Fansided

College Football: 20 best rivalry games to watch in 2018

By Maitland Rutledge

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: The USC Trojans face off at the line of scrimmage against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: The USC Trojans face off at the line of scrimmage against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 11: Arkansas Razorbacks running back Devwah Whaley (21) scores a touchdown during a game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 11, 2017. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 11: Arkansas Razorbacks running back Devwah Whaley (21) scores a touchdown during a game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 11, 2017. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

12. Arkansas vs. LSU

This rivalry features another outstanding piece of hardware as the prize. The “Battle for the Golden Boot” between Arkansas and LSU is always a must-watch SEC game. These teams have played each other since 1901 and the hostility is as high today as it was then.

One of the most famous games in the series happened in 1947. Every football fan knows about the “Ice Bowl” between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys in 1967, but Arkansas and LSU played one first. In the Cotton Bowl Classic, sleet, snow, rain and temperatures below 20 degrees kept either team from gaining an edge. The game ended in a scoreless tie, the last tie to happen in the rivalry.

The 2007 matchups is arguably the series’ best. In Houston Nutt’s final game at Arkansas, the Razorbacks sent him out on top. LSU was ranked number one in the country while Arkansas came in at 6-5. The Razorbacks outlasted the Tigers in a grueling triple-overtime classic. Running what the team called the “Wild Hog” formation, running back Darren McFadden was the star of the game. He rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns. McFadden also threw for one touchdown to lift Arkansas to a 50-48 victory.

Last year’s game proved to be a snoozer. LSU was ranked No. 24, looking for a good bowl game while Arkansas was on their way to a 4-8 season and firing Brett Bielema. The Tigers won easily 33-10. With Chad Morris taking the helm, this rivalry could have some new life pumped into it. Morris versus Ed Orgeron is a matchup of coaches fans should love to see.