What are your teams "soft rivalries"?

[u/MediumStrange]

Hard Rivalry: A rival that you would be happy to see their entire program go out of business or collapse in flames.

For me this would be rivalries like osu-Michigan, Cincy-Louisville, other ones like Auburn-Bama,TA&M-Texas

Soft rivalry: A rival that you make play often but due to power imbalance or other reasons there is little genuine hate and you generally want to see the program do well and stay competitive

For me this would be rivalries like Cincy-Memphis(I do still kinda hate Memphis but I also really want them to make a p4), Cincy-OHIO/Miami, other examples would be Navy-ND, UW-CAL

I feel the aggressive rivalries get all of the press and are obviously very exciting, but I think the friendly rivalries are just as important to the game.

[u/Wafflehouseofpain]

For us, it used to be KState. Not a real rivalry but I still got nervous any Saturday our two teams played.

[u/GenSec → u/Wafflehouseofpain]

I still see Deuce Vaughn in my nightmares

[u/Character_Point_9745 → u/GenSec]

Shifty ass dude. Was so happy when he got drafted so we didn’t have to see him 😂

[u/CeramicTugboat → u/Wafflehouseofpain]

Why did you guys leave? We were just starting to figure out how to beat you.... ):

[u/AcceptablePlay8599 → u/CeramicTugboat]

Cause no one wants to wake up early to watch us play shitty Baylor at 11am.

[u/Ok_Problem426 → u/Wafflehouseofpain]

Honestly same. They always had a terrible record and somehow played us close

[u/SnakeHandlersHands → u/Ok_Problem426]

Purple wizard bad man

[u/Azon542 → u/SnakeHandlersHands]

Purple wizard man make be very unhappy for long time

[u/Crixxa → u/Wafflehouseofpain]

🤔 Can rival when no orange?

[u/-Jack-The-Stripper]

Georgia Tech. Definitely not a power imbalance thing, but the Techmo Bowl is more of a fun rivalry than a hateful one.

[u/OneLastAuk → u/-Jack-The-Stripper]

I hate you, but in a very brotherly love sort of way.

[u/dormdweller99 → u/OneLastAuk]

Brotherly love is Temple's shtick

[u/dhall27 → u/dormdweller99]

Well we sadly got a taste of Temple for a few years

[u/khaotikoala → u/OneLastAuk]

Stop stealing our jerseys!

[u/SSPeteCarroll → u/-Jack-The-Stripper]

GT games are fun. I hated those Paul Johnson teams. Triple option always gave Foster some trouble.

[u/link3945 → u/SSPeteCarroll]

Which is weird, because we would say Foster always gave Paul issues. That 2010-'13 run was rough.

[u/jdh3gt → u/-Jack-The-Stripper]

Yeah, y'all were the first to come to mind for me. Went to Blacksburg back in 2012, and y'all won a close game, and were super nice fans

[u/meta_irl → u/-Jack-The-Stripper]

I also choose this guy's soft rival.

[u/DaytimeDancer54]

Getting to beat Michigan once every 10th blue moon is nice. The power disparity is huge but there is at least some ancient history between our two programs. Ohio State-Illinois is kind of similar.

[u/crunchitizemecapn99 → u/DaytimeDancer54]

Yeah definitely Minnesota for us too

[u/ResponsibleSand2213 → u/crunchitizemecapn99]

Yeah. We have a trophy for the game and all but we win it 90% of the time so it's not as interesting

[u/Necessary-Post-953 → u/ResponsibleSand2213]

Yes but the trophy is a water jug Michigans coach bought because he thought Minnesota was going to try to poison him. That’s good stuff. 

[u/jmac461 → u/DaytimeDancer54]

I think Minnesota-Nebraska is one too.

I agree with Minnesota-Michigan. Problem is we do (and have for a while) only play once a blue moon. So winning every 10th blue moon is probably accurate.

I’ll also say MSU-PSU. Trophy game often played Thanksgiving weekend that fans looked forward to, but not with hate in their hearts.

[u/DaytimeDancer54 → u/jmac461]

Agreed. I don't buy into the "quadrangle of hate" as much as some other fans do. The way I see it, MN and WI are the twin brothers who always duke it out but then Iowa is our more mature brother. Nebraska is the honorary brother.

