Often folks talk about rivalries that ended due to conference realignment. Barry Tramel of the Daily Oklahoman looks at 10 rivalries that have been created due to the shuffling of teams
Link: http://newsok.com/10-best-college-football-rivalries-created-by-realignment/article/5426334
1. Alabama vs. Texas A&M
These schools had a long history anyway; the Tide hired away Bear Bryant in 1958, and the Aggies returned the favor with Dennis Franchione in 2003. Gene Stallings was an icon in both places. Then Johnny Manziel beat Bama in A&M's first SEC season, and the fuse was lit.
2. Iowa vs. Nebraska
When the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2011, a natural geographic rivalry commenced, complete with hardware (Heroes Trophy) and a Thanksgiving Friday timeslot.
3. Ohio State vs. Penn State
The ancient heavyweights played just eight times before Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993. You would think this would have been an Oklahoma-Texas type conflict; bordering states, with massive universities right in the middle of each.
4. Baylor vs. TCU
This is great on a variety of fronts. It renews an old Southwestern Conference rivalry, it displays the sudden powers in the Big 12, and, best of all, the coaches don't seem to like each other at all.
5. Boise State vs. BYU
BYU became a Western power in the 1970s, then Boise State did the same in the 2000s. They met only twice, 2003 and 2004, before BYU went independent and Boise State joined the Mountain West. Now the teams have an annual series for Mountain Time Zone supremacy.
6. Maryland vs. Penn State
The Nittany Lions and Terrapins played almost every season from 1960 to 1993, when Penn State joined the Big Ten. Then the series went dormant until 2014, when Maryland joined the Big Ten.
7. Arkansas vs. Missouri
Fayetteville, Arkansas sits about 25 crooked miles from the Missouri border. And yet the Razorbacks and Tigers hadn't played in football since 1928, except for two bowl matchups. Now they are an annual SEC rivalry.
8. Nebraska vs. Wisconsin
Absolute twins. Similar cultures. Similar football. Similar geography. Same colors. Hard to tell these two apart. But the Cornhuskers and Badgers played only five times before 2011, when Nebraska joined the Big Ten.
9. Arkansas vs. Texas A&M
Old rivals in the Southwest Conference who shared a hatred of Texas, the series went away for 18 years after the Hogs left for the SEC. It came back as a neutral-site game in 2009, then was sealed when the Ags joined the SEC in 2012.
10. TCU vs. Texas Tech
A life lesson rivalry. The schools played 16 times before Tech joined the Southwest Conference in 1960, and TCU was the bigger power. But in the SWC era, the Frogs weren't much of a factor and the Red Raiders were solid. When Tech joined the Big 12, TCU slipped to mid-major status while Tech enjoyed the fruits of a major conference. But like the ugly duckling who returns to the high school reunion as a swan, TCU is now in the Big 12 and is a big dog.
Link: http://newsok.com/10-best-college-football-rivalries-created-by-realignment/article/5426334
1. Alabama vs. Texas A&M
These schools had a long history anyway; the Tide hired away Bear Bryant in 1958, and the Aggies returned the favor with Dennis Franchione in 2003. Gene Stallings was an icon in both places. Then Johnny Manziel beat Bama in A&M's first SEC season, and the fuse was lit.
2. Iowa vs. Nebraska
When the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2011, a natural geographic rivalry commenced, complete with hardware (Heroes Trophy) and a Thanksgiving Friday timeslot.
3. Ohio State vs. Penn State
The ancient heavyweights played just eight times before Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993. You would think this would have been an Oklahoma-Texas type conflict; bordering states, with massive universities right in the middle of each.
4. Baylor vs. TCU
This is great on a variety of fronts. It renews an old Southwestern Conference rivalry, it displays the sudden powers in the Big 12, and, best of all, the coaches don't seem to like each other at all.
5. Boise State vs. BYU
BYU became a Western power in the 1970s, then Boise State did the same in the 2000s. They met only twice, 2003 and 2004, before BYU went independent and Boise State joined the Mountain West. Now the teams have an annual series for Mountain Time Zone supremacy.
6. Maryland vs. Penn State
The Nittany Lions and Terrapins played almost every season from 1960 to 1993, when Penn State joined the Big Ten. Then the series went dormant until 2014, when Maryland joined the Big Ten.
7. Arkansas vs. Missouri
Fayetteville, Arkansas sits about 25 crooked miles from the Missouri border. And yet the Razorbacks and Tigers hadn't played in football since 1928, except for two bowl matchups. Now they are an annual SEC rivalry.
8. Nebraska vs. Wisconsin
Absolute twins. Similar cultures. Similar football. Similar geography. Same colors. Hard to tell these two apart. But the Cornhuskers and Badgers played only five times before 2011, when Nebraska joined the Big Ten.
9. Arkansas vs. Texas A&M
Old rivals in the Southwest Conference who shared a hatred of Texas, the series went away for 18 years after the Hogs left for the SEC. It came back as a neutral-site game in 2009, then was sealed when the Ags joined the SEC in 2012.
10. TCU vs. Texas Tech
A life lesson rivalry. The schools played 16 times before Tech joined the Southwest Conference in 1960, and TCU was the bigger power. But in the SWC era, the Frogs weren't much of a factor and the Red Raiders were solid. When Tech joined the Big 12, TCU slipped to mid-major status while Tech enjoyed the fruits of a major conference. But like the ugly duckling who returns to the high school reunion as a swan, TCU is now in the Big 12 and is a big dog.
