Honorable Mentions: Texas-Texas A&M, Philadelphia Phillies-New York Mets, Clemson-South Carolina, Florida-Florida State, New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers, Michael Jordan-Dominique Wilkins, Michigan-Michigan State, Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa
50. Ravens-Steelers (Pro Football): At one point the hottest rivalry in all of football, Baltimore and Pittsburgh have fought viciously every single time they meet on the field, seeing how both teams were defined by their hard-hitting, bone-crushing defense. The two teams both play in the AFC North, which means they are required to play at least twice a year, yet we have seen these teams play in the postseason three times. The Ravens were a very young franchise when this rivalry began, but thanks to big names like Ray Lewis, James Harrison, Ed Reed, and Troy Polamalu, the Ravens-Steelers rivalry was always fun to watch.
49. Yankees-Mets (Pro Baseball): The Subway Series was formed when the MLB created inter-league play in 1997, and the tension between these two teams quickly carried over to the fanbases due to the fact that both stadiums are in New York. The rivalry gained a lot of notoriety, starting with Roger Clemens hitting Mike Piazza in the head with a fastball, which then put Piazza on the disabled list with a concussion. The two players faced each other yet again in the 2000 World Series, when a piece of Piazza's shattered bat nearly hit Clemens on the mound. When Clemens threw the bat at the baseline, both benches cleared, and the play quickly became the pinnacle of this rivalry. The Yankees went on to win the game, as well as the World Series.
48. Harvard-Yale (College Football): Seeing how these two schools are known for their academic prestige, it is surprising that the two football teams have one of the more passionate rivalries in all of college football. With the first game played in 1875, Harvard and Yale have battled it out on the football field 130 times over the years, having been deemed "The Game". The Harvard-Yale rivalry has been full of pranks between either side, including the kidnapping of the Yale bulldog mascot, and Harvard students giving fake tours of the Yale campus. While neither school is able to recruit the elite athletes from around the country, the Harvard-Yale rivalry still manages to attract huge crowds each year.
47. Nancy Kerrigan-Tonya Harding: Many would not associate figure skating with incredibly heated rivalries, but the Kerrigan-Harding duo drew a lot of publicity towards the sport when Harding's husband hired a man to injure Kerrigan before the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championship. Eventually, Harding was forced to plead guilty, leading to her being stripped of her title and suspension for life from the USFA as a skater and coach. The two skaters will forever be associated with one another.
46. Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson (Boxing): Having beaten the heavily favored Mike Tyson in the first meeting, Evander Holyfield stepped into the arena for his second fight against Mike, unknowing of the strange twist that lay ahead. During the third round, Mike bit off part of Holyfield's ear during a clinch, and followed this mind-boggling decision by biting Holyfield's left ear later in the same round. Tyson ended up being disqualified, creating one of the stranger rivalries in all of sports.
45. Larry Bird-Dr. J (Pro Basketball): Larry Bird may have a serious reputation for his trash talking on the court, but the Celtics legend was certainly able to back it up. In a November game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Bird had outscored Philly's Dr. J 42 to 6, and supposedly, Bird continuously reminded Julius Erving with each shot that he made. Eventually the two players got into a shoving match, and both teams stormed onto the court in order to break up the fight. When it was all said and done, Bird and Dr. J were both fined $7,500 for their actions. Seeing how the Celtics had already come back to beat the 76ers in the 1981 Eastern Conference Finals, the fight between Bird and Erving shows that there was still tension between these two players.
44. Cubs-White Sox (Pro Baseball): A common pattern that we will see with many of the rivalries on this list is two teams that are based within the same city. The Cubs-White Sox rivalry, known by many nicknames, started in 1906 when the two teams played in the World Series. A notable moment from this rivalry started when White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski ran into Cubs catcher Michael Barrett, and as Pierzynski looked to return to his dugout, Barrett stood in his way, and eventually, Barrett threw a punch. The benches cleared, and Barrett was suspended for 10 games.