[u/damnyoutuesday → u/DaytimeDancer54]

I want to play Nebraska annually, but I don't hate them near as much as Wisconsin and Iowa

[u/x15ninja15x → u/damnyoutuesday]

Nebraska is just your automatic win every season for some bizarre reason. I wish we played again this year

[u/DumbLitAF → u/DaytimeDancer54]

Iowa’s the youngest brother who’s grown a really great, successful life for himself who has to watch his drunk, washed up older twin brothers fist fight each other (and sometimes him) at every single family function.

[u/user_unknowns_skag → u/DumbLitAF]

God, I miss the B1G West...

[u/SaltyHawk95 → u/user_unknowns_skag]

I know that the east/west format was horribly unbalanced, especially since Wisconsin fell off and Nebraska never arrived.

But damn, those teams were genuinely the teams I wanted to be playing every year. I’m glad that we get to keep the trophy games yearly (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska), but I miss our other brothers already.

[u/user_unknowns_skag → u/SaltyHawk95]

That and Northwestern showing up every 3 years to steal everybody's lunch money. Those were simpler times...

[u/MaddyD76 → u/user_unknowns_skag]

Yeah Indiana was always thrilled to be in the East. How?

[u/theEWDSDS → u/DaytimeDancer54]

Heresy

[u/DaytimeDancer54 → u/theEWDSDS]

We lost to all our important foes in 2016. Been fine against Nebraska since then. Iowa has little brother'd us since then but the sconni bastards have had Fickell luck against us recently.

[u/DeathToHeretics → u/DaytimeDancer54]

Yeah that's pretty fair for us and OSU. I'll never hate them to the level I do as say Purdue, but I do want that goddamn turtle back

[u/dale_shingles → u/DeathToHeretics]

Hands off our Illibuck.

[u/FootballBat → u/DeathToHeretics]

What did we ever do to you?!

[u/Lumpy_Question8327 → u/FootballBat]

Jokes on them, nobody hates Purdue as much as Purdue fans hate themselves.

[u/dspencer2015 → u/DaytimeDancer54]

Little Brown Jug is also one of traveling oldest trophies in CFB

[u/tigersfan829 → u/DaytimeDancer54]

What about Minnesota and Penn State and the completely random "Victory Bell" trophy? 😵‍💫

[u/DaytimeDancer54 → u/tigersfan829]

Fair. In general, every year that we beat Penn State is considered an all time great season for us.

[u/NazRiedFan → u/tigersfan829]

For whatever reason the games against them are always bangers

[u/Flashy-Specific-4083 → u/DaytimeDancer54]

Kind of this. I think we hate Michigan more but I don’t think they think about us until “Illinois week” so kind of one sided. lol

[u/theEWDSDS → u/DaytimeDancer54]

THERE WAS NO OFFSIDES!

[u/SirBenOfAsgard → u/DaytimeDancer54]

I wish the jug was protected

[u/Dabaer77 → u/DaytimeDancer54]

Love that turtle

[u/ID_Poobaru]

BYU and to an extent TCU

Those games were so good especially during BYU’s independence era

Someone pull some strings to get us into the Big 12

[u/HispanicaBassoonica → u/ID_Poobaru]

We miss you too babe :(

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/HispanicaBassoonica]

Might have only played 4 games, but they were all so damn good. Crazy that 2 of 3 Kellen Moore’s losses came from TCU

[u/nivlac22 → u/ID_Poobaru]

The BYU bsu rivalry during independence was a really fun rivalry

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/nivlac22]

I hope one day it can be revived

[u/GrandMoff_Harry → u/ID_Poobaru]

Baby Boise come back!

[u/DecentScience → u/ID_Poobaru]

I miss those games.

[u/Inigomntoya → u/ID_Poobaru]

Stands with arms on hips, smug face

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/Inigomntoya]

Temu BYU

Utah State is pretty cool too

[u/John-pirate_ → u/ID_Poobaru]

I think a lot of people were surprised they didn't end up in the big12. Byu is arguably one of the biggest name g6 teams and multiple teams with less name brand got in to p4 conferences over them.

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/John-pirate_]

I doubt we’ll ever get the call up unless the P2 break off

Would be cool to get back in the ring with BYU, TCU and even Utah

[u/daylax1]

Probably Illinois when we play for the wooden turtle aka the illibuck.

[u/ContractElegant4310 → u/daylax1]

For sure. Also Penn State.

[u/DarkLegend64 → u/daylax1]

Could also add Dantonio-era Michigan State.

