How conference realignment created new rivalries but ruined many others (2024)

The trickle-down with every shift in conference realignment affects the most visible part of college sports: the games. Some of the greatest rivalries in college sports were wiped out because of expansion, ranging from Oklahoma-Nebraska in football to Syracuse-Georgetown in men’s basketball to Kansas-Missouri in all sports. But change also has elevated irregular series, like Tennessee–Florida and Ohio State–Penn State.

To illustrate realignment’s impact on rivalries, we created seven categories for 50 major conference football series and 10 from lower divisions. They include:

• Thrived — Rivalries that realignment nudged from a shrug to a sizzle.
• Nose-dived — Once-annual staples that conference realignment pushed to the back burner.
• Tried — Once earmarked for rivalry status, these series fell flat for a number of reasons.
• Died — Great or long-standing rivalries that capsized because of expansion and realignment.
• Survived — No matter the evolution around them, these rivalries remained intact.
• Revived — Once deceased, these rivalries are reignited because of recent developments.
• Primed — On deck are some impactful games that are the byproduct of school migration.

Thrived: Tennessee-Florida

Others: Ohio State-Penn State, Arkansas–LSU, Clemson–Florida State, Iowa-Nebraska

In the pre-divisional era of SEC football, there was no consistency with conference-wide scheduling. Tennessee-Florida is a great example, meeting just 19 times before 1990, including only four games between 1971 and 1990. Then when the SEC split into East and West divisions in 1992, Vols-Gators turned from irrelevance to appointment viewing. With Steve Spurrier at Florida and Phil Fulmer at Tennessee, the teams battled annually for the East Division title. Spurrier never lost to Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning and claimed the 1996 national title. The Vols finally dethroned the Gators in 1998 on their way to the inaugural BCS championship.

Ohio State-Penn State has become must-see TV since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten in 1993. Both teams were ranked in their past six matchups, and from 2016 to 2018, there was no better series nationally.

Before Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992, the Razorbacks and LSU hadn’t played since 1966. From 1995 onward, at least one team was ranked in all but four matchups.

Since Florida State joined the ACC in 1991, the Seminoles and Clemson have combined for 24 of the 32 league titles and five national championships. During the past 12 years, only one time did neither school claim the ACC title.

Iowa and Nebraska fans didn’t know how much they disliked each other until they started facing off on Black Friday in 2011. Now it’s a protected Big Ten rivalry.

D-II: Sioux Falls-Augustana (S.D.)

Eight city blocks separate South Dakota squads Sioux Falls from Augustana. They played only twice between 1940 and 2012 until perennial NAIA power Sioux Falls moved up to Division II. Now they’re in the same conference, and their annual meeting is dubbed “Key to the City.”

Nose-dived: Wake Forest–NC State

Others: Minnesota–Michigan, Ohio State-Illinois, Auburn-Florida, Mississippi State-LSU/Alabama

In the ACC’s scheduling plan, which protects three opponents annually, NC State and Wake Forest will cycle off the schedule one of these years. They have played 116 times and have met every year since 1910, the second-longest streak nationally. Yet when the ACC eliminated divisions, the Demon Deacons will play Duke, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech every year, and the Wolfpack will meet North Carolina, Duke and Clemson annually. This is what happens when a scheduling model gets too cute for its own good.

Consider this category the Superman III of realignment. Expansion didn’t kill the rivalry, per se, but it turned historic chapters into footnotes. Minnesota and Michigan have played for The Little Brown Jug since 1909, the oldest rivalry in major college football. They’ve met 104 times overall, but since 1998, they’ve played only 15 games. Illinois-Ohio State compete for the Big Ten’s second-oldest traveling trophy — The Illibuck — and played annually from 1914-2002. Mississippi State has faced LSU 116 times and Alabama 107, but in 2024, the Bulldogs won’t play either for the first season since 1943 and 1947. Auburn-Florida was an annual staple predating the SEC with 84 meetings. The Tigers and Gators have met only four times since the SEC eliminated two cross-divisional rivalries after the 2002 season.

FCS: Lehigh-Princeton

Lehigh and Princeton are separated by only 60 miles and competed every year from 1887 to 1906, but they had a 50-year hiatus from 1935 to 1985. They since have played regularly, including in 2022.

Tried: Iowa State–West Virginia

Others: Arkansas-Missouri, Utah-Colorado, Maryland–Rutgers, Michigan State-Penn State

Iowa State and West Virginia never met before the Mountaineers joined the Big 12 in 2012. Both had odd rivalries in the past; every long-standing ISU foe either had switched conferences or had a more important rivalry save for Iowa, which competes in a different league. West Virginia’s former independent rivals all received conference upgrades, and none was left in its neighborhood. So, the Big 12 penciled Iowa State-West Virginia together for Thanksgiving weekend, and it became … just another series. Although the competition has been solid with West Virginia leading 6-5 in their 11 meetings, there is no clash between the Cyclones and Mountaineers scheduled for 2023 — not that anyone noticed.

