NCAA Rivalry Games are generally the most fun for the player and fan alike. Usually the week before the game the two opponents campuses are buzzing with rivalry activity. For a week the air is filled with excitement like Christmas morning, after Santa came when you where 6 years old.
As a player, if you’re having a terrific season, beating your rival makes it all the sweeter. If you’re having a losing season, forget about it! The rivalry game is like a whole new season in itself!!!
For fans, the excitement associated with a rivalry game is unmatched. You may not have know the names of all but your star players prior to the rivalry game, but by the time your teams players are being introduced they might as well give you the microphone…because you now know them all!
During a rivalry game, your college or University campus comes alive like know other time of the year! This is it! The “Big Game”!
The DePauw Tigers Win Big in D3’s Biggest Rivalry Game: The “Monon Belle Classic”
Before we get to the NCAA Division I rivalries, I want to recap the results of the biggest rivalry in NCAA Division III. (If you read my Bio, you know I played 4 years in this game, the last one in 1981. So please indulge me.)
Earlier this week I wrote about the Monon Bell Classic, one of the oldest college football rivalries in the country. Today, the Wabash College “Little Giants” played the DePauw University “Tigers” in the 130th installment. DePauw won handily 42-21.
The score wasn’t as close as indicated. DePauw had 543 total offensive yards, 299 passing and 244 rushing. Wabash had total 318 total yards, with only 30 rushing yards and 288 passing yards, primarily accumulate late in the 4th quarter. DePauw had 24 first downs, 14 rushing and 9 passing. Wabash had only 19 first downs 4 from rushing and 15 from passing, again,10 of those late in the 4th quarter. Wabash punted the ball 5 times. With DePauw punting 1 time.
DePauw’s quarterback Nathan McCahill threw for 299 yards with his primary targets today were Gabe Quigley and Lleyton Lukowski. Quigley, caught 3 receptions for 3 touchdowns and 157 yards. Lukowski had 1 touchdown in 4 receptions for 74 yards. Robby Ballentine, who Wabash kept in double coverage for most of the game, had 3 receptions for only 24 yards.
As other teams have learned all season long, if you try to take Ballentine out of the game, or you try to eliminate the Tigers’ passing game, DePauw can hurt you with their other offensive weapons. The Little Giants gambled trying to do just that. They apparently figured they could stop DePauw’s rushing game. They could not. Caden Williams carried the ball 27 times for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns.
On defense, DePauw shined. Jake Comer lead DePauw’s effort with 10 total tackles. Jonathan Bruder contributed with 8 total tackles and 1 interception. The fact that the defense held Wabash, a team that relies primarily on the rush to only 30 yards, is a testament as to just how good is DePauw’s defensive front line. While the defense allowed 288 passing yards, most for that was accrued in the las 6 minutes of the 4th quarter with DePauw leading 42-14.
From this “rivalry game”, DePauw won its 4th consecutive NCAC Conference Championship, gained an automatic bid to the Division III National Playoffs with a probable “Bye”***, with their 3rd consecutive Monon Bell Classic win, they gained possession of the coveted Monon Bell for 364 more days…and most impoirtant…”Bragging Rights”!
(***All Byes will be awarded tomorrow along with the “AT Large” bids, during the DIII Tournament Selection Show which takes place at 3:00 pm est.)
Division I Football “Rivalry Games that Started Before 1900 & Award a Trophy
But let’s briefly touch on some other old “college rivalry games”, this time focusing on NCAA Division I Football in which the rivalry game dates back before 1900, awards a trophy, and is STILL being played in 2024. (Sorry Alabama v. Clemson, first played in 1900 with No trophy awarded. You don’t qualify!) Here are 25 of them. The list below is by no means intended to be inclusive as, for expediency some teams, having more than one rivalry game meeting these qualifications, may only have one of its rivalry games on this list.)
The Army-Navy Game is a Classic
In Division I, I have picked one well-know rivalry game that was started before 1900, awards a trophy and is currently still be played:
1.) “The Army-Navy Game” was 1st played in 1890. The winner gets the Secretaries Cup
Because of the date the rivalry started and the continuous almost uninterrupted history of the rivalry, The Army–Navy Game is one of the most traditional and enduring rivalries in college football.
The game is played annually, on the second Saturday in December, between the Army Black Knights of the United States Military Academy located at West Point, NY (state) and the Navy Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy, located in Annapolis, MD. The game between The Black Knights, (aka Cadets) and the Midshipman has come to embody the “good natured” spirit of inter-service rivalry of the United States Armed Forces. The game has always been the final regular season game for both teams marking the end of both Colleges’ regular football season.