43. Knicks-Heat (Pro Basketball): When two teams meet each other in the playoffs for four straight seasons, a sense of bitterness is bound to develop between the two franchises. At one point in time, the Heat and Knicks were in the same division, so playing each other in the postseason four straight times certainly presented an opportunity for revenge. The first time the Heat and Knicks played in the playoffs, Miami coach Pat Riley supposedly asked P.J. Brown to start a fight in the hopes that several Knicks players will be suspended; Brown was successful, where Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson and John Starks were all suspended for one game. The Heat went on to win the series in 7 games. More fights took place between Miami and New York within the next three years, as well as buzzer-beaters, controversial calls, and many, many upsets. The rivalry is not quite the same now that the two teams are in different divisions, but the Knicks-Heat rivalry is one of the best in NBA history.
42. Shaq-Kobe (Pro Basketball): While these two superstars managed to win three consecutive titles while playing for the Lakers, Shaq and Kobe were unable to maintain their relationship, eventually resulting in a trade that sent Shaq to Miami. Despite their success together on the court, Shaq was once quoted as saying, "I have something to say. I think Kobe is playing too selfishly for us to win," yet clearly this was not the main reason behind Shaq's disappointment. The Lakers were winning games at the time, and Kobe began to gain a lot more attention due to his spectacular play, causing Shaq to ask for a trade in 2000 following a blowout win. Eventually, the two were split up, and although both players managed to win championships apart from one another, fans can't help but wonder what could have been if the two players had stayed together.
41. Penguins-Flyers: The Penguins-Flyers matchup is one of the more current rivalries on this list, as both teams have been very legitimate title contenders over the past few years. Having met each other in three of the past six Stanley Cup Playoffs, the in-state rivals clearly do not like one another, as seen with the many fights that take place on the ice. Some of the more memorable moments of this rivalry include a five-overtime game back in the 2000 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, as well as Pittsburgh's 43 game winless streak on the road against Philadelphia.
40. Yankees-Dodgers (Pro Baseball): Before the Dodgers franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1958, the Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers shared a city with one another, but also played each other 7 times in the World Series before 1958. Once the Dodgers left Brooklyn, the two teams represented the two largest cities from the East and West Coast. Following 1958, the Dodgers and Yankees went on to play each other in the World Series 4 more times, raising the total to 11. There have been some incredible moments from this rivalry, including Jackie Robinson stealing home, Don Larsen's perfect game, and Reggie Jackson's three home run game. Although the Yankees-Dodgers rivalry is less prevalent today, the great moments from the past makes this one of the best rivalries in baseball.
39. Michael Jordan vs. Pistons (Pro Basketball): Having been knocked out of the NBA Playoffs by the Detroit Pistons for three straight seasons, Michael Jordan clearly wanted revenge against the "Bad Boys" of Detroit. The Pistons had implemented a plan called "Jordan Rules", a game plan that focuses all of their defensive efforts on MJ. The Pistons were hated by NBA fans due to their physical defense and cocky attitude, so it came as no surprise that MJ did his best to get past the Pistons in the 1991 Playoffs, leading to Chicago's first NBA title. There was also tension between Jordan and Isiah Thomas, starting with Thomas convincing other plays at the All Star Game not to pass Jordan the ball. It is rumored that Thomas was not added to the 1992 "Dream Team" because Jordan and Pippen refused to play with him.
38. Missouri-Kansas (College Football): Rarely does a college football rivalry have roots in the Civil War, but the Missouri-Kansas football rivalry is unique in that sense. During the Civil War, Missouri attempted to influence Kansas into joining the Union as a Slave State, leading to constant fighting between citizens of either state. Once this football rivalry began, Civil War veterans from Kansas and Missouri would watch the game on opposite sides of the field, reminiscent of a Civil War battlefield. The two teams have played 120 times, the second most in Division-I college football, where the most important contest came in 2007 when Missouri was ranked 2nd in the nation, while Missouri ranked 3rd. The rivalry has since been broken up, now that Missouri has left for the SEC.
