As we approach Thanksgiving and rivalry week, it’s a good time to check out what are the most one-sided rivalries in the games that close the 2016 regular season, featuring Oklahoma, Washington, Tennessee and Nebraska and the teams that usually lose to them.
We expanded a bit on the rivalry games to take place in weeks 13 and 14 (Oklahoma and Oklahoma State gotta be different) that have one side winning at least 60% of the games in the series. Famous rivalries like Ohio State vs Michigan, the Iron Bowl, Civil War and my favorite name ‘Clean, old fashioned hate’ didn’t make the cut, although we do mention some of them and their stats at the bottom.
Purdue – Indiana (Old Oaken Bucket): 62.06% won by the Boilermakers
Purdue are heading into this season’s game vs the Hoosiers hoping they can ruin Indiana’s bowl game aspirations. Purdue are 3-8, losing six in a row. Indiana are one win away from bowl eligibility. However, historically it has been the Boilermakers who usually dominate, winning 72 out of the 116 games in the rivalry that started in 1891. Indiana have won the last three games.
UCLA – California: 62.35% won by Bruins
A bad year for both programs, with an identical 4-7 overall record and 2-6 in the Pac-12. The Bruins have won the last three games against California and four out of the last five. Overall they’ve won 53 of the 86 games in this series, starting in 1933.
NC State – North Carolina: 62.85% won by the Tar Heels
The Carolina-State football rivalry began in 1894, and there have been 105 games in the series, with North Carolina winning 66 of them. They’re the overwhelming favorites in the 2016 encounter as well, playing at home with an 8-3 record to the Wolfpack’s 5-6. North Carolina won in 2015, and have taken 3 out of the last four games.
Nebraska – Iowa: 63.04% won by the Cornhuskers
Iowa and Nebraska played each other quite often from 1891 to 1946, but faced each other only five times in the second half of the 20th century. They’ve met every season since Nebraska’s move to the Big Ten, with Iowa winning two of the last three games, including 28-20 last season. Nebraska are ranked heading into this season’s game, needing a win and some outside assistance to make the Big Ten championship game. The Huskers have won 29 of the 46 series games.
Washington – Washington State (Apple Cup): 64.81% won by the Huskies
This year’s Apple Cup is for all the marbles, the Pac-12 north championship game. Washington haven’t won the Pac-12 since 2000, Washington State were co-champions in 2002. Washington have won 70 of the 108 games in the series, including the last three and six of the last seven. Their last two losses to the Cougars were overtime games, both in Pullman (2012, 2008).
Tennessee-Vanderbilt: 68.18% won by the Volunteers
Not very surprising to see this at the top. Tennessee is one of the most successful programs in division I history, with national championships and 13 SEC titles. Vanderbilt have been to only 7 bowl games in program history (although they have two unclaimed national titles). Tennessee have won 75 of the 110 meetings between the teams. Vanderbilt need a win to become bowl eligible. They’ve lost the last two games, but they had a shocking two-game winning streak in 2013 and 2014, their first back-to-back win in this rivalry since the 1920’s.
Oklahoma State – Oklahoma (Bedlam): 77.27% won by the Sooners
I wasn’t sure if to include this game because it always takes place a week after hate week, but I think it has a place among the rest. While the Cowboys have done pretty well for themselves in recent years, they still can’t touch Oklahoma most of the time. The Sooners have won 85 times out of 120 games, including three of the last four. Oklahoma State have just two wins since 2002, coming in 2011 and 2014. This season this game will decide who wins the Big 12.
Other Rivalry Games:
Michigan-Ohio State: 52.22% won by the Wolverines
Notre Dame-USC: 52.87% won by Fighting Irish
Oregon-Oregon State: 52.94% won by the Ducks
Arizona-Arizona State: 53.93% won by the Wildcats
Alabama-Auburn: 55% won by the Crimson Tide
Ole Miss-Mississippi State: 56.25% won by the Rebels
Kansas-Kansas State: 56.63% won by the Jayhawks
Florida-Florida State: 56.66% won by the Gators
VT-Virginia: 56.7% won by the Hokies
Georgia-Georgia Tech: 59.09% won by the Bulldogs
Clemson-South Carolina: 59.29% won by the Tigers