Sometimes, rivalries just don’t take root. Before entering the Big Ten together, Maryland and Rutgers competed just twice from 1942 until 2014. Henceforth, it’s deemed a permanent Big Ten series. When the Big Ten created a two-rival system in 1995, Michigan State-Penn State was stapled together and to the Land Grant Trophy. Whenever they’ve had the chance to protect their series, both programs have declined.

Arkansas and Missouri each vacated historic rivalries in their former conferences, but their border rivalry has yet to become more than a series of interesting contests. Utah and Colorado have played 69 times, but the Utes have won the past six meetings by an average of 24.6 points.

FCS: Idaho-Idaho State

When Idaho shifted from FBS to FCS in 2018, the Vandals wound up in the Big Sky alongside Idaho State. The Bengals won the first meeting, but Idaho has claimed three of the past four. If Idaho State can muster better than the 4-20 record it has the past three Big Sky seasons, perhaps this can grow in stature.

Died: Nebraska-Oklahoma, Kansas-Missouri, Pittsburgh-Penn State, Oklahoma-Oklahoma-State

Others: Utah-BYU, Pittsburgh-West Virginia, Baylor-Texas A&M, USC-Stanford, Louisville-Cincinnati, Baylor-Texas, Oregon State-USC, Kansas-Nebraska, LSU-Tulane, Texas-Rice, Nebraska-Colorado, Maryland-Virginia, Auburn-Georgia Tech, Iowa State-Missouri, USF-UCF, UCLA-California

There’s no greater collateral damage in realignment than the loss of a quality rivalry. It doesn’t matter whether it has national title implications or just delivers bragging rights. It’s an emotional attachment that’s impossible to replicate.

There are the neighborhood games, like Baylor-Texas A&M, Maryland-Virginia, Nebraska-Kansas, Texas-Rice, LSU-Tulane, Louisville–Cincinnati and USF-UCF. There are the uneven historic battles that often delivered outstanding contests like Nebraska-Colorado, Oregon State–USC and Texas-Baylor. There are those where it’s just strange that they won’t play anymore like Missouri-Iowa State or UCLA-California. There are the ones that offer a profound sense of loss like Pitt-West Virginia, Utah-BYU, USC-Stanford and Auburn-Georgia Tech.

Then there are the ones that take a chunk out of your soul. Pitt-Penn State became the first lost major rivalry after the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten in 1993. They played annually in November or December from 1935 to 1992. During the past 30 years, they’ve had a pair of four-game series. The absence hasn’t replaced the bitterness; there’s no love lost between these Pennsylvania rivals. But they rarely meet on the field.

Nebraska-Oklahoma became a casualty of the Big 12 creation when they split into opposite divisions. As Big Eight rivals, they played 71 consecutive years and 18 times as top-10 opponents. Seven times they caused the other team’s only loss. Their 1971 clash, which Nebraska won 35-31, was dubbed “The Game of the Century” for good reason. The division shift forced them into a scheduling rotation. Then in 2011, Nebraska left for the Big Ten, and only in 2021 and 2022 did they play as nonconference opponents.

After the final meeting in 2011, Kansas vs. Missouri ranked second in most-played major-college rivalry games (120) behind only Minnesota-Wisconsin. Hate is a strong word and perhaps an inappropriate way to articulate feelings toward opponents, but if there is one rivalry where it’s borderline applicable, it’s the Border War. As perfectly encapsulated by former Jayhawks coach Don Fambrough: “Kansas State is our rival. Missouri is our enemy.”

The annual series known as Bedlam has a win-loss differential as competitive as a hammer with a nail. Oklahoma leads Oklahoma State 91-19-7 overall, and with one more victory, the Sooners will own the most wins over a single opponent, topping Nebraska over Kansas. But Bedlam is a competitive rivalry that predates Oklahoma’s becoming a state. This year, the Sooners and Cowboys will meet Nov. 4 in Stillwater in their final scheduled contest before the Sooners head to the SEC.

Lower levels: Northwest Missouri State-Truman State, Holy Cross-Boston College, Baker-William Jewell, Wooster-Mount Union

Holy Cross and Boston College played every year but twice from 1919 until 1986 and 82 times overall before the Crusaders dropped to non-major status. They reignite their series this fall after a 37-year layoff.

Longtime NAIA series (83 games) between William Jewell on the Missouri side and Baker (Kan.) was halted when William Jewell left for Division II. Division III colleges Wooster and Mount Union played 68 as Ohio Athletic Conference members and its predecessors from 1901 until Wooster left in 1984. They met four more times and haven’t played since 1991.

Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State and longtime rival Truman State (formerly known as Northeast Missouri State) played every year from 1921 until 2011 except during World War II. From 1931 onward, they battled for The Old Hickory Stick and the winning team painted the tip after games. Truman State struggled to compete in the MIAA and moved to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. After 91 games, the series is on hiatus.

