Rivalries, each in-conference and out-of-conference, are among the many greatest parts of school soccer. Most of the time, the schedule is devised in order that groups play their No. 1 historic opponent within the final week of the common season.
These rivalries embody recruiting battles, wonderful late-game finishes and a number of the greatest matchups in all of sports activities; there are too lots of them to rely.
Listed here are the ten greatest school soccer rivalries of all time, based on FOX Sports activities Analysis.
10 Largest School Soccer Rivalries of All Time
Ole Miss and Mississippi State battle within the “Egg Bowl” yearly. (Photograph by Matthew Sharpe/WireImage)
If you happen to lose this sport, do not anticipate to be greeted effectively by the locals for the following 12 months. A two-hour drive separating the 2 colleges who compete within the yearly “Egg Bowl,” Ole Miss and Mississippi State make for the rivalry within the state of Mississippi. The primary sport within the rivalry’s historical past was Nov. 24, 1932, with Ole Miss getting a 13-0 victory. And, general, the Rebels have the higher hand within the all-time collection, boasting a 57-30-4 report. Of late, this sport has normally been performed on Thanksgiving Evening or on Black Friday.
Texas and Texas A&M matched up for the primary time in 13 years in 2024. (Photograph by Alex Slitz/Getty Pictures)
Final 12 months, Texas formally joined the SEC, permitting it to play in-state rival Texas A&M for the primary time in 13 years, with the Longhorns getting a 17-7 win on the highway at School Station. This matchup was historically performed on the finish of the common season when the 2 colleges had been every within the Massive 12. Texas A&M received the primary assembly between the 2 groups on Nov. 19, 1915, 13-0. The Longhorns have traditionally gotten the higher of the Aggies, nonetheless, boasting a 77-36-5 all-time report. With the 2 colleges again in the identical convention, anticipate heated recruiting battles and anticipated Saturday night time matchups in November.
BYU has received its final two video games in opposition to Utah. (Photograph by Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
From 1922-2010, Utah and BYU had been every in the identical convention earlier than the Utes joined the Pac-12 and the Cougars turned an unbiased for the 2011 season. As a part of the historic convention realignment, the 2 colleges every joined the Massive 12 in 2024, permitting two colleges separated by one hour to be arch rivals as soon as once more — and never simply face off every so often. BYU has received every of the final two matchups in opposition to Utah, however the former has a 52-30-4 all-time report in opposition to the previous. Very similar to the aforementioned Texas rivalry, anticipate the inner-Utah battle to boost within the coming years.
Florida and Georgia sq. off in Jacksonville yearly. (Photograph by James Gilbert/Getty Pictures)
Two of essentially the most historic packages in school soccer are in neighboring states and play one another yearly at a impartial web site in Jacksonville. Granted, Gainesville (Florida) is far nearer to Jacksonville than Georgia (Athens). The Bulldogs have had the Gators variety of late, profitable seven of the final eight matchups and proudly owning a 56-44-2 report within the all-time collection. However that does not imply the Gators have not had their share of success over the Bulldogs. As an illustration, Florida acquired the higher of Georgia within the Tim Tebow period (2006-09) and received 18 of 21 over Georgia from 1990-2010.
Miami and Florida State every play within the ACC. (Photograph by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
An arduous, seven-to-eight-hour drive separates Florida State from Miami, nevertheless it’s nonetheless an in-state rivalry, however — and a tightly contested one, with the Hurricanes having a slim, 36-33 report in opposition to the Seminoles. The ACC groups first squared off on Oct. 5, 1951, with Miami getting the primary of 5 consecutive wins over Florida State and eight of 9 victories. Later, the Seminoles returned the favor with a seven-game profitable streak over the Hurricanes, and it has continued to be a rivalry of streaks. Miami received the 2024 assembly, however Florida State had received the earlier three.