It is also the third and final game of the season’s Commander-in Chief Trophy Series. The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is awarded to each season’s winner of the American college footbal series played solely among the teams of the Army Black Nights, Navy Midshipmen, and the Air Force Falcons.
With still a month to go until this years Army-Navy Game, Navy is currently 7-3 while Army is undefeated sporting a 9-0 record. But just like all rivalries, you can throw the record out once the game’s starting whistle blows!
The “Rest of the Best Rivalry Games in NCAA Division I Football, Started Before 1900, Awarding a Trophy, and Still Being Played Today
The rest of the best popular “Rivalry Games” in Division I that were started before 1900, award a trophy, and are currently still being played are as follows*:
2.) “The Big Game” first played in 1892 between California Golden Bears and Stanford Cardinal. The winner is awarded a trophy affectionately known as “The Axe”
3.) “Bluebonnet Battle” is played between Baylor Bears and TCU Horned Frogs. The winner is awarded the Bluebonnet Shield trophy. This game was first played in 1899.
4.) “Brawl of the Wild” is played between Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats, The Great Divide Trophy is awarded to the winner. This rivalry game was started 1897.
5.) “The Old Oak & Bucket” is played between Indiana University Hoosiers and the Purdue University Boilermakers. The rivalry game originated in 1891 and awards a trophy of, you guessed it, “The Old Oak & Bucket”
6.) “Capital Cup” is a rivalry game between William & Mary Tribe and Richmond Spiders, The Capital Cup Trophy is awarded to the winner, Th game was first played in 1898.
7.) “Battle for the Bell” is played between Cincinnati Bearcats and Miami of Ohio RedHawks, The game was first played in 1888 with the wining teams trophy being “The Victory Bell”.
8.) “The Cornell-Penn Game, played between Cornell University Big Red and University of Pennsylvania Penn Quakers, trophy is the Trustees’ Cup, started in 1893.
9.) “North Dakota-North Dakota State”; As the title indicates is a game played between North Dakota Fighting Hawks and North Dakota State Bison, The Nickel Trophy is awarded to the winner. This game was first played in 1894.
10.) “Boarder War” is a rivalry contest played between Colorado State Rams and Wyoming Cowboys. The game originated in 1899 and awards the “Bronze Boot as its trophy.
11.) “Clean Old Fashion Hate”. This rivalry game , first started in 1893, is played between Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. It awards the “Governors Cup as its trophy.
13.) “Duel of the Desert” has the “Territorial Cup” as its trophy. It was first played in 1899 between Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils.
14.) “Duke-North Carolina is a game played by the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels for the “Victory Bell” The game originated in 1888.
15.) “Illinois–Northwestern” is played for the “Land of Lincoln” Trophy. The game originated between the two named teams in 1892.
16.) “Iowa–Iowa State” is a game dating back to 1894 in which the two named teams play for the “Cy-Hawk Trophy”.
17.) “Iron Bowl” is played between Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers. The rivalry started in 1893 and plays for the James E. Foy V-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy.
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18.) “Magnolia Bowl” is played between LSU Tigers and Ole Miss Rebels. The series started in 1894 and the winner receives the “Magnolia Bowl Trophy”
19.) “Michigan–Michigan State Game”. Played between the two named teams, the game originated in 1898 and awards the winner the “Paul Bunyan Trophy”.
20.) “Missouri–Nebraska” is a game that originated in 1892 and awards the “Victory Bell” to its winner.
21.) “Shillelagh Game” is played between Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Purdue Boilermakers. Starting in 1896, the winner takes home the “Shillelagh Trophy”.
22.) “Oregon–Oregon State” game awards the “Platypus Trophy” to the winner. The game originated in 1894.
23.) “Rocky Mountain Showdown” originated in 1893 and is played between Colorado Buffaloes and Colorado State Rams.
for the “Centennial Cup”
24.) “Textile Bowl” originated in 1899 and is played between Clemson Tigers and North Carolina State Wolfpack.
25.) “Virginia–Virginia Tech” game originated in 1895 and is played for the “Common Wealth Cup.
Rivalry Game Wins Mean Bragging Rights For 360 Days
Obviously there are a few more Division I “rivalry games” that might have made this list had they not had multiple rivalry games. Several universities, I came across, had at least four rivalry games!!!
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) celebrates his touchdown with head coach Deion Sanders in the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Traditionally, you should only have one rival. Playing a rivalry game, particularly at the end of a season…is like playing a new season. The game should mean everything, because it means everything to beat your rival. Your school gets the trophy…and most important…you get “Bragging Rights! It’s Rivalry Season! Enjoy!
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