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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ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 25: Michigan Wolverines full back Khalid Hill (80) dives over a pile of bodies for extra yards during game action between the Ohio State Buckeyes (8) and the Michigan Wolverines on November 25, 2017 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 25: Michigan Wolverines full back Khalid Hill (80) dives over a pile of bodies for extra yards during game action between the Ohio State Buckeyes (8) and the Michigan Wolverines on November 25, 2017 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Michigan vs. Ohio State

When college football fans think “rivalry game”, the first teams that come to mind are Michigan and Ohio State. Some refer to this as “The Game”. The schools have met every year but five since 1900, except from 1913 to 1917. The teams’ first game was in 1897 and every late November, usually under overcast skies with winter in the air, the country gathers to watch these legendary programs add a new chapter to this grudge match.With legendary coaches and players defining this matchup, plenty of great memories have occurred.

Some fans think this story from 1968 is an exaggeration, but others believe it to be true. After Ohio State scored its last touchdown late in a 50–14 blowout over Michigan, head coach Woody Hayes decided to go for two points instead of kicking the extra point. When asked after the game why he did it, Hayes is believed to have said, “Because they ­wouldn’t let me go for three.” Hayes’ hate for the Wolverines was legendary. Wolverine fans have just as much hostility toward for the Buckeye fans too.

More important, Big Ten conference titles are usually at stake, especially when head coach Bo Schembechler arrived in 1969 to turn the Michigan fortunes around and take down Hayes’ building program. Since then, Michigan/Ohio State has been the nation’s most competitive and bitter rivalry. Since the games have so much significance and occur during the final week of the season, a loss to you cross-town rival can haunt you all offseason.

Today this game is still highlighted with great coaches. Jim Harbaugh arrived in 2015 looking to return Michigan to the National Championship level and, more importantly, beat the Buckeyes as much as possible. Urban Meyer arrived after 2011 and is 6-0 as Ohio State’s head coach against Michigan. If he’s still the head coach this season, he will look to continue that streak in 2018. If there is one game fans will for sure be watching this season, it will be The Game.