The Crimson Tide entered the game riding the momentum of back-to-back national championships. But in one of the fiercest rivalries, rankings and records often mean very little. When the team arrived in Auburn, it was undefeated, marching towards another national title with a sturdy step.
But the fourth-ranked Tigers never planned on letting Alabama get away with ease.
Auburn struck first with a touchdown, but Alabama answered emphatically, scoring 21 points in the second quarter to take a 21–14 lead into halftime. The Tigers fought back after the break, tying the game in the third quarter. Both teams found the end zone again in the fourth, leaving the score deadlocked at 28–28 with only one second remaining.
Alabama kicker Adam Griffith stepped onto the field for a 57-yard field goal attempt that would decide the game. The kick fell short.
Instead of heading to overtime, Auburn return specialist Chris Davis caught the ball deep in his own end zone. With blockers forming in front of him, Davis sprinted up the sideline, weaving past stunned Alabama players before racing the full 109 yards for a game-winning touchdown. Auburn defeated Alabama 34–28 in one of the most dramatic finishes the sport has ever witnessed.
“AUBURN’S GONNA WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME!”, yelled Auburn’s radio play-by-play caller Rod Bramblett, delivering one of the most legendary calls.
The victory secured Auburn a spot in the SEC championship game. The play became iconic known as “Kick-Six”. It gave college football one of the most memorable games.
A rivalry is everything but a regular game. The annual matchups are wrapped in traditions. Defined by rich history. The competitiveness, effort, and focus go beyond measure. Both the teams and the fans prepare for weeks in advance to face their rival. The winner doesn’t just get another tally in the victory column – he gets the glory, praise, and respect. And the trophy, stating one thing – he owns the series.
A rivalry is everything but a regular game. The annual matchups are wrapped in traditions. Defined by rich history. The competitiveness, effort, and focus go beyond measure. Both the teams and the fans prepare for weeks in advance to face their rival. Some rivalries are fueled by geography, others by conference championships, national title implications, or generations of bitter competition.
Whatever their origins, they represent the very best of college football.
So, what are the biggest and best rivalries in college football?
1. Ohio State vs. Michigan - The Game
The name of the series is simple, but that’s where the simplicity ends. The Game surpasses college football as the biggest and most heated rivalry matchup of all sports. Whenever the Buckeyes and Wolverines meet, the matchup has every ingredient for a memorable showdown. The programs are separated by just over 200 miles, and the mutual hatred is unmistakable. The winner earns a full year of bragging rights—often overshadowing everything else.
Michigan wears blue and maize, while Ohio State swears scarlet and grey. The combination creates one of the most recognizable patterns, and when seen together, it only means one thing: the war is on. During rivalry week, Ohio State fans, students, and employees cover every letter "M" on campus with red tape or replace it with a red "X" online. No "M" is allowed to remain. Michigan answers by blasting its iconic fight song throughout the week.
In 2021, Michigan snapped an eight-year losing streak against Ohio State with a 42–27 victory. Three years later, the rivalry delivered another unforgettable chapter. In 2024, the unranked Wolverines stunned the No. 2 Buckeyes 13–10 in Columbus. As Michigan celebrated, players attempted to plant the Block "M" flag at midfield on Ohio State's logo. The Buckeyes rushed in to stop them, sparking a brawl that police eventually broke up with pepper spray.
“The Game” oftentimes determines national championships, Heisman Trophy candidates, and Big Ten winners. It carries enormous weight, and every season, the country looks forward to it.
First meeting: 1897
Total meetings: 121
Record: Michigan leads 62-52-6
Next meeting: November 28, 2026
2. Auburn vs. Alabama – the Iron Bowl
The in-state rivalry series is fierce and one of the oldest rivalries, and Alabama has had the upper hand. The Crimson Tide rides a 6-game winning streak that started in 2020. It’s long been one of the most heated ones, too.
Both programs have been among the country’s best since the 1950s, and the matchups are usually neck-to-neck.
In 2011, Alabama fan Harvey Updyke served time in prison after being convicted of poisoning Auburn’s signature oak trees at Toomer’s Corner. The Iron Bowl clash never disappoints. In 2021, the Crimson Tide beat unranked Auburn in a quadruple-overtime madness.
Ten years after the iconic Kick-Six, the series delivered another unforgettable moment – Alabama trailed 24-20 with less than a minute remaining. They faced fourth-and-goal on the 31-yard line. There was no tomorrow, and quarterback Jalen Milroe knew it.
With 32 seconds left, he threw a touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond that gave Alabama the victory.
The play earned a nickname of “Grave Digger”; some refer to the magical throw as “Fourth and 31.” The series first took place in 1893 and is one of the most popular. History suggests that the 2026 meeting won’t be any less electric.
