The best week of the college football calendar has arrived, the one that sets this sport apart for its tradition, history, and histrionics: rivalry week. On Friday, we’re releasing the Top 25 Greatest Rivalries in College Football History, but we thought it would also be worthwhile to examine the 25 best rivalry games this weekend.
Note that not every rivalry series is played during rivalry weekend (notable exceptions include the Red River Rivalry, Army-Navy, and the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party), and this ranking is taking into account current context and stakes (bowl berths, conference races, playoff odds) in addition to teams’ shared histories.
25) Fresno State vs. San Jose State
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 10:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: FS1
The main subplot of the Battle for the Valley may be San Jose State sophomore Danny Scudero chasing this year’s receiving yards title (he’s 43 yards away from leading the nation). Other late-night Mountain West offerings Saturday include UNLV-Nevada and Wyoming-Hawai’i.
24) Oregon State vs. Washington State
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 6:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: The CW Network
If this isn’t a rivalry yet, it’ll become one between the two founding members of the second iteration of the Pac-12. The Beavers won 10-7 over the Cougars at the start of this month for their first FBS win this season, but Washington State is almost a two-touchdown favorite in the rematch with a chance at a sixth win and bowl eligibility.
23) Notre Dame vs. Stanford
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 10:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
This is a trophy game with some history, and Stanford has been more competitive against the Fighting Irish than you might think. But Notre Dame has rendered all of its opposition moot over the past two months with nine double-digit wins in as many tries.
22) Indiana vs. Purdue
- Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025
- Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: NBC
This game will probably be just a bit closer than the Hoosiers’ 66-0 win over the Boilermakers last year, but Indiana and Heisman-contending quarterback Fernando Mendoza have become appointment viewing. IU’s blowouts have been slightly fewer and further between than they were last year (although its profile has risen due to higher-caliber wins), so we’ll see which way this game trends.
21) Air Force vs. Colorado State
- Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025
- Kick Off: 3 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: FS1
These two teams didn’t meet until 1957, but they’ve played every year since 1978, save for 2020 (due to COVID-19). The Falcons lead the all-time series 39-22-1, and with both teams already having accumulated eight or more losses, they’ll have little to play for but pride. Colorado State’s emotions may be high after hiring head coach Jim Mora late Tuesday night.
20) UCLA vs. USC
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: NBC
Unless the Bruins can rediscover the magic that carried them to a three-game win streak in October, starting with the upset of Penn State, they’re probably headed toward a fifth loss in a row. A 7-2 conference record in USC’s second season in the Big Ten would be a nice consolation for the Trojans, who are still in search of their first College Football Playoff appearance.
19) Virginia Tech vs. Virginia
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 7 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
Virginia can clinch an ACC Championship Game appearance with a win. Almost as importantly, they can earn their first win over Virginia Tech since 2019. Doing so would get the Cavaliers to 10 wins for the first time since 1989 and only the second time in school history. Do the Hokies, now with James Franklin announced as their next head coach, have any fight left after losing each of their past three games by double digits?
18) Missouri vs. Arkansas
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: SEC Network
This is a newer trophy game that was formed between two bordering states after Missouri joined the SEC a decade ago. Arkansas is in search of its first SEC victory after six single-digit conference losses and is playing in perhaps Bobby Petrino’s final game as (interim) head coach of the ‘Hogs.
17) North Carolina vs. NC State
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ACC Network
Bill Belichick’s team wants to avoid going 0-3 against in-state ACC opposition after losing to Wake Forest and Duke the past two weeks. The Tar Heels haven’t beaten the Wolfpack since 2020 and playing for pride will be their motivation to end a season in which they’re missing a bowl game for the first time since 2018. NC State nabbed a sixth win last week to earn a sixth-straight bowl trip.
16) Northwestern vs. Illinois
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: FOX
After they lost at 4-7 Wisconsin last weekend, the Fighting Illini are at risk of a slide since starting the season No. 12 in the AP poll. Northwestern has won just as many games in conference play as its in-state counterpart and clinched bowl eligibility last week by snapping a three-game losing streak. Can Preston Stone come close to replicating last week’s 305-yard passing performance amid an otherwise modest season and give Northwestern a balanced attack alongside productive running back Caleb Komolafe?
15) Houston vs. Baylor
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: Noon ET
- TV Channel: TNT
This isn’t a rivalry with the same history as others this weekend, but it’s relevant because Baylor is fighting for bowl eligibility as a slight favorite against Houston, which is playing for its first nine-win season since 2021. The Cougars’ Conner Weigman and the Bears’ Sawyer Robertson are enjoying strong seasons under center in their home state after starting their careers at larger programs.
14) Florida State vs. Florida
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 4:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN2
Who wants it more? That’s what this game will probably come down to. The Gators won in Tallahassee last year, so the Seminoles may be motivated by that and an opportunity to become bowl eligible with a sixth win. However, Florida has vacillated between putting forth a strong effort in every other game recently, pushing Georgia and Ole Miss to the brink before being blown out by Kentucky and Tennessee. If that trend continues, the Seminoles may be in trouble.
13) Wake Forest vs. Duke
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ACC Network
This could end up as one of the better games this week, with the home team as a 1.5-point favorite against the overachieving Demon Deacons. Duke could sweep its in-state rivals (having already beaten NC State and UNC this season) with a win on Saturday, while first-year head coach Jake Dickert is hoping to lead Wake Forest to its first nine-win season since reaching the ACC Championship Game in 2021.
