4 of the Biggest Rivalries in the History of NCAA Division I Football

What would college football be without rivalries? Rivalries can make regular season games seem like playoff games. Battling another school across the state border or within the state can be the biggest game of the season. The players get excited. The players get excited. The community gets excited! Here are some of the most noteworthy rivalries in NCAA football:

1. Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles

These two teams have been battling in their intrastate rivalry, since 1958. Florida leads the series, 31-19-2. People sometimes refer to this competition as the "Sunshine Showdown" (referring to Florida's nickname as the Sunshine State), or the "Governor's Cup." Adding to the thrill of the game, one or both of the schools' football teams have had high national rankings the week of their meeting, since 1990. In fact, since Bobby Bowden began coaching Florida State in 1976, the series has been virtually deadlocked.

2. UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans

How intense is the intrastate rivalry between UCLA and USC? It even has a name. The Lexus Gauntlet refers to the competition between USC and UCLA, involving head-to-head competitions in 18 varsity sports. Both universities have participatory events during the week before the clash of the two football teams. USC refers to the week as "Conquest" or "Troy Week." On the other hand, UCLA calls that week "Beat SC Week" (the less combative official title is "Blue and Gold Week.")

By the way, what exactly are Bruins and Trojans? A Bruin is a huge, vicious bear in Europe and Asia. Meanwhile, the Trojans were citizens of Troy-an ancient city in modern-day Turkey.

3. Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies

This rivalry is as big as the state of Texas. The teams' football teams annually battle each other on the day following Thanksgiving. The teams do this to give the rivalry a national spotlight. Here is some interesting trivia about the rivalry:

• Begun in 1900, the teams' rivalry is the third longest one in college football
• Activities such as Texas' "Hex Rally" and Texas A&M's "Aggie Bonfire" precede the game.
• The Aggies "honor" Texas in their "Aggie War Hymn" fight song, while the Longhorns wish their rivals a "goodbye" in their "Texas Fight" fight song.

4. Western Michigan Broncos and Central Michigan Chippewas

The Broncos were actually once Hilltoppers. That referred to its East Hall sitting atop Prospect Hill. However, in 1939 Western Michigan changed the name of its athletic teams to the Broncos. At that time, other Hilltoppers existed, such as the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Meanwhile, the Chippewas, or "Chips" represent Central Michigan University. The team represents the Saginaw Chippewa Native American tribe, which lives in the region. Ironically, while the university maintains a constructive relationship with the American Indians, in 2005 the NCAA included the name "Chippewas" on its list of "hostile" or "abusive" nicknames. However, Central Michigan successfully appealed the judgment.

Rivalries are essential to the thrill of NCAA football. Regardless of which team you cheer for, use NCAA merchandise to show your support!