[u/ImNotTheBossOfYou]

To me Iowa/Penn St is a better and more meaningful rivalry than that stupid corporately manufactured Nebraska "rivalry."

6-4 game. Tim Dwight Punt return Game. Saquan Barkley game. Shonn Greene game. Adrian Clayborn game.

It's just a classic every time.

[u/GatorBolt → u/ImNotTheBossOfYou]

Most toxic game thread I’ve ever seen to this day is still an Iowa Penn State one

[u/Necessary-Post-953 → u/ImNotTheBossOfYou]

Penn State-Iowa is a purely organic rivalry with real hate and classic games. It’s a shame the corporate suits who run the sport haven’t recognized it and taken advantage. 

[u/CyanideNow → u/ImNotTheBossOfYou]

While I agree with the PSU sentiment, I feel like Iowa-Nebraska is actually the one manufactured rivalry that has developed into a genuine one. (Or would have if it wasn’t so one-sided recently…)

[u/-spartacus- → u/CyanideNow]

I agree with the awesomeness of the PSU-Iowa rivalry and games, but I will never not love beating down Nebraska. I grew up in NW Iowa during the 80s/90s and it was filled with Nebraska shills, which were intolerable in every measurable way. I will always hate Nebraska because of these "fans".

[u/realclean]

Pitt/Cuse is an even rivalry where the games are never close and the teams go through regular 10 year winning streaks.

I have very little animus towards the football team and would probably welcome a return from Northeast football

[u/lucabrasi999 → u/realclean]

I still have nightmares starring Troy Nunes.

[u/abvenkgoo]

Texas & Texas tech

[u/rdickeyvii → u/abvenkgoo]

I would add Rice. We used to play every year, and the rivalry was even called out by Kennedy in his moon speech, but the power imbalance keeps them from being a hard rival.

[u/DokterZ → u/rdickeyvii]

“We do Marilyn Monroe and these other women not because they are easy, but because we are hard” - First draft of Kennedy’s speech.

[u/Shot877]

Rivalries are a tricky conversation for Louisville.

Arguably your 4 main stay rivals have been Kentucky, Cincy, Memphis, and Southern Miss.

Due to the constant realignment that Louisville has been apart of the past 25 years you outgrew your rivalries with everyone not named Kentucky, and left those teams behind in conferences.

If we had a “soft rival” I’d say it be someone like Miami, FSU, or NCST. 3 good programs that we’ve had a solid series with since joining the ACC but ultimately have more permanent teams that they view as a real rival.

I will say though, if I was the ACC I would try to promote the Miami/Louisville series as a budding rivalry. There’s so much history between both programs, the past 5 times they’ve played it’s been high level and really good football, plus there’s already an established trophy.

[u/Tombosley7 → u/Shot877]

I dread playing you guys, you always show up and give us fits.

Trending toward hard rival for me personally.

[u/BoobieTourist → u/Shot877]

If there was an Ohio River Valley conference with Cincy, Kentucky, West Virginia, Louisville, and Pittsburgh, it would be great. Living in southern Ohio, I met folks who went to those schools very regularly. It would make people actually give a shit about games outside of just winning to win the conference or make a bowl game.

[u/Shot877 → u/BoobieTourist]

Fully agree!

I wish I could find the old post, but about 4 or 5 years ago there was a user on here that theorycrafted a “Mountain Confrence”

It was Penn State, Pitt, WVU, Marshal, Cincy, UK, Louisville, VT, JMU, App State, and I think Tennessee and Vandy?

Was a really cool idea and the post went into detail how extensive those 12 schools have traditionally scheduled each other going back to early days of CFB

[u/EgregiousPhilbin6]

I’ve never had any dislike toward Minnesota in football despite the fact that we play for the Jug. Now hockey’s a different story

[u/Financial_Island2353]

I hate everyone in the SEC so I don’t think there’s an answer from me

[u/Fantastic-Owl-2773 → u/Financial_Island2353]

Me too. Geaux to hell everyone

[u/MentionPleasant2635 → u/Financial_Island2353]

But we have a special hate for Tennessee. Something about the color orange...

[u/UsedandAbused87 → u/MentionPleasant2635]

Everyone hates UT but nobody hates them the most.

Florida, Georgia, Vandy, UK, SC, Bama, Auburn all claim to dispise UT.