Survived: Wisconsin-Iowa

Others: Georgia-Georgia Tech, SMU-TCU, Cincinnati-Miami (Ohio), Notre Dame–Navy

The Wisconsin-Iowa series twice was sacrificed at the altar of Big Ten expansion. It cycled off in 1993-94 when Penn State joined the Big Ten, which caused the league to implement a two-rival system. Then when Nebraska joined in 2011, Wisconsin and Iowa again were separated despite both schools protesting. Their annual series resumed in 2014 with East-West divisions, but with USC and UCLA’s arrival in 2024, it was in danger again. This time, the Big Ten chose a flex-protect plan and allowed the Badgers-Hawkeyes’ 96-game series to continue uninterrupted.

Georgia Tech left the SEC after the 1963 season, and most of its long-standing rivalries went with it. But its “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” series with Georgia lived on undisturbed from 1925 until the 2020 COVID-19 season. SMU and TCU became vagabonds after the Southwest Conference’s implosion, but they’ve missed playing for the Iron Skillet just twice, including the 2020 campaign. Cincinnati and Miami (Ohio) first played in 1888, and with 16 consecutive series victories, the Bearcats lead the all-time series (60-59-7) for the first time since 1915. The one-sided but respectful Notre Dame-Navy series was played from 1927 to 2019 and will remain a nonconference staple for both schools well into the next decade.

D-III: Coe-Cornell

With 131 meetings, Coe-Cornell is the most-played Division III rivalry west of the Mississippi River. Outside of two years during World War II, the Division III rivalry has remained intact during every season since 1899. The eastern Iowa colleges are 14 miles apart and their series required some juggling when Cornell switched conferences in 2012, but it’s still an annual affair.

Revived: Texas-Texas A&M

Others: SMU-Rice, Arkansas-Texas, Missouri-Oklahoma, TCU-Baylor

When schools mention their rival in their dueling chants, they just have to play, right? Thankfully, a major football tradition returns in 2024 when the Longhorns and Aggies strap it up for the first time since 2011. It hasn’t quite felt like Thanksgiving weekend without the Texas-Texas A&M game after 118 editions. Their last meeting in 2011 was epic, and their next kickoff at College Station will be just as spirited. Now it’s up to the SEC to ensure it’s never goodbye to this ancient feud.

Arkansas-Texas once was a heated Southwest Conference rivalry capped by a legendary 1969 meeting that led to President Richard Nixon’s crowning the Longhorns as national champions. The Hogs and Horns meet as SEC foes in Fayetteville in 2024. Missouri-Oklahoma hardly was considered a Big Eight rivalry, but the Tigers and Sooners played 96 times between 1902 and 2011. They face off in 2024 at Faurot Field when Oklahoma joins the SEC. TCU and Baylor played just twice after the fall of the Southwest Conference until 2010. Then when the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 in 2012, their rivalry became as hot as ever. SMU and Rice met 90 times in multiple conferences. Now, they’re joined again in the American Athletic Conference and play for the first time since 2012.

FCS: North Dakota-North Dakota State

North Dakota-North Dakota State once was a Division II heavyweight clash with the winner lifting the Nickel Trophy. When the Bison jumped to FCS in 2003, North Dakota stayed behind, then moved up in 2008. They didn’t face off until 2015 and didn’t return as annual foes again until 2019. The Nickel Trophy, however, is retired.

Primed: Ohio State-USC

Others: Arkansas-Oklahoma, Texas-Alabama, West Virginia-Cincinnati, James Madison-Appalachian State

There are dozens of series worth considering, but perhaps no new matchup will energize the masses like USC at Ohio State in 2025. The bluebloods battled as conference champions six times from 1969 through 1985 in the Rose Bowl. USC had won seven consecutive meetings from 1975 through 2009 until the Buckeyes broke through with a Cotton Bowl win in 2017.

Texas and Alabama have primed their future SEC battles with a two-game nonconference series that started last year with a one-point battle in Austin. They meet again Sept. 9 in Tuscaloosa. West Virginia and Cincinnati once competed regularly in the Big East. Now as Big 12 members, their shared location in a spread-out league could forge a potential rivalry. Only 240 miles separate Arkansas and Oklahoma, yet they’ve played each other just 14 times. One day this could wind up as a dynamite SEC series.

James Madison and Appalachian State once were FCS powers and now are Sun Belt competitors. They met last year with a Dukes 32-28 win. Once James Madison becomes postseason-eligible, these programs should regularly battle for the Sun Belt title.

FCS: Florida A&M-Jackson State

Florida A&M shifted from the MEAC to the SWAC in 2021 and opened its new era in a 7-6 loss to Deion Sanders’ Jackson State squad. Last year was a 59-3 Jackson State shellacking. For the third consecutive season, the foes will compete against one another in the Orange Blossom Classic at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

Editor’s note:This story is part ofThe Athletic’s Realignment Revisited series, digging into the past, present and future of conference realignment in college sports. Follow the series and find more conference realignment stories here.

(Top photo: Donald Page / Getty Images)