First meeting: 1893
Total meetings: 90
Record: Alabama leads 52-37-1
Next meeting: November 28, 2026
3. Texas vs. Oklahoma – the Red River Rivalry
The Texas Longhorns despise Texas A&M, and Oklahoma can’t stand Oklahoma State. Yet, those rivalry games aren’t the biggest ones for these teams. When Texas meets Oklahoma in the battle of the border, the matchup reaches the next level. When both programs left the Big 12 for the SEC – the toughest and historically most successful football conference – the rivalry grew even more intense.
Every year, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas is split between burnt orange and crimson. Since 1941, the winner has taken home the Golden Hat Trophy, a 10-gallon bronze cowboy hat painted gold. Played during the State Fair of Texas, the rivalry combines football, tradition, and one of the sport's most unique atmospheres.
In 2021, Texas stormed to a 28–7 first-quarter lead before Oklahoma made a dramatic change at quarterback. Spencer Rattler was benched in favor of Caleb Williams, who engineered an incredible 21-point comeback as the Sooners defeated Texas 55–48 in the highest-scoring Red River Rivalry ever.
Last year, the Longhorns handed No. 6, then-undefeated Oklahoma their first loss of the season. Ryan Niblett returned a punt 75 yards for a statement touchdown in the grand finale to seal the deal for Texas. Quarterback Arch Manning threw for 166 yards and won his first Golden Hat.
He will have a chance to add another one in October.
What makes these moments stand out is that they capture what the Red River Rivalry is known for: dramatic momentum swings, star-making performances, and unforgettable finishes in front of nearly 100,000 people.
First meeting: 1900
Total meetings: 121
Record: Texas leads 65-51-5
Next meeting: October 10, 2026
4. Army vs. Navy - America’s game
From a purely football perspective, bigger games exist than the clash of the service academies. The teams don’t overflow with future NFL stars or highly touted recruits, and you won’t find pro scouts in the stands. Both programs love to run the football, and the games might not be the most exciting.
But the traditional rivalry series goes beyond football – it’s rooted in deep tradition with rich history, and every year, the matchup is accompanied by significant customs. The game embodies the spirit of the inner rivalry of the United States Armed Forces.
The traditions surrounding the game are unlike any other in sports. Before kickoff, the entire student bodies of both academies participate in the March On, entering the field in precise military formation. Fans also witness the Prisoner Exchange, as cadets and midshipmen who spent a semester studying at the opposite academy return to their own schools.
After the final whistle comes perhaps the rivalry's most cherished tradition: "Sing Second." Both teams gather before their bands, the losing team sings their alma mater first, and the winner celebrates by singing second.
The rivalry's competitive spirit extends beyond the field. Over the years, cadets and midshipmen repeatedly attempted to steal each other's mascots. The tradition began in 1953, when West Point cadets kidnapped Navy's live mascot, Bill the Goat.
Numerous attempts followed until live mascot thefts were banned after a 1992 incident in which Navy students cut phone lines and zip-tied six Army employees while stealing the Army Mules.
This rivalry is heated year-round, as the service academies always compete with one another. But behind the competitiveness lies respect and sportsmanship. After each contest, teams line up, shake hands, and show humility in victory and graciousness in defeat.
The Army-Navy Game is about far more than football. Played in its own exclusive television window, with no competing college games, it captures the nation's full attention every December.
That's why it's known as America's Game.
First meeting: 1890
Total meetings: 126
Record: Navy leads 64-55-7
Next meeting: December 12, 2026
5. Florida vs. Georgia - The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party
Few SEC rivalries match the passion of Florida versus Georgia. The annual showdown between the neighboring states has long been one of college football's premier events, drawing massive crowds and earning the nickname "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" thanks to its legendary tailgating tradition.
Since 1933, the rivalry has been played almost exclusively at a neutral site in Jacksonville, Florida. Another exception comes in 2026, when the teams will meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
One side is filled with fans rocking red and black, showing their unwavering support for the Bulldogs. The other side is orange and blue. The split crowd creates one of the most distinctive fan bases and atmospheres in college football. In the 2000s, teams traded victories in neck-to-neck thrillers.
But during the 2020s, Georgia has controlled the rivalry series. Now, the Florida Gators have a new coach, Jon Sumrall, who will strive to bring the program back on top.
The series is defined by one of the most iconic touchdowns – in 1980, Georgia faced 3rd-and-11 from their own 7-yard line. Down two points with less than a minute remaining, quarterback Buck Belue didn’t fold under pressure. Instead, he found Lindsay Scott in the middle and made the pass. Scott sprinted 93 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
The Bulldogs remained unbeaten and marched to the national championship later on. Broadcaster Larry Munson's famous call—"Run, Lindsay, Run!"—became one of the most iconic calls in college football history.
First meeting: 1904
Total meetings: 103
Record: Georgia leads 57-44-2
Next meeting: October 31, 2026