37. Grambling State-Southern (College Football): On the final Saturday of November, one can watch the Bayou Classic, a contest between two little-known schools in Louisiana. Despite the small size of both schools, this rivalry produces plenty of passion among the fans. The Bayou Classic is the only Division-I subdivision game to be broadcasted on television, and the game is traditionally played in the New Orleans Saints' Superdome. A great tradition that has been created is the Battle of the Bands, where the marching bands from either school present elaborate performances the Friday night before the game, and also during halftime. Taking into account the size of either school, one can't help but be amazed by the incredible amount of passion in this rivalry.
36. Raiders-Steelers (Pro Football): Before the "Steel Curtain" won 4 Super Bowls in 6 years, the most famous play in football history took place between Pittsburgh and Oakland. With the Steelers down by one point with under 30 seconds left in this divisional playoff game, Terry Bradshaw threw a pass to his receiver John Fuqua, but Fuqua was hit right before catching the ball, and the ball flew backwards into the hands of Franco Harris. Harris ran the ball into the endzone fore the game-winning touchdown. This play has generated plenty of controversy, where some skeptics--mostly Oakland's fans and former players--believe the ball hit the ground before Harris caught the ball. Some also believe that the ball only hit Fuqua on the play, which would make Harris' catch illegal due to an NFL rule. Including this first matchup, Pittsburgh played Oakland in the playoffs five consecutive times, where the winner of three of these games went on to win the Super Bowl. Raiders fans are still angry over the Immaculate Reception to this day.
35. Florida State-Miami (College Football): This college football rivalry is defined by mistakes. Starting in 1987, Florida State missed an opportunity to beat Miami as they looked to convert on an extra point that would have guaranteed a victory; instead, the pass attempt was broken up, and Miami went on to win the National Championship. In '91, '92, '00, '02, and '04, Miami was able to beat Florida State every time thanks to missed field goals by FSU late in the game, one of which decided the Orange Bowl, while another created controversy when FSU was picked to play for the National Championship over Miami despite Florida State's loss to the U. Eventually, Florida State caught a break when Miami lost a game due to a muffed snap on a potentially game-tying field goal with 2:16 left. The last great game took place in 2009, when FSU marched down the field with 1:43 left in the game and down 38-34. Even though the ball was placed on the 2 yard line with a fresh set of downs and 17 seconds left, FSU was unable to score, further proving FSU's inability to close out a game against Miami.
34. Richard Petty-David Pearson (Auto Racing): Widely considered to be the best rivalry in NASCAR history, Richard Petty and David Pearson always seemed to have captured the first and second place finishes when competing in the same race. When it was all said and done, Pearson and Petty accounted for 63 first/second place finishes, the most of any duo in NASCAR history. In the 1976 Daytona 500, the two created one of the more interesting final laps in racing history. One-hundred feet from the finish line, the two cars crashed, thus spinning into the infield grass. Petty was unable to start his car, so Pearson slowly drove his car across the finish line for the victory.The immense amount of respect the two drivers showed for one another made Petty and Pearson try their hardest each and every race, creating so many memorable moments on the track.
33. War Admiral-Seabiscuit (Horse Racing): These two race horses come from very different backgrounds, yet their rivalry is one of the best in all of horse racing. War Admiral won the Triple Crown in 1937, thus earning him the American Horse of the Year Award. In 1938, the two horses were scheduled to race in a match, deemed the "Match of the Century." While War Admiral was the clear favorite, Seabiscuit managed to win by four lengths while 40 million people listened over the radio. The rivalry has spawned a best-selling book, and a popular film distributed by Universal Films, proving the influence that the Seabiscuit-War Admiral rivalry still has to this day.