12) Kentucky vs. Louisville
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: Noon ET
- TV Channel: ACC Network
Kentucky’s hot streak hit a snag against Vanderbilt last week, but the Wildcats can still reach a sixth win in their season finale against in-state rival Louisville. The Cardinals rose as high as No. 15 in the College Football Playoff rankings but have since lost three games in a row, struggling with injuries. They sat their quarterback and top two running backs at SMU last week and saw star receiver Chris Bell suffer an injury in that game.
11) Wisconsin vs. Minnesota
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: FS1
These two teams are suddenly heading in different directions. Wisconsin will be missing a bowl game for the second year in a row, but the Badgers can end this season with two wins over ranked teams (after defeating Washington and Illinois this month) and a rivalry victory here. Minnesota has lost three of its past four games and the road team has won this matchup each of the past three years. Also worth mentioning, the series is tied 63-63-8 all-time.
10) Clemson vs. South Carolina
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: Noon ET
- TV Channel: SEC Network
This game was expected to have much higher stakes when both teams entered the season ranked in the Associated Press’ top 15. The Gamecocks have already accrued a seventh loss and thus aren’t bowl eligible, but they have won two of their last three games against Clemson, including a compelling 17-14 road comeback last year. South Carolina is favored to make it three of four as only one of these two talented teams can end its underwhelming season on something of a high note.
9) Iowa vs. Nebraska
- Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025
- Kick Off: Noon ET
- TV Channel: CBS
Either of these 7-4 teams can salvage quite a bit of pride from seasons that seemed more starry a month ago if they win the Heroes Game. The Huskers are counting on true freshman backup quarterback TJ Lateef and star running back Emmett Johnson to deliver their first home win over the Hawkeyes in this annual series since 2011.
8) Arizona vs. Arizona State
- Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025
- Kick Off: 9 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: FOX
Arizona is the lower-ranked team and will be on the road, but the Wildcats are favored in this matchup of top-25 squads. That’s in large part because ASU starting quarterback Sam Leavitt is out for the season and perhaps out on Tempe, but Jeff Sims has piloted the Sun Devils to three wins in a row as the starter this month. Arizona won going away last time these teams played in Tempe, Noah Fifita’s first season as a starter, and the fact that Fifita has regained his freshman form could spell doom for his Territorial Cup rivals.
7) Georgia vs. Georgia Tech
- Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025
- Kick Off: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ABC
These teams played to an eight-overtime classic last season, and it’s fair to be skeptical if this game will play out similarly, given the disparate directions in which the two teams are trending and the fact that it won’t even be played on Georgia Tech’s campus despite being designated as a home game. However, this is still a two-loss team versus a one-loss team in a ranked-on-ranked in-state rivalry game called “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.”
6) Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
- Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025
- Kick Off: Noon ET
- TV Channel: ABC
This year’s Egg Bowl may be second to none in terms of off-field intrigue. While Ole Miss is trying to clinch its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance and Mississippi State seeks to reach a sixth win and a bowl berth, the focus will be on trying to ascertain Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin’s decision for his next destination before it’s announced Saturday.
5) Oregon vs. Washington
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: CBS
This game (and the rivalry in general) is sneakily high-stakes. The Ducks are seeking to all but clinch a College Football Playoff berth and another strong win amid a schedule light on elite competition. Don’t forget that Oregon head coach Dan Lanning started 0-3 against Washington.
That was when he was going up against current Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, however. New head Husky Jedd Fisch is seeking to earn his first win against the Ducks in Seattle to cap a potential nine-win regular season.
4) Alabama vs. Auburn
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ABC
These Iron Bowl rivals are playing with different stakes in mind, but the point spread is under a touchdown for a rivalry that’s second to none in the South in terms of hatred and high-level history. Alabama is seeking to secure a trip to the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff after a one-year absence from both.
Auburn, which has lost by a combined five points in its past two home games against Alabama, can reach bowl eligibility with a sixth win on Saturday.
3) Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
Expect a shootout in this top-20 matchup. Vanderbilt has allowed 29.7 points over its past three games (two wins) while Tennessee’s scoring defense is ranked 14th of 16 SEC teams.
Can Joey Aguilar outduel fellow former journeyman quarterback Diego Pavia in Knoxville and end the Volunteers’ regular season on a high note? Or will Pavia stamp his ticket to the Heisman Trophy ceremony by delivering Vanderbilt’s first 10-win season in program history?
2) Texas A&M vs. Texas
- Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025
- Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ABC
Last year, Texas defeated a lower-ranked Texas A&M on the road en route to reaching the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff semifinals. This year, the Aggies will be hoping to return the favor as the higher-ranked team on the road in what’s these rivals’ second matchup since 2011.
We’d listen to an argument for this being the top game of the weekend as Texas A&M pursues its first win over Texas, in Austin or otherwise, since their Big 12 days 15 years ago.
1) Ohio State vs. Michigan
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Kick Off: Noon ET
- TV Channel: FOX
Ohio State feels due to beat the Wolverines, but that’s been the case for several years running. The Buckeyes have been the higher-ranked team in each of their past four matchups with Michigan and have lost each time, including last year’s shocker in Columbus. The potential difference? Ohio State was ranked No. 2 entering The Game each of the past four seasons and is currently ranked No. 1.
Michigan can keep its fringe College Football Playoff hopes alive with a win, and its Big Ten Championship hopes alive with a win and an Oregon loss.