The age-old question of what the best rivalry in college football is always comes back to the great state of Alabama. Alabama and Auburn football both represent two of college football’s greatest historical programs and their in-state blood feud is a microcosm of what those in the Yellowhammer State dedicate their passion to when off the clock.
While there is always a case for The Red River Showdown, Army-Navy, and Ohio State-Michigan, the truth about those matchups is that those fans don’t have to see each other every day.
Alabama is divided into those that say “R*ll Tide”, and those that instead choose the phrase “War Eagle” to march into battle with. Families are often collateral.
It’s just different here, so when PFF asked the aforementioned question of what feud best defines the sport of college football, a wave of responses touting the Iron Bowl as the game’s defining annual event predictably flooded the responses:
What is the best rivalry in College Football? pic.twitter.com/MW7Yfx6e8x
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 15, 2021
The correct answer is the Iron Bowl.
— Sanford Johnson (@SanfordLJohnson) July 17, 2021
My dad and Brother are Auburn fans, me and mom are Alabama. We have no pro sports to get our focus off these two teams. It literally divides families
— Brian Jones (@Brian7360) July 16, 2021
Sorry…it’s the Iron Bowl. Last 38 years it’s 19-19, 35 of the past 43 games have been decided by two scores or less. 10 of the past years one of these two have played for the National Championship.
— Tim Marsh (@tmarsh0307) July 16, 2021
1. Bama vs Auburn: No rivalry has had as many National Championship implications the past decade
— Jason Greene (@wedowee2000) July 15, 2021
2. OSU vs UM: Big-time football I get hyped up for, but has sadly been irrelevant for a long time due to OSU dominance
3. UT vs OK: Who doesn't love 100 points/game? Defense? Nuh uh
Football fans all over the country tune in to the Iron Bowl because they expect to see a good game. And it doesn't hurt ratings that the anti-Alabama people throughout the country tune in with hopes of a Bama defeat. On that weekend Auburn's the most popular team in the US
— Good Ole Rebel (@GoodOleRebel911) July 16, 2021
Not fair putting Army-Navy in there! That's almost it's own category...but yeah, #IronBowl!
— Thom Abraham (@thomabrahamshow) July 16, 2021
There were other responses that disagreed with those above, but they weren’t included because they are wrong.
College football will always be at its peak when Alabama and Auburn football are on the Saturday night docket.