32. Red Wings-Blackhawks (Pro Hockey): Out of all the teams in the NHL, no two teams have played more regular season games against each other than the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks. As two of the Original Six teams in hockey, the Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry has seen some interesting moments since their first game in 1926. From 1989 to 1996, one could count on a fight between Stu Grimson and Bob Probert, two well-known rivals who had both played for either team. Just recently, the Blackhawks were down 3-1 in the 2013 NHL Playoffs, but managed to win three straight games to win the series, and eventually, the Stanley Cup. The rivalry is bound to change now that Detroit is in a different conference from Chicago, but the amount of great history in this rivalry makes it one of the best in hockey.
31. Chiefs-Raiders (Pro Football): From roughly 1966 to 1975, the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs clashed against one another as the two superpowers in the AFL. The Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs exchanged blows throughout the years as they looked to win the AFL Western Division--later known as the AFC West--where either the Raiders or Chiefs won the division for 11 straight seasons. With 3 AFL Championships between the two teams in that 11 year span, as well as one Super Bowl victory obtained by the Kansas City Chiefs, the rivalry became one of the most heated in sports history.
30. Cowboys-49ers (Pro Football): After losing three years in a row to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs during the 70's, the San Francisco 49ers managed to get revenge against "America's Team" in one of the best games in NFL history. The 70s was clearly a decade dominated by the Cowboys, but in the waning seconds of the 1981 NFC Championship Game, Joe Montana threw pass while backpedaling away from two Dallas defenders, and although it seemed that the ball would sail past the end zone, Dwight Clark jumped into the air for the touchdown, thus ending the reign of Dallas. The clash of two dynasties is clearly defined by this iconic play, quite possibly the best in football history.
29. Florida-Georgia (College Football): Deemed the "World's Largest Cocktail Party", these two bordering states use college football as a way to settle their differences. There have been many great moments from this rivalry, where the most memorable came in 1980. With Georgia's perfect season on the line, and down by one point on their own 7 yard line, quarterback Buck Belue threw a 25-yard pass to Lindsay Scott who ran 93 yards for the game winning touchdown (Georgia went on to win the National Championship). Then, in 2007, Georgia looked to defeat Tim Tebow and the Gators by intimidating them early with the "Gator Stomp", a tactic that took place after Georgia's first touchdown, where the entire team stormed the field to celebrate. Clearly the rivalry is big enough to sell out the Jacksonville Jaguars' stadium each and every year, the location where the game is played.
28. Sampras-Agassi (Pro Tennis): Having first played each other as junior tennis players, Agassi and Sampras had a competitive rivalry lasting from 1989 to 2002. The two first met each other in a Grand Slam Final in 1990, when Sampras upset Agassi in straight sets. While the rivalry remained close in the first few years, Sampras began consistently beating Agassi following the 1995 US Open. It has been reported that Sampras and Agassi are still struggling to mend fences even after they retired from the sport.
27. UConn-Tennessee (Women's College Basketball): Unlike most rivalries in sports, the UConn-Tennessee rivalry is more about the two coaches rather than the players on the court. Pat Summitt of Tennessee has the most wins as a coach in NCAA Division I college basketball, male or female. Meanwhile, Geno Auriemma of UConn has yet to lose in the National Championship Game, as he has won the most championships in Women's college basketball history--one more than Summitt. With the two schools being the two best women's college basketball institutions, a rivalry has been formed against the two universities. With UConn beating Tennessee four times in the National Championship four times, Geno has once called Tennessee the "evil empire" so clearly there is tension between these two incredible coaches.
26. Nebraska-Oklahoma (College Football): Although both teams were in the Big 12 Conference following its creation in 1996, the rivalry between Nebraska and Oklahoma was most heated when the two teams competed in the Big Eight Conference before 1996. The most notable game came in 1971, when the defending champion, top ranked Cornhuskers entered with a 20-game win streak, as they played second ranked Oklahoma. Nebraska went on to win the game thanks to a game-winning touchdown with 1:38 left to play. Oklahoma has given Nebraska their only loss in a season five times, while Nebraska has done the same to Oklahoma twice. The rivalry may be over now that Nebraska left for the Big Ten, but Oklahoma fans were clearly not happy when an assistant at Oklahoma, Bo Pelini, left for the head coaching job at Nebraska.