Notre Dame and USC have confronted one another on an annual foundation since 1986, excluding the 2020 season. (Photograph by Ric Tapia/Getty Pictures)
It is a matchup of 1 staff that may see the Pacific Ocean and one staff that pays homage to Rudy. Put them in a blender, and it makes for among the finest rivalries in collegiate sports activities and two historic venues: LA Memorial Coliseum and Notre Dame Stadium. Whether or not or not it’s Matt Leinart’s goal-line sneak to get USC a win in South Bend in 2005 or Notre Dame placing collectively a game-winning landing drive within the ultimate minutes of a 2010 sport in L.A., this matchup has regularly delivered. Of late, the Combating Irish have had their method with the Trojans, profitable six of the final seven conferences and having a mixed 52-37-5 report within the collection.
Military and Navy play yearly following School Soccer Convention Championship week. (Photograph by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
“America’s Recreation” just isn’t solely an ideal soccer sport however essentially the most significant one of all of them, as the 2 service academies play at a impartial web site each December within the all-important Military-Navy sport. One other matchup that has been one among streaks, the Midshipmen have a 63-55-7 report in opposition to the Black Knights. The primary-ever matchup was in 1890, with Navy getting a 24-0 win. After Navy received 14 consecutive video games over Military from 2002-15, the latter modified the tide in 2016 and has received six of the final 9 contests. Two years in the past (2023), the sport was actually determined by inches, as Military saved Navy out of the top zone on a quarterback sneak on the 2-yard line with one second remaining. This matchup is a battle up entrance from begin to end.
Texas and Oklahoma sq. off within the “Purple River Showdown” each season. (Photograph by Sam Hodde/Getty Pictures)
“The Purple River Showdown” is fierce, an ideal atmosphere (the sport is performed at a impartial web site in Dallas) and makes for an intense scuffle. The primary-ever assembly between Texas and Oklahoma was a mere one-point Sooner victory in 1950. In 2020, the 2 groups performed right into a fourth time beyond regulation, with the Sooners escaping with the victory. The Longhorns have received two of the final three video games, with these wins combining for a whopping 83-3 rating, however the Sooners have the slim lead within the all-time collection, 37-31-3. Beforehand bitter Massive 12 rivals, the 2 colleges every joined the SEC in 2024, with their yearly sport at Cotton Bowl Stadium remaining intact.
Alabama and Auburn play yearly within the “Iron Bowl.” (Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Pictures)
Yearly, the state of Alabama is on the road within the “Iron Bowl,” which has delivered a number of the most memorable moments in school soccer. In 2013, Alabama tried a would-be, game-winning 58-yard area purpose as time expired within the fourth quarter, however Cody Parkey’s kick missed. Then, Chris Davis ran the missed sit back 100 yards for a walk-off landing in arguably essentially the most chilling end within the historical past of the game. Lately, Alabama pulled off a pair of miracle wins in opposition to Auburn, together with a 97-yard landing drive with underneath two minutes to play and no timeouts to power time beyond regulation and later win in 2021. In 2023, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe accomplished a go-ahead and eventual game-winning, 31-yard landing move on fourth-and-goal to Isaiah Bond with 32 seconds remaining within the sport. The Crimson Tide have received the final 5 video games and are 51-37-1 within the all-time collection.
Michigan has received its final 4 video games in opposition to Ohio State. (Photograph by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
These two packages actually hate one another. It is known as “The Recreation” for a motive, as Michigan and Ohio State make for a timeless school soccer rivalry and the most effective within the Massive Ten Convention. Ohio State misplaced or tied every of its first 14 video games in opposition to Michigan, together with an 86-0 defeat in 1902. Following the 14th all-time assembly, this has been a lifeless warmth of a rivalry. Whether or not or not it’s Desmond Howard’s Heisman pose, Curtis Samuel’s time beyond regulation walk-off landing for Ohio State in 2016 or Michigan attempting to plant a flag on Ohio Stadium after its 2024 upset victory, there are numerous iconic moments, nice finishes and leisure implanted on this Rustbelt hatred. Michigan is 62-51-6 within the all-time collection and has received every of the final 4 matchups, although, Ohio State received the earlier eight video games and 15 of 16 beforehand.
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