Readers Respond: Your Opinion: Name the Best Rivalry in College Football

But even great rivalries lose their luster when one team becomes too dominant. Recently, I ranked the Top 10 Best Rivalries in College Football for 2009, based both on historical importance and current relevance.

Now, I want to hear your opinions. So tell me: What's the best rivalry in college football today? Ohio State-Michigan? The Red River Rivalry? The Backyard Brawl? Give your take here. Give Your Take!

BYU-Utah Tops Them All

BYU-Utah is Number 1, no questions asked! These schools are 35 miles apart and the rivalry goes deeper because there are religious differences attached and we all know that most wars through history have evolved because of religious differences. There is actually a hatred between the players and fans on these two universities.

—LDSBYUConvert

LYN

CAL vs.STANFORD My first experience at Big Game, CAL tore down the stadium railings, goal posts, used parts of goal post swinging as weapons. Stanford students just stood by and looked at them. This year their band, which is very good, played when Stanford was performing and an award was being presented to Tiger Woods. This was before Tiger's accident. They played better and won the game, they have a great band, but lack maturity and discipline. Much the same for USC.

—Guest LINDA ROSS

Lafayette-Lehigh

Let's not forget college football's most played rivalry. The 145th game in the Lafayette Lehigh series was played on 11/21 and we look forward to the 150th game in 2014. They have been playing since 1883 - not many can say that. Many of your top 10 are Johnny come latelys in comparison. Also, Harvard-Yale should be on your list - big crowds, lots of tradition. Incidently, Lafayette beat both of them this year! Both schools hate each other on that day, and the taunts back and forth in the stands are truly funny. The game is televised to sports bars and country clubs all over the country and in England! Talk about tradition!

—EdM2416

Where is The Holy War?!

The Holy War (Utah vs. BYU) is the one of best rivalry in college football!

—Guest guest

Oregon Vs Oregon State

Oregon Vs Oregon State is one of the oldest and most exciting college football rivalries there is. In 2009 it will be the 113th meeting between these two pac 10 rivals and this time they are fighting for a Rose Bowl birth.

—Guest Joe

Javelina

I think Texas vs. Texas A&M ranks as #1, although Army-Navy is close; however, just about any rivalry is top notch.

—Guest mmmmds

Cal vs. Stanford

The battle for The Axe has been going on for more than a century. It was at a Big Game that the five-lateral touchdown drive by Cal became known as The Play.

—Guest suekamm

BYU vs Utah

The "Holy War" is often overlooked. It is the most heated, close games you can get. 2 of the last three games were decided with less than 1 minute left in the game! 2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnJbeswDpVg 2007: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A4xTro9Ypk Very very intense games! These 2 teams completely HATE each other! I have watched several rivalry games and this one tops the list! Complete hate between these teams. This year, both teams go into this game 9-2 and are both ranked in the top 25 and the winner is going to the Las Vegas Bowl game. This rivalry has made it on the top ten list of several other magazines. Both teams are in state and are pretty much complete oppisite. They are only 45 miles apart.

—Guest Kyle

The Cross Town Rivairy

USC TROJANS AND THE UCLA BRUINS NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL A FIGHT

—Guest USCFan

UM vs OSU

How can anyone argue this? The largest crowd in all of college football is Mich/OSU. it does not matter who is hosting the game.

—Guest thonati

the paul bunyan axe

The Paul Bunyan axe rivalry than any of those rivalrys. most of those rivalrys are too one-sided.

—Guest austin

THIS IS INSANE!!! LOOK AT THE #'s

Before you go spouting your favorite teams, check out some stats. MAIMI - FSU is the GREATEST rivalry period. Since 1980, the average score for a MIAMI - FSU game is 24-22, that is unheard of. Also, Between 1983 and 2002, the Hurricanes and Seminoles combined to win 7 national championships and play in a whopping 14 national championship games. And Lastly, the TV ratings say it all, no other rivalry comes close in TV ratings. The 2006 game between Miami and FSU was the most-viewed college football game, regular season or bowl, in the history of ESPN, averaging 6,330,000 million households in viewership (6.9 rating). It was also the second-highest rated game in ESPN history, behind only the 1994 game between Miami and FSU, which notched a 7.7 rating Not sure why the MIAMI - FSU rivalry gets left out but the numbers are pretty ridiculous. THe Games are ALWAYS close and there is a legitimate hatred between the two schools.

—Guest Guest

The Big Game

Let's not forget about Cal vs. Stanford, the rivalry that produced 'The Play' in 1986, the best comeback win ever. These two schools are also huge academic rivals in the SF Bay Area, both having produced dozens of Nobel Laureates. These might not be the biggest programs and it's been a long time since either won a National Championship, but it is a very healthy rivalry, and no matter how good or bad each school's program is doing, both step up to fight for The Axe.

—Guest Mr. Dave

The Land Grant Bowl

What about Penn State v. Michigan State for the Land Grant Bowl? That's a truly incredible game!

—Guest NittanyLionLover

BEST Rivalry

how about usc and ucla now that is what I call Rivalry

—Guest william Reynoso