25. Affirmed-Alydar (Horse Racing): By far the best rivalry in all of horse racing, Affirmed and Alydar raced 10 times during their careers, including three epic duels during Affirmed's quest for the Triple Crown. In the 1978 Kentucky Derby, Alydar entered as the favorite, yet Affirmed managed to edge him out by one-and-a-half lengths. In the next Triple Crown race, the Preakness, Affirmed held off Alydar for the majority of the race, as he earned the second jewel of the Triple Crown with a time of 1:54. The final jewel of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, was by far the best race of this rivalry. At close to the mile marker, Alydar drew even with Affirmed, and from there, the two horses raced in one of the greatest duels in history. Affirmed won the race by a head, thus capturing the Triple Crown, and capping off an incredible season against his arch-nemisis.
24. Louisville-Kentucky (College Basketball): Since Kentucky and Louisville played in the 1983 National Championship, the two teams have played every year in the Battle for the Bluegrass. The rivalry reached its peak when Rick Pitino, the head coach who won Kentucky a National Championship in 1996, left to coach for Louisville in 2001. Having played six times in the NCAA Tournament, twice within the past three years, a lot is normally on the line when these two teams play.
23. Redskins-Cowboys (Pro Football): Since 1961, the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys have played twice in the regular season each and every year, creating a heated competition between these two teams for the NFC East title. In fact, in 1961, the Cowboys tried to sneak 76 chickens onto the Redskins' field at halftime, with one black chicken meant to symbolize Redskins' owner George Preston Marshall and his refusal to sign black players (the prank failed by the way). The two teams met in the playoffs twice, both in the NFC Championship Game, and Washington won the two games by a combined score of 57-20. The Cowboys have the second best win percentage in NFL history, so when these teams play, there are almost always playoff implications for at least one team, thus creating many memorable moments in the regular season.
22. Brady-Manning (Pro Football): Ever since Tom Brady replaced Drew Bledsoe as the starting quarterback of the Patriots in 2001, there has been a competitive rivalry between the two quarterbacks. Between the two of them, Manning and Brady have won four Super Bowls, 22 Pro-Bowls, and 7 MVPs awards. With 15 meetings over the past 14 seasons, fans love to tune in to watch two of the greatest quarterbacks in football battle it out. Neither quarterback looks to retire anytime soon, so we are sure to see many more memorable moments in the near future. This type of quarterback rivalry may never be duplicated again.
21. Martina Navratilova-Chris Evert (Women's Pro Tennis): Navratilova and Evert faced each other an astounding 14 times in grand-slam finals, which made for one of the greatest rivalries in the sport of tennis. Martina ended up getting the better of Evert 10 times, which has given her the title of greatest female tennis player of all time; however, Evert was pesky, and her four wins were all spread out throughout Navratilova's reign. Evert actually completed the career grand slam by winning the US Open, French Open, Australian Open, and Wimbledon before Navratilova, and at the time was the sixth woman ever to accomplish that fete (Navratilova completed the career grand slam the very next year in 1983). They have each won 18 grand-slam singles tournaments, which is tied for 4th all-time among women, and therefore each achieved incredible success throughout their respective careers despite their intense rivalry with one another.
20. Wilt Chamberlain-Bill Russell: An extension of both the Celtics-76ers rivalry and the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, Chamberlain vs. Russell was such an influential rivalry not just because it involved two NBA greats on rival teams, but also because these two players happened to play the same position, which is an oddity when it comes to legendary NBA rivalries. In the 17 combined years that Chamberlain and Russell were in the NBA, from 1956 (when Russell was a rookie) to 1973 (when Chamberlain retired), they had a combined 9 MVP’s (5 for Russell and 4 for Chamberlain) and 13 rings (11 for Russell and 2 for Chamberlain). Chamberlain and Russell truly dominated the NBA for nearly twenty years, so it is natural that their rivalry is considered one of the best in sports history.
