states, or teams who have some kind of history or connection.
I have no favorite in tOSU/Michigan but I recognize that it's a great college football rivalry.
Last edited:
It's not necessarily clear what RC is referring to.
Could be taken either way, I suppose. I interpreted through context of the thread
Floyd of Rosedale is the coolest trophy in college football, except for the national champion crystal whatever.
I really like that Michigan and Ohio State, who hate each other, don't play for a trophy. It is The Game. That says all they care about.
I really like that Michigan and Ohio State, who hate each other, don't play for a trophy. It is The Game. That says all they care about.
Notre Dame is feeling the squeeze. Waah, waah, I don't feel sorry for them.
That's why the #1 rivalry is Army-Navy. Hands down.
Lists like this are always subjective and will always have criticism.
The thing I find odd with this list as they claim that it is “current” (“going into 2026 season”), which is supported by the presence of BYU-UT, OR-WA, IA-ISU and KY-LOU, as well as the absence of ND-MI, ND-MSU, IN-PURD and GA-GATech. However, the list includes ND-USC, PITT-WVA, USC-UCLA and WA-WSU (not/hardly played or non-competitive) but not IA-MN, which is one of the country’s oldest, played every season between two P-2 teams, and has objectively a top-5 trophy and story behind it.
IA-NEB is listed based on nastiness between fan bases and little else, which is probably why MS-MSU is in there, too.
The thing I find odd with this list as they claim that it is “current” (“going into 2026 season”), which is supported by the presence of BYU-UT, OR-WA, IA-ISU and KY-LOU, as well as the absence of ND-MI, ND-MSU, IN-PURD and GA-GATech. However, the list includes ND-USC, PITT-WVA, USC-UCLA and WA-WSU (not/hardly played or non-competitive) but not IA-MN, which is one of the country’s oldest, played every season between two P-2 teams, and has objectively a top-5 trophy and story behind it.
IA-NEB is listed based on nastiness between fan bases and little else, which is probably why MS-MSU is in there, too.
I love the sentiment. Michigan/Ohio St is hard to ignore.
I've always respected that Michigan-OSU don't play for a trophy or catchy name; it's just "The Game."
I'd say, yes. At least more care about that game than Iowa- Iowa State.
Yes, I think it gets lots of attention in the South.
I used to live in Alabama* and it was the biggest in-state rivalry I've seen or heard of.
*- Thank you for your condolences. State motto, "We're not Mississippi."
Iowa Nebby is a young series, a very good series but not I dont think the rivalry of Wisky or Minny. And the hawks have been spanking these guys very often the last 10 years
Maybe Michigan-OSU is No. 2, but Army-Navy is unique in so many ways and, by its very nature, it's the only truly national college football rivalry.
Funny how PJ Fleck's record at Minnesota is 1-8 vs. Iowa and 7-1 vs. Nebraska. The latter comes in handy to pad his win percentage.
Yeah well ya know what, they f***ing shouldn't.
Because the list purports to be all of college football, and not just FBS, then it should include The Game. Harvard-Yale is the nation's second-oldest rivalry, going back to 1875. (The oldest is Yale vs. Princeton, which started in 1873.)
Some, I agree, mostly, a whole lot of "meh". Seems like a post that wants to cater to Notre Dame, the SEC and then the rest, just to include them (with the exception to Ohia State and Meechigan, which is so overrated, eff both of them).
This I'd rank them ahead of any other, and then Iowa vs Wisconsin. The gophs, I mean who else chants, "who hates Iowa, WE hate Iowa" when they're playing other teams. They're the team I want to curb stomp more then anybody.....
It is certainly one of the coolest. The true pagentry of college football.....
Nebraska is a shadow of the team they were in the Big 8/12. Everyone wanted to be their rival in those days. Now no one cares about Nebraska, except you, apparently.
Enjoy.
The academies ( military ) are the best of all in the sense they are truly the definition of student athlete. Utmost respect for those folks they’re the best of us.
You must be new here. Check the Knowledge U site and read what those bovine molesters say about Iowa.
That Clown College never had the rivalry is one more straw on the back of their inferiority complex. It won't help when they eventually move to the Mountain West.
I highly doubt any of us could have gotten into one of the military academies. I know you guys are smart
but that's another level of smart.
Oh, I don't know. Took the ASVAB (armed services vocational aptitude Battery) in high school. Scored in the top 3% of everyone who had ever taken the test. Had recruiters after me for 6 month. Almost went to the Air Force Academy. All ready had my pilots license. Decided to chase skirts and drink beer instead, lolol..I highly doubt any of us could have gotten into one of the military academies. I know you guys are smart
I didn't take the ASVAB (if they had it in my day) and went directly to chasing skirts and drinking beer. Sounds like you had an impressive if difficult choice though.