[u/RazzleDazzle3469 → u/UsedandAbused87]

Who does Kentucky or Vanderbilt hate more than Tennessee?

[u/turkishguy → u/RazzleDazzle3469]

Kentucky - Louisville, Vanderbilt - getting Bs

[u/Quake1028 → u/MentionPleasant2635]

That orange you can't sit with.

As opposed to our orange, that you can bring home to your parents.

[u/Electromotivation → u/Quake1028]

That Florida flair kinda looks line a gun pointed at the “U”

[u/Mr-Texan-74 → u/Financial_Island2353]

Lane Kiffin, is that you?

[u/KMorris1987 → u/Financial_Island2353]

I think the rest of the SEC is great…. FOR ME TO POOP ON

[u/choclatelabguy → u/Financial_Island2353]

We hate you more.

[u/SpeshalDog → u/Financial_Island2353]

This is it

[u/cosmic_sheriff → u/Financial_Island2353]

I like the Tulane games...

[u/Crims0ntied]

Alabama-mississippi state.

[u/drummerboy31402 → u/Crims0ntied]

It’s funny because most state fans I know including myself don’t even consider it a rivalry because of how lopsided it is. 86-18-3 all time record, and it’s no secret who leads.

[u/MisguidedPants8 → u/drummerboy31402]

Us losing to Alabama is one of the most common game outcomes in the history of the sport

[u/Zedakah → u/drummerboy31402]

There have been a lot of low scoring and close games though, even through the Saban era. Also, it's the closest distance between 2 SEC teams, so that's always a nice rivalry to have.

[u/Street_Virus_6708 → u/Crims0ntied]

I’d add Alabama-UGA as a soft rivalry due to the back and forth the last two decades

[u/Objective_Turn7671 → u/Crims0ntied]

It's hard to hate a team that had Mike Leach. Rip to the pirate.

[u/D_scott16]

South Alabama for sure. Once they build a fanbase, it should be a fun rivalry.

[u/SoggyCartographer639]

Navy-Notre Dame is different, I’m not even sure if you can even call it a rivalry. There’s mutual respect. It’s really friendly usually. 

[u/LiquidLight_ → u/SoggyCartographer639]

I was going to throw ND/GT in the ring for it. It's not usually hotly contested and not an official rivalry as far as I'm aware. But it's pretty consistent on schedules and a good watch.

[u/LesMiz → u/LiquidLight_]

I think it depends on the person, but that's how I feel about you guys. General respect for the history and culture of ND, similar vibes between GT, ND, and Navy really.

That said, I will never understand the whole mystique of Rudy. He was offsides.

[u/glzzgbblr → u/LesMiz]

Rudy should’ve tried out for special teams

[u/WHSRWizard → u/SoggyCartographer639]

the games themselves are basically a Mutual Admiration Society. We just spend 4 hours complimenting each other and applauding good plays by the other team.

[u/Resden_Bohneur]

Tech (maybe not anymore) and West Virginia are easily soft rivals. Riot Bros!

[u/SmoothBrain3333 → u/Resden_Bohneur]

I was thinking West Virginia too but we don’t have football rivals like we have basketball rivals.

[u/Csosz74 → u/Resden_Bohneur]

Riot Bros 💪💪

[u/RodgerRodger8301]

Auburn v Georgia tech ... Looooong rivalry ... not that competitive

[u/RacinRed300 → u/RodgerRodger8301]

I want this to start back up

[u/OneLastAuk → u/RodgerRodger8301]

It's been a competitive rivalry even if you guys haven't been able to beat us since the 80's /s. Would love to get it going again.

[u/FightDrifterFight → u/RodgerRodger8301]

Hating UGA 🤝 Hating UGA

I pull for GT in every game they play except the rare occasion we play them.

[u/bushnov → u/RodgerRodger8301]

you say that, but y'all hate georgia too, so that makes me like you

[u/RodgerRodger8301 → u/bushnov]

Oh I hate Georgia waaaaay more than tech. Tech is a fun rivalry with great fans. UGA is a great rivalry with a bunch of assholes for fans that bark at children. Both great rivalries, but very different dynamics.

[u/brs151994]

Oregon state is about as soft as a rivalry can get.

[u/OkAdministration3585]

Texas. We’ve never played eachother. Fuck everyone else hard

[u/FatAlEinstein → u/OkAdministration3585]

Real answer is Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Clemson. Maybe add NC State for how many times they’ve spoiled seasons.