19. Notre Dame-USC: Even though these two schools have very different backgrounds and traditions, the battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh is considered to be one of the best in college sports. Notre Dame and USC have combined for the most National Championships (22), Heisman Trophy winners (14), All-Americans, and Hall of Famers in the NFL of any two teams in a college football rivalry. Also, five of the top ten most watched games in college football are from this rivalry. One of the more notable games came in 2005, when USC was stopped at the goal when the clock struck zero; however, more time was put on the clock, and when Leinart attempted a quarterback sneak to win the game, running back Reggie Bush pushed in Leinart for the touchdown, adding fuel to this rivalry.
18. Nicklaus-Palmer: Quite clearly the greatest rivalry in golf history, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer are two of golf's biggest stars, so everyone made sure to tune in to watch these two legends battle it out on the course. Nicklaus is widely considered to be the best golfer in history, but Arnold Palmer provided some competition. This rivalry started at the 1962 U.S. Open, when Nicklaus overcame a three shot deficit to force a 18-hole playoff on Sunday, which Nicklaus eventually won. Five times, Nicklaus and Palmer finished first and second at the end of a major, and during a five year stretch, the two golfers were the only two champions at the Masters. The impact that these two golfers have had on the sport has shaped golf into what we know and love today.
17. Syracuse-Georgetown: Remember when the Big East was the most competitive and intense conference in all of college basketball… those were the days. Now, Syracuse has moved on to the ACC and Georgetown is just a shell of their former self. Though their recent games have still been fairly competitive and intense competitions, the real golden age of this rivalry was back in the 1980’s, when Patrick Ewing and Georgetown went up against Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse team in several heated contests. Perhaps the most memorable game between these two was when Syracuse’s Pearl Washington nailed a game winning jumper with just eight seconds left to give Syracuse a 65-63 win over Georgetown, who were ranked first in the nation. The game was not to pass by without a bit of controversy, though, as Georgetown’s players were pulled off the court following an incident where an orange was thrown at the backboard during one of Patrick Ewing’s free throws.
16. Giants-Eagles: With these two teams both battling for the NFC East title each and every year, surely tensions will be high when the Philadelphia Eagles play the New York Giants. Out of this rivalry have come several incredible moments, such as the Miracle at the Meadowlands, and the Miracle at the Meadowlands, Part II (feat. DeSean Jackson). Although many people believe this is the greatest rivalry in the NFL, it does not quite match up with another classic matchup further on down the list.
15. Cubs-Cardinals: The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals are some of baseball's biggest franchises, seeing how the Cubs rank second in all-time wins, while the Cardinals ranks fourth. While the Cubs have managed to record an incredible amount of wins, a World Series title has eluded them since 1908, unlike the Cardinals, who have won 11 titles in that same span. The two mid-west teams have had some incredible moments, including Ryne Sandberg's home run in 1984, and the greatest home run race of all time between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Considering how close the stadiums are to one another, fans are able to travel to either stadium to cheer on their teams, creating an atmosphere unlike any other in baseball.
14. Cal-Stanford: "The Big Game", a rivalry between California and Stanford, is the best college rivalry you will see on the West Coast, as it was first played 122 years ago. While the concluding play at this past year's Iron Bowl may give "The Play" a run for its money, many consider what took place on the field in 1986 to be the most remarkable moment in college football history. With four seconds left on the clock, Cal had one last attempt to win by scoring on a kick return. The ball was lateraled five times by four different players, when finally, Cal's Kevin Moell ran the ball into the endzone, having to run over one of Stanford's trombone players in the process. Stanford's band ran on the field prematurely, creating a chaos on the field that has yet to be replicated in sports.
13. Bruins-Canadiens: Being two of the Original Six, this rivalry is one of the longest lasting in hockey history. Although the Canadiens dominated during the early years, the series has become much more competitive as of late. The two teams have played against each other in the postseason 34 times, where seven of those series resulted in Game 7s (both of which are the highest totals between any two teams in hockey). In fact, Boston and Montreal met in this past postseason, where Montreal was able to fend off the Bruins in a seven game series, surely adding fuel to an already fiery rivalry.
