Best college football rivalries to see in person: Ohio State-Michigan, Texas-Texas A&M and more

There are college football games, and then there are rivalry games.

The kind where fans spend all year talking trash, entire families are divided by school allegiance and one win can make an otherwise disappointing season feel a whole lot better. These are the games that make college football special, with traditions and history that go back generations.

While watching from your couch is an option, nothing compares to being there when 100,000 fans erupt after a touchdown against their biggest rival.

SeatGeek knows how much these games mean to fans. Through its partnership with Paciolan, SeatGeek serves as the Official Ticket Marketplace for more than 100 colleges, helping fans buy and sell tickets for some of the biggest games in college sports.

From Michigan-Ohio State to the Lone Star Showdown between Texas and Texas A&M, here are 10 college football rivalries every fan should experience in person at least once.

10 best college football rivalry games to experience in person

Some of these matchups alternate between campuses, while others bring two bitter rivals together at a neutral site. Regardless, all 10 have that juice that makes attending in person special.

Ohio State vs. Michigan — The Game

There aren't many college football rivalries where you can simply call the matchup The Game and everyone knows exactly what you're talking about.

Ohio State and Michigan have spent more than a century trying to get the better of each other, and the hatred between these two Big Ten powers is as real as it gets. Championships, undefeated seasons and College Football Playoff hopes have all been put on the line in this rivalry, but the bragging rights might matter just as much.

When the game is in Columbus, more than 100,000 Buckeyes fans pack Ohio Stadium, and hearing the crowd roar while the band performs Script Ohio is something every college football fan should experience. In Ann Arbor, Michigan Stadium brings its own massive crowd, with Wolverines fans creating an equally hostile environment for the Buckeyes.

Even when one team enters with a much better record, there's no guarantee of anything once these two meet.

Alabama vs. Auburn — Iron Bowl

Alabama and Auburn share a state, but that's about where the common ground ends. 

The rivalry has also produced some of the wildest moments in college football history, highlighted by Auburn's miraculous Kick Six win in 2013 when Chris Davis returned a missed field goal 109 yards as time expired.

Attending the Iron Bowl at either Bryant-Denny Stadium or Jordan-Hare Stadium gives you a front-row seat to one of the few games where the reaction in the stands can be just as entertaining as the action on the field. If Auburn wins at home, there's a good chance you'll see fans celebrating by rolling the oak trees at Toomer's Corner afterward.

You might walk into the Iron Bowl expecting a great football game, but you're getting a crash course in just how seriously Alabama takes college football.

Texas vs. Texas A&M — Lone Star Showdown

For more than a decade, one of college football's greatest rivalries was missing from the schedule.

Texas and Texas A&M first met in 1894 and played regularly for generations before the series stopped after 2011, when the Aggies left the Big 12 for the SEC. The rivalry finally returned in 2024, bringing back a matchup that means an awful lot to football fans throughout the state.

Officially known as the Lone Star Showdown, Texas-Texas A&M pits two of the biggest programs in the country's most football-obsessed state against each other.

At Kyle Field in College Station, the Aggies' 12th Man creates one of college football's loudest home environments. Fans can get an early taste of the rivalry at Midnight Yell Practice, where thousands of Aggies gather to practice their yells before a home game. Add the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band and more than 100,000 fans dressed in maroon, and you've got a pretty incredible scene.

When the rivalry heads to Austin, Texas fans pack Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and sing “The Eyes of Texas” in support of the Longhorns. The Longhorns' Hook 'em Horns hand sign and the Aggies' Gig 'em tradition are just two more reminders of how deeply this rivalry runs.

Now that the Lone Star Showdown is back, it's once again one of the biggest dates on the Texas college football calendar.

Texas vs. Oklahoma — Red River Rivalry

Most rivalries take place at one team's home stadium. Texas-Oklahoma brings both fan bases to the same place, with a state fair happening right outside.

The Red River Rivalry is played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas during the State Fair of Texas, creating one of the most unusual game-day experiences in American sports.

Inside the stadium, the crowd is traditionally split right down the middle. One half is dressed in Texas burnt orange, the other in Oklahoma crimson. 

Outside, you've got the fair, fried food, rides and thousands of Longhorns and Sooners fans making a full day of it.

The history on the field is just as good. Texas and Oklahoma have been going at it since 1900, and the rivalry has delivered dramatic comebacks, upsets and plenty of memorable finishes.

Army vs. Navy — Army-Navy Game

Army-Navy is different from every other game on this list.

The football matters, of course, and the rivalry between the Black Knights and Midshipmen is fierce. But the traditions surrounding the game make it one of the most meaningful events on the college football calendar.

Before kickoff, the two academies conduct their March-On ceremonies, with thousands of cadets and midshipmen entering the stadium in formation. There's also the traditional exchange of cadets and midshipmen who have been studying at the opposing academy.

Then there's the sight of the stands filled with future military officers, all cheering for their respective schools.

The game itself often features hard-nosed football, plenty of rushing attempts and an intensity that reflects how much the matchup means to the players.

After the final whistle, both teams participate in the singing of their alma maters, with the winner earning the privilege of singing second.

