College Football Rivalries Going Extinct With Conference Realignment
In case you've been living off the grid since Summer 2021, the landscape of college football is undergoing its most dramatic fashion in decades. Major conference realignment brings a lot of changes, but perhaps none more detrimental to the sport than the eradication of some of its most storied rivalries.
While the seeds are planted for the revitalization of Texas-Texas A&M and Oklahoma-Missouri, it's at the expense of centuries of tradition and history.
Bedlam: Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
First played: 1904
Final edition: 2023
Record: Oklahoma, 91-16-7
One of college football's most intense and exciting rivalries is coming to an end after 2023. First played in 1904, the two in-state rivals grew their annual game into one of the most recognizable brands in the nation.
Oklahoma owns nearly 80% of the series wins, making it easy for the Sooners to dispose of the game en route to the SEC in 2024. However, it's one of the few rivalries to play through the COVID-19 pandemic and not miss a beat through two World Wars.
Projecting forward, the two programs are headed in different directions. Perhaps not many wins were on the immediate horizon for the Pokes, but it's a shame to see such an intense rivalry go by the wayside nonetheless.
Platypus Trophy: Oregon vs. Oregon State
First played: 1894
Final edition: 2023*
Record: 67-49-10
Formerly known as the Civil War, the rivalry playing for the Platypus Trophy –mix between a beaver and duck – likely ends when the Ducks leave for the Big Ten. Oregon said it will "prioritize" scheduling their in-state rival, but the annual rivalry game is essentially over unless the Big Ten makes a play at Oregon State (extremely unlikely at time of writing).
Oregon-Oregon State is the oldest rivalry dying with conference realignment and is a direct result of the moves. Very few events cancelled the series, with the only current cause being World War II (they even snuck the matchup in during the 2020 season which the teams played just seven games).
The two teams will have played the fifth-most times in college football history, with 127 total meetings being the final tally for the foreseeable future.
Stanford vs. USC
First played: 1905
Final edition: 2023
Record: USC, 64-34-3
USC has been at the forefront of college football for decades, establishing historic rivalries like Notre Dame and UCLA. But USC's oldest rivalry is current conference foe Stanford, established 21 years before either Notre Dame or UCLA.
The Trojans depart for the Big Ten following this college football season and Stanford agreed to join the ACC alongside Cal. And with the conference realignment moves, both schools lose their oldest rivalry.
The Cardinal and Trojans used to vie for conference championships and spots in the Rose Bowl, with the 2010s being particularly competitive.
Battle For The Iron Skillet: TCU vs. SMU
First played: 1915
Final edition: 2025
Record: TCU, 52-42-7
More a coincidence of being axed during conference realignment, the non-conference rivalry between the two DFW Metroplex schools will come to an end after 2025. TCU decided to pause the series "indefinitely" and shortly thereafter, SMU inked a deal to join the ACC.
SMU controlled the series throughout much of the 70s and mid-80s, but TCU took a firm 24-8 grasp in the 90s until the present.
The story behind the trophy – the iron skillet – is believed to have stemmed from trash talk in 1946, where SMU fans allegedly fried frog legs prior to the matchup. SMU's student council then proposed the idea of the trophy.
TCU is also losing a storied rival in Texas, a series that began in 1897, when Texas leaves for the SEC.
Other Affected Rivalries
While the above examples are going extinct for at least the known future, some other established rivalries are axing their annual meeting, even if the two teams continue to duke it out on a regular basis.
Penn State vs. Ohio State/Michigan
The Big Ten released their 2024-25 opponent slate as the league moves out of a divisional format and into a rotating schedule with the addition of USC and UCLA. After the fact, the conference added Oregon and Washington, forcing a revision to be made.
That revision hasn't yet been released at the time of writing, but Penn State was promised no permanent rivals. The Nittany Lions – though new to the league as of the 1990s – established fiery battles with both Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten East. Those annual games will likely be lost to conference realignment.
The Old Wagon Wheel: BYU vs. Utah State
This one played its final chapter out in 2022 as BYU left for the Big 12 from being an independent. The Old Wagon Wheel resides for the foreseeable future in Provo after BYU won the final matchup 38-26 at home.
The rivalry began in 1922 and played 90 editions, with 1975 being a turning point from a Utah State-dominated matchup to a BYU-dominated one. Sadly, BYU has their non-conference slate booked out through 2026, with no announcement of any matchup with Utah State.
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