12. Magic Johnson-Larry Bird: From 1980 to 1988, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson combined for 8 out of a possible 9 championships, where either the Celtics or Lakers were competing in the NBA Finals for 10 consecutive seasons. This rivalry started in college, when Bird’s Indiana State lost to Johnson’s Michigan State in the National Championship Game. From that point on, the two were forever linked to one another. The two player have combined for 8 NBA Finals Championships, 6 MVP awards, 24 All-Star Game appearances, and 18 All-NBA First Team honors. The Celtics-Lakers may be the greatest rivalry in all of basketball, but yet another incredible competition emerged out of this rivalry.
11. Packers-Bears: The first game between these two teams was all the way back in 1921, where the Chicago Bears were known as the Chicago Stanleys, and just 7,000 people were in attendance. With 22 league championships between them, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are certainly two storied franchises that have been evenly matched over the course of this rivalry (93-89-6 Bears).
10. Unites States-Soviet Union (International Hockey): A rivalry with roots in the Cold War, the United States hockey team at the 1980 Olympics was not supposed to beat the superior, more experienced Russians in the semi-finals. In what came to be known as the "Miracle on Ice", the United States hockey team, consisting of ammeter and college skaters, beat the Russians by a score of 4-3, as they went on to beat Finland for the gold medal. Russia and the United States had already spent years threatening one another during the Cold War, and the "Miracle on Ice" served as a metaphorical battlefield between these two superpowers.
9. Texas-Oklahoma (College Football): The Red River Rivalry is played in the Cotton Bowl Stadium, a neutral site where the seating is divided equally among Texas and Oklahoma fans. These two bordering states take their football very seriously, and the state schools are both one of college football's most esteemed programs. Texas and Oklahoma have combined for 11 National Championships since 1950. Since the two schools are both currently in the Big 12, a shot at the Big 12 Championship is almost always on the line as the two fight for the Golden Hat Trophy.
8. Dodgers-Giants (Pro Baseball): At the very beginning of this rivalry, both teams were based in the same state, yet a different one from California, where they play today. The Brooklyn Bridegrooms and New York Giants played against one another in the 1889 World Series, yet the rivalry seemed over once the Dodgers moved to the west coast in 1957; however, the Dodgers quickly managed to convince the Giants to move to California as well in order to continue the rivalry. The rivalry has created many fights between the two franchises, both on the field and off. In both 1965 and 1981, fights took place on the field involving the players. Yet recently, the two fanbases have have fought away from the baseball field, where on two occasions, fans were stabbed to death. The fact that this rivalry has led to fights on and off the field makes it one of the most bitter, hate-filled rivalry in sports.
7. Army-Navy (College Football): The Army-Navy rivalry has an incredible amount of tradition that has been created over the past 124 years, seeing how these teams first met in 1890. The inter-service rivalry is more than a football game, but rather, a competition between two inter-service schools whose student body consist of people looking to represent the country in the line of duty. Although Army and Navy rarely have winning records when the two teams play each other, the pageantry and passion seen in every meeting between the two institutions is worth watching once a year. The Army-Navy game is deemed “the most American game”, and rightfully so.
6. Duke-UNC (College Basketball): This in-state rivalry is indisputably the best rivalry in college basketball, seeing how the two schools are less than 20 miles away. UNC and Duke are both top schools in terms of the success of their basketball team, with 9 NCAA Tournament wins between the two. In fact, at least one school has been ranked in the AP Top 25 during the past 139 meetings, a streak that's lasted since 1960. Playing in the same conference has created many memorable games to choose from, whether it be Austin River’s buzzer beater to beat UNC on the road, or the game in 1979 when the score at halftime read 7-0 Duke. Coach K. and Ron Williams are two of the best coaches in the sport, so many more classic moments are sure to come in the future.