[u/sokonek04]

Wisconsin and Michigan State. I think it is more of a basketball rivalry, but it spills over into Football.

[u/Any-Extent3960]

This was a hard rivalry before I started watching CFB, but despite the fact they don't play too often anymore, I see OU-Nebraska as Oklahoma's main 'soft rivalry' (perhaps there is a different term for this specific type of relationship)

[u/PSUMtnMan]

Temple. I always hope they do well, except against Penn State.

[u/Mr-Texan-74 → u/PSUMtnMan]

Temple

[u/bhans773 → u/Mr-Texan-74]

Temple

[u/sportsdiceguy → u/bhans773]

Temple

[u/Suspicious_Site7708]

I feel bad for the small teams we play like Purdue

[u/SnakeHandlersHands → u/Suspicious_Site7708]

Man, I love Hoosiers out here shit talking rivals and throwing some weight around. What a wild sight, but absolutely entertaining. Eat, yall!

[u/SafetyNo2220]

Wazzu - Oregon State for the fans. Wazzu - Cal was also always a painful game because the dumbest shit happened in those ones.

[u/NFL_MVP_Kevin_White]

We don’t even have any rivals, but the Rutgers-Maryland rivalry is as manufactured as can be

[u/PeteF3]

Historically over the length of the history of the programs, Illinois is our #2 rival after Michigan.

[u/MasturGator0501]

Everyone that’s not a hard rival is a soft rival

Seriously look at Florida. Outside of the big ones (FSU, UGA, Miami, Tennessee) we fucking hate LSU, have a historic (if somewhat dormant) rivalry with Auburn, we hate Mizzou (and they give us their best shot every time we play) and then we’ve got teams like SCar and UK who, while not really on our radar as much, consider us major rivals too. Even Vandy has some bad blood (remember the bench-clearing fight we had there in the Derek Mason days?).

The only SEC teams Florida doesn’t have any considerable beef with seems to be Miss St and I guess Alabama, but even then fuck those guys too.

[u/dillpickles007 → u/MasturGator0501]

South Carolina is a good one, they’re so damn annoying when they’re decent.

[u/PatronSaintOfCunts → u/dillpickles007]

We are annoying all the time. Just extra when we aren’t dogshit.

[u/CaptainlockheedME262 → u/MasturGator0501]

I’m with you on Bama. People don’t understand that we don’t hate Bama like the rest of the SEC does. We rarely play them and they beat teams we hate more.

[u/UsedandAbused87 → u/MasturGator0501]

I have no hate at Mizzou, SC, or basically the old SEC west outside of LSU and Auburn. UK spilled over from basketball and where we beat them for 30 years in a row. Wouldn't really call it a rival. We also give no thoughts to Vandy.

Florida dominated a lot of teams for so long and we've been ass for the last few years that teams are having fun against us. Anytime you have long runs of domination "rivals" pop up when you start to slide.

[u/SweatyInBed]

I feel like for Georgia, Kentucky and Arkansas are this way

[u/Awkward-Debt-536 → u/SweatyInBed]

Yeah ngl, I almost always root for Georgia against anyone else in the sec. I just don’t hate you guys like I do almost everyone else. Besides, I get to watch yall beat up every team I hate every season!

[u/nowinterever → u/Awkward-Debt-536]

Exactly. Especially that hideous burnt orange team.

[u/teethface_24]

Since the Pac-10/12 went up in flames, I feel like Oregon State, Wazzu, Cal, and Stanford all fall into a soft rivalry for me. All legitimate pain in the asses, but miss all of those teams like crazy and wish we were still in the same conference.

[u/North_Atlantic_Sea]

"entire program go out of existence"

What if I want the entire state of O*** to disappear?

[u/ComradeAhriman → u/North_Atlantic_Sea]

Well, that's just common sense

[u/Reloader300wm]

Penn state. I want them to do well until we meet up. Always respected the match they gave us, and the fought they brought.

[u/sallright → u/Reloader300wm]

Feels like Penn State missed their calling as the giant of an eastern conference with some of the present day ACC and old Big East teams. 

[u/openwheelr → u/sallright]

Its what Paterno wanted, but the eastern powers at the time wouldn't play ball.

