TicketCity released their rankings of college football’s best rivalries in 2013. Although their conclusions came via metrics and methodology you can view here, there are no doubt going to be some avid fans driven towards the defensive.
A few notes on the top rivalries in the country:
- I totally agree with Alabama-LSU at No 1. All you have to do is look at ticket prices, which have arguably been the hottest and most costly (for a regular season game) in all of sports. LSU fans are still pissed that Nick Saban left the Tigers for the Dolphins after leading them to a championship earlier in the decade. Bama fans love reminding those from Baton Rouge they now have their old ball coach and have reeled off three titles in four years because of his lack of loyalty — and oh ya, one of those championship games was a beat down of LSU in an epic re-match game following a defensive slugfest that LSU won fair and square 9-6 in overtime. The passion that arises in the SEC is unparalleled to anywhere else in the country and these two teams have been the best out of the conference the last four years.
- Hatred doesn’t begin to describe Ohio State-Michigan. I’ve lived in Columbus and seen it first hand. I was afraid to wear gold or blue. Solid at No. 2.
- Alabama-Auburn is still one of the best traditional rivalries in college football. Read anything on its history and you’ll understand why. Let’s just say this is the reason there are no pro sports teams in Alabama to this day.
- Notice Alabama has three out of the top nine rivalries? With Tennessee, just look up Phil Fulmer.
- “19 of top 25 rivalries are intra-conference, half of which are SEC. The SEC’s commitment to one permanent cross-division game means the continuation of the traditional Alabama-Tennessee, and Auburn-Georgia rivalries.” – TicketCity
- “The Big Ten dominate in terms of attendance at rivalry games. With some of the largest stadiums in American football (Michigan Stadium, Beaver Stadium and Ohio Stadium) Big Ten rivalries hold 4 of the top 5 spots for game attendance in 2012.” – TicketCity
Photo credit: Getty
Graphic credit: TicketCity
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on @JHelmuth or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