Army-Navy is a reminder that some college football games are about a lot more than wins and losses. If you're a fan of the sport's pageantry and traditions, this one belongs on your bucket list.

BYU vs. Utah — Holy War

The Holy War between BYU and Utah is one of the most intense rivalries in the country, and it doesn't always get the national attention it deserves.

The two schools are separated by just 45 miles, with Utah in Salt Lake City and BYU in Provo. 

The rivalry has a long history of dramatic finishes and bitter exchanges, and the passion surrounding it makes for a terrific atmosphere at either stadium.

Both BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium and Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium offer incredible mountain backdrops, but each has its own game-day atmosphere. In Provo, the ROC student section fills the stands with royal blue, while Utah's MUSS student section makes plenty of noise in Salt Lake City.

When these two meet, you'll see blue and red throughout the stands, and quickly understand why the rivalry means so much to the state of Utah.

For fans who haven't experienced college football out West, the Holy War is a pretty great place to start.

Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State — Egg Bowl

You haven't fully experienced SEC football until you've witnessed how seriously Mississippi takes the Egg Bowl.

Ole Miss and Mississippi State have been battling for in-state bragging rights since the late 1800s, and there's no shortage of animosity between Rebels and Bulldogs fans.

The matchup gets its name from the Golden Egg trophy, which the winner takes home after the game. But if you've watched this rivalry over the years, you already know that the competition can get pretty heated long before anybody starts thinking about lifting a trophy.

In Starkville, Mississippi State fans create one of the most recognizable sounds in college football with their cowbells. In Oxford, the Grove is one of college football's most famous tailgating destinations.

And the games themselves? The Egg Bowl has produced everything from fights and controversial penalties to wild finishes that fans on both sides are still talking about.

This rivalry is unpredictable and full of chaos. What more could you want from a college football game?

Florida vs. Florida State — Sunshine Showdown

Florida and Florida State have battled for decades, with both programs enjoying periods of national dominance. The rivalry was particularly fierce during the Bobby Bowden and Steve Spurrier years, when the two teams routinely entered their matchup with national championship implications.

That history still shapes how fans approach the game today.

In Gainesville, Florida fans make Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, better known as The Swamp, an incredibly difficult place for visiting teams. The Gators' famous Gator Chomp is everywhere, and the crowd gets especially loud when Florida State has the ball.

In Tallahassee, the atmosphere is just as intense. Florida State's pregame traditions, including Osceola and Renegade riding onto the field and planting the flaming spear at midfield, give the game an entrance unlike anything else in college football.

The matchup also features two of the sport's most recognizable chants and fight songs, and neither fan base is shy about letting the other hear them.

Notre Dame vs. USC

Few rivalries bring together as much college football history as Notre Dame and USC.

These two programs have combined for legendary coaches, Heisman Trophy winners and some of the sport's most famous players. Their rivalry dates back to 1926, and the winner takes home the Jeweled Shillelagh, a trophy decorated with symbols representing victories by each school.

The game also gives fans a chance to experience two very different college football settings.

When the matchup is played in South Bend, Notre Dame Stadium offers one of the sport's most historic backdrops. From the Golden Dome to the Fighting Irish band and the traditions surrounding campus, the whole experience feels like a trip through a college football museum.

When USC hosts, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum brings its own rich history, with the Trojans playing in one of the most recognizable stadiums in American sports.

Unlike many major rivalries, these schools are separated by thousands of miles, making this one of college football's great intersectional matchups.

Notre Dame-USC is a chance to see two of the sport's most famous programs share the same field, and that's reason enough to make the trip once this rivalry resumes in 2030.

Florida vs. Georgia — World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party

Florida-Georgia has one of the most recognizable nicknames in college football, and the tradition surrounding the game lives up to it.

Long known as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, this rivalry has traditionally brought Gators and Bulldogs fans together in Jacksonville for an enormous neutral-site celebration.

The game-day scene is a huge part of the appeal. Florida fans arrive in orange and blue, Georgia fans show up in red and black, and both sides spend hours tailgating before heading inside.

Jacksonville has historically provided the rivalry's home, although the game is being played in Atlanta in 2026 and Tampa Bay in 2027.

Wherever it's played, the atmosphere benefits from having both fan bases represented in big numbers. On the field, the rivalry has delivered decades of SEC drama and memorable performances by legendary names such as Tim Tebow and Herschel Walker.

Florida-Georgia combines the best parts of a major college football game with an all-day event built around one of the South's great rivalries. If you're the type of fan who believes the tailgate is almost as important as the football, this one's for you.

Find college football rivalry tickets on SeatGeek

There aren't many better ways to spend a fall Saturday than watching two college football rivals battle for bragging rights. Whether you're planning your first rivalry game or adding another stadium to your bucket list, SeatGeek makes it easy to find tickets and compare your options.

Start by browsing college football tickets on SeatGeek, or search for your favorite team or a specific rivalry matchup to find upcoming games. Once you've found your game, use the interactive seating map to compare available sections and check Deal Score to find the best value for your budget.

With All-In Pricing showing the full cost upfront and eligible purchases covered by the SeatGeek Buyer Guarantee, you can focus on the best part: getting ready for game day.