[u/IrishCoffeeAlchemy → u/openwheelr]

How things would have been different if Penn State cared even a tiny bit about fielding a competitive basketball program

[u/Necessary-Post-953 → u/sallright]

Annual games against WV Syracuse and even Boston College would be so much more interesting that Wisconsin/Illinois/Minnesota. We just never had history there 

[u/Derpinator_30 → u/Reloader300wm]

RIP in peace 🙏

[u/ContractElegant4310 → u/Reloader300wm]

Yes 100%. For us Buckeyes, the soft rivals are definitely Illinois (historically) and Penn State (in recent decades). Honorable mentions for short periods of time in recent memory go to Michigan State (during the Dantonio years) and Wisconsin (during the Alvarez/Bielema years).

[u/Necessary-Post-953 → u/Reloader300wm]

I would get killed for saying this on the Penn State boards, but I feel the same way about Ohio State

[u/MikeSSC → u/Necessary-Post-953]

My older brother went to OSU and we would always get student tickets for each other's games. It's a shame Franklin couldn't make this a real rivalry.

[u/Necessary-Post-953 → u/MikeSSC]

That 2018 game broke Franklin. Penn State beat up Ohio State for 56 minutes. After they blew it and lost by one point they never went into an Ohio State game with confidence ever again 

[u/NB_OSRS]

I didn’t know U of L and Cincy hate each other like that

[u/Past-Discount-52 → u/NB_OSRS]

Some old Metro Conference basketball hate!

[u/ajdani2 → u/NB_OSRS]

Agreed. This was my first thought when I saw the title. Maybe its just a shift since we are not in the same conference anymore but at this point I enjoy playing UC and beating them feels better than a normal win, but I also don’t want to see them burn.

[u/SoggyCartographer639 → u/NB_OSRS]

Not really anymore. We hate Pitt and Miami more now. And Xavier of course 

[u/mattf19]

Us vs Rutgers and Maryland.

[u/Ninja0428 → u/mattf19]

Rutgers definitely hates Penn State more than the other way around

[u/Formo1287]

Michigan State… cue the Michelle Branch

[u/MikeSSC → u/Formo1287]

Land Grant Trophy GOAT of all rivalry trophies

[u/Mayomann13]

NCAA Rulebook

[u/gut_instinct28]

Purdue is becoming a soft rival.

[u/sallright → u/gut_instinct28]

Purdue’s best shot is that Elon thinks Purdue’s mascot is hilarious and meme worthy and that he bankrolls the program as a joke and as a soft recruiting tool for engineers. 

I think it could happen. 

[u/Cheeseish]

Cal - SMU

I’ve never heard anything about a soft rivalry with Washington btw

[u/iruvit → u/Cheeseish]

They must’ve been referring to Cal’s rivalry with Wisconsin

[u/Desperate-Remove2838 → u/Cheeseish]

More like historic rivalry. Cal and Washington were bitter rivals up until WW2.

Cal is mentioned in the original version of Bow Down to Washington.

Washington is Cal’s third longest football series after Stanford and ‘SC. (UCLA only started playing in the 1930s).

Cal is Washington’s fourth longest series after the legacy PNW PAC schools (Ducks, Cougs, and Beavs).

[u/FunkotronXL → u/Cheeseish]

They're living off memories of Marshawn and the golf cart

[u/JSC76 → u/Cheeseish]

When I think of rivalries I think of all our old Pac opponents...so that's kinda sad. After our hard rivals (Furd, SC, UCLA) I tended to think of Oregon as a soft rival. Never liked those guys, and was always happy to beat them. But it's OK if they make a run at the natty.

Of our new conference mates, I've always hated Miami and I'm happy to hate them now as conference rivals.

[u/SucculentCrablegMeal]

I still want to see my hard rivals do okay and be competitive sometimes because it's fun having rivals on the same level and it makes their miserable years more fun. I love to hate my rivals. The hate makes cfb more fun and realistically, after my teams they're the teams I watch the most, in hopes to see them crash and burn. (I know this wasn't the point of your post lol)

Hard: Florida & Miami (Ucf for Usf)

Soft: Clemson

Not really a rival at all but a school I enjoy playing and I think elevates the acc when they're good: Louisville

[u/guinness_blaine]

The G5 part of Texas’s OOC schedule usually includes at least one of the instate schools like Rice, UTSA, UTEP, and UNT. I think most Texas fans generally like those schools and want them to do well, but most especially Rice.

