College football rivalries don’t just collect winners—they divide neighborhoods and make players heroes. When those rivalries occur across state lines, the stakes feel a little different. In-state games bring the whole package—history, pride, localness, and recruiting strength—all in one field. It’s not always about the scoreboard points; it’s also about dominance in the backyard. Let’s break down seven of the fiercest in-state college football rivalries that still smolder from sea to shining sea.
Top Seven In-State Rivalries Showcased On The Gridiron
1. Alabama vs. Auburn — The Iron Bowl
There isn’t a college football rivalry in-state talked about more than Alabama and Auburn. The Iron Bowl, which started play in 1893, was so called by past Auburn coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan in the 1960s. It was in reference to the steel industry roots of Birmingham, where the game was often played. This rivalry surpassed a calendar date—it became a cultural movement all across Alabama. It divided families. Towns shut down. Bragging rights were sacred. Phew! That’s a lot.
Alabama has controlled the series, 51–37–1, through 2024. The rivalry has created memories impossible to erase, none greater than the 2013 Kick Six. It was when Auburn’s Chris Davis returned a blocked field goal 109 yards with time expiring, winning one of the greatest comeback victories in college football history. All Iron Bowls since have been weighed down by the baggage of past glory and the pressure of expectation.
2. Miami vs. Florida State — The Sunshine State Classic
No other rivalry has made as significant a mark on the college football national landscape as that of Miami and Florida State. Since their first meeting in 1951, the Hurricanes and Seminoles have battled for Florida State pride. And with that, the contests have often been of playoff quality. From the mid-1980s to the early 2000s, the two giants, in essence, decided who won the national title.
Miami holds a narrow lead in the all-time series, having won 36–33 up to 2024. The rivalry produced the infamous “Wide Right” mess. That’s where Florida State lost crucial field goals in a number of close losses to the Hurricanes. Despite the occasional dip in each program, the fervor never backed up. Miami won the most recent game in 2024, adding another page to one of the sport’s most enduring rivalries.
3. Florida vs. Florida State — The Sunshine Showdown
While Florida State is competing with Miami to be the best team in Florida, its in-season matchup with Florida carries a different kind of gravity. Called the “Sunshine Showdown,” this rivalry against an in-state opponent began in 1958. Well, in a short time, it became one of the most significant games on the schedule—no longer just in Florida, but in America. It decides bowl placement year after year and controls recruiting situations in the state. The Sunshine Showdown remains one of the most volatile rivalries in college football, with neither team willing to give an inch.
4. USC vs. UCLA — The Crosstown Showdown
It’s hard to surpass a rivalry with the two schools only 12 miles away from each other. USC and UCLA have been competing since 1929 in what’s popularly referred to as the “Crosstown Showdown.” Los Angeles is transformed into a battlefield every fall when Trojans and Bruins clash over bragging rights. And it was not just on the field but in each corner of the city.
The rivalry is strange in that both teams have enjoyed national success. More often than not, their annual game decides who gains the advantage in the Pac-12 South. USC owns the overall series, but each year is a highlight-reel action and a city split in two for 60 minutes of fury.
5. Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss — The Battle for the Golden Egg
The Egg Bowl is more than a rivalry—it’s a Mississippi tradition. Since 1901, Mississippi State and Ole Miss’s year-round game has won its Golden Egg trophy in 1927. They did it after tensions boiled over into a post-game fight the previous year.
Both teams have had periods of dominance, yet the game itself is renowned for drama. Fan bases on both sides live and die and breathe, and with the Egg Bowl, especially with Thanksgiving week scheduling building up to passions. Every single year, the rivalry brings out the best and sometimes the worst in Mississippi football.
6. Oregon vs. Oregon State — The Civil War
The Oregon-Oregon State rivalry, once called the “Civil War,” is the sport’s oldest, dating to 1894. The name has been retired in recent years, but the ferocity hasn’t waned. The Ducks and Beavers battle annually in a game usually having conference implications and always an emotional subtext.
With both teams strengthening over the past several seasons, the rivalry has become more nationally prominent. Regardless of rankings, the game is renowned for being full of unpredictability. This in-state rivalry still retains what is so special about college football— clashes fueled by tradition, loyalty, and hometown pride.
7. Clemson vs. South Carolina — The Palmetto Bowl
At Clemson, there is Clemson and the rest—namely, the University of South Carolina. The Palmetto Bowl, starting in 1896, is played on a traditional weekend. It was followed after Thanksgiving and ranks as one of the most historic rivalries of college football.
Clemson has been the team in dominance of the rivalry in the last decade, but South Carolina has staged monumental wins, keeping the rivalry fresh and in question. This game is everything to fans within the state.
KEEP READING: 10 Rivalries That Make College Football the Greatest Sport on Earth
As college football grows and shifts—with conference realignments, playoff expansions, and national exposure—these in-state battles serve as anchors. They remind fans why the sport matters.
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