5. Ali-Frazier (Pro Boxing): These two boxers have met three times in history, and each fight managed to gain national publicity that has yet to be matched by any other boxing match. The first fight, deemed the "Fight of the Century", resulted in a Frazier win at Madison Square Garden, thus handing Ali the first loss of his career. The next two fights were won by Ali, a boxer known for his trash talk and catchy rhymes. The tensions of this rivalry heightened due to growing unrest taking place in America, such as the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War coming to a close.
4. Alabama-Auburn (College Football): This past Iron Bowl game between Alabama and Auburn might just be the best game in college football history, where a 109 yard return by cornerback Chris Davis for the score ended Alabama’s championship bid, thus propelling Auburn into the SEC championship. The state of Alabama is seemingly split down the middle when it comes to this rivalry, and as we know, the south certainly loves their football. Apart from the 2013 Iron Bowl, other memorable games have emerged from this rivalry, such as when quarterback Cam Newton overcame a 24-0 deficit to defeat Alabama by a final score of 28-27, as Auburn eventually went on to win the National Championship.
3. Celtics-Lakers (Pro Basketball): The greatest rivalry in NBA history is a remarkable one, considering that the teams play in different conferences, and thus find themselves playing each other fairly infrequently in the regular season. The postseason, however, has been a different story, as the two teams have been so dominant over the years that they have met a record twelve times in the NBA Finals. The golden age of this rivalry has to be the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson era, but it has also been rekindled in recent years, with the recent dominance of Kobe Bryant in L.A. and the big three in Boston. Though both teams are currently rebuilding, the contests remain heated and competitive in honor of the most legendary rivalry in professional basketball.
2. Red Sox-Yankees (Pro Baseball): This rivalry started when the Red Sox’s owner sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees, ultimately starting the “Curse of the Bambino” once Boston was unable to win their sixth World Series. The rivalry reached its peak in 2004, when the Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to win a playoff series after losing the first three games. Following this dramatic series, the Red Sox snapped their 86-year skid, winning their sixth World Series. Violence between fans can be seen on occasion in this rivalry, and seeing how both teams are in the AL East, tensions are always high come September.
1. Ohio State-Michigan (College Football): And last but not least, we believe the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is the greatest rivalry in American sports history. Michigan has the most wins of any school in college football history, whereas Ohio State ranks third all-time in terms of win percentage; as a result, the competitive nature of both schools has formed a bitter rivalry between the neighboring state universities. After first playing each other in 1897, the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry reached its peak in a period known as the “Ten Year War”, when Michigan coach Bo Schembechler and Ohio State coach Woody Hayes competed against one another from the sidelines, starting with a Michigan upset over Ohio State in 1969, where OSU was ranked first overall at the time coming off of a National Championship. Flash-forward to 2014, where Ohio State coach Urban Meyer refuses to even say the word “Michigan”, instead referring to them as “that team up North.” There is a different kind of passion among college football fans compared to other American sports, and thanks to the many accomplishments by either school through the years, the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry has become the most passionate, competitive, and enthralling rivalry in all of sports.
The Denver Broncos may have quarterback Peyton Manning as their starting quarterback, but it has been Denver's defense that has led them to the Super Bowl this season. The Broncos secondary consists of Pro Bowlers and All-Pros such as Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., and T.J. Ward, all of whom should do well in covering the Panthers mediocre wide receiver corp. All-Pro's Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware serve as the stars of Denver's pass rush, a group that gave Tom Brady problems for the entireity of the AFC Championship game. With a combination of a lethal pass rush and a shutdown secondary, the Broncos will pressure Cam Newton into making quick decisions that could potentially lead to turnovers.
Despite losing Kelvin Benjamin to a season ending injury this past summer, the Panthers offense has had absolutely no problem putting points on the board, especially against top tier defenses. Cam Newton has been an absolute superstar this season, and his dual threat capabilities make it nearly impossible to take this athletic freak of nature completely out of the game. Carolina finished first in the league in rushing yards, but there is always the risk that Newton will throw the deep ball to some of his favorite targets like Greg Olsen or Ted Ginn Jr.