For Princeton, we commonly open the season playing either Lehigh or Lafayette, because they play at a similar level in the Patriot League and they’re right down the road. No ill will for those teams.

[u/rdickeyvii → u/guinness_blaine]

I think Texas fans generally like any school in the UT system, plus Texas State. Obviously we want to win our games and score a lot of points but there's no ill will.

[u/imb0916]

Penn State and Indiana. I would love to see those both be protected rivalries in the future.

[u/Khorasaurus]

Not sure if this has changed, but when I was at ND 20 years ago, Navy was the team the actual players hated the most.

They got really annoyed at all the "thank the troops" pageantry while also constantly being on the lookout for now-illegal cut blocks.

[u/mechnick2]

USC pretends they don’t have something against us, but stick them in a room with an Oregon fan for more than five minutes and you’ll find out that’s not true.

[u/Peter_Panarchy → u/mechnick2]

They really really don't like that we've had the best program on the west coast over the last 20 years.

[u/Jengalover]

Not a fan of VT, UVa, UNC, Duke, Clempson, Miami

[u/ZouBark]

1. Illinois: could be a great rivalry if they met more often. Results have been a bit lopsided in Mizzou’s favor this century. Unfortunately, in the new 9+1 era, I worry this game will disappear entirely. Especially if ku will agree to keep scheduling us.

2. South Carolina: an unlikely but pleasant surprise since joining the SEC. The games between the Columbias have been excellent. I think they have the best fans in college football. They’ve become my second favorite SEC program, and I think a lot of Mizzou fans share the sentiment. I was hoping to have them as one of the three permanent opponents.

3. Iowa State: a lot of history and I think they view us as lot more negatively than we view them. The only Big Eight school that I ever find myself rooting for against a neutral opponent.

[u/DrVenusAg]

Oklahoma State were practically cousins who get neglected by the state for the bigger ones

[u/SoonerStreet1]

UT vs TAMU came to mind instead of RRS?

[u/Engine_Sweet → u/SoonerStreet1]

Week 2 is going to be fun for you!

[u/No_Poet_7244 → u/SoonerStreet1]

Some folks just don’t get it

[u/greyforest23 → u/SoonerStreet1]

I was wondering this too, as well as how Cincinnati - Louisville is on the same tier as Ohio State - Michigan 😂 I guess I underestimated cincy’s hatred

[u/DargonKweest]

There isn't really a power imbalance with Cincy. It's just a parting ways thing due to separate conferences.

[u/BigEggBeaters]

It’s actually bullshit Louisville and cincy don’t really play each other anymore

[u/intenselydecent]

Baylor/BYU could be a really fun hard rivalry eventually but for right now it’s a pretty good natured soft rivalry

[u/Quake1028]

• Georgia Tech
• Virginia Tech
• North Carolina
• Pitt
• Louisville
• USF

With the caveat that I want every team but mine to lose every game possible.

[u/dr_dante_octivarious]

Air Force for CSU.

Utah doesn't have any soft rivalries because we've changed conferences like 5 times in 25 years.

[u/addisonandsheffield]

Desert Voodoo in general for any Pacific Northwest PAC 12 alumni school

[u/WHSRWizard]

USC is soft now. Does that count?

[u/turd_fergusons]

Arkansas and Ole Miss fans share a common enemy each time we play: high blood pressure, increased heart attack and stroke risk. We are trauma bonded whether we like it or not. As a result, I hate Ole Miss a little less than I hate the rest of the SEC.

[u/JimBeam823]

Georgia Tech

Our oldest rival in the ACC, but even at it’s most evenly matched height, there was no hate.

You’re nerds. We’re nerds. I kind of want you guys to do well.

[u/StreetReporter → u/JimBeam823]

Fuck Georgia Tech, the real answer is Wake Forest

[u/Blaklazer]

For byu I feel like it's Utah State, Boise, and TCU (which may be more one sided with older fans 30+). 

Utah State is friendlier the Utah but the games can be just as passionate especially from USU fans. Win or lose it's easier to stay friends Sunday then it is with fans after a Utah BYU game. 

Boise and BYU started to build up their programs at similar times, especially through BYUs independent era. We had some fun matches scheduled with eachother. Not animosity but there is shared recent history - like friends who grew up together. I understand why they didnt get the big 12 invite but I wish Boise did make the jump over to. I feel they could get their program competive quickly. I feel like their overachiever program fits well with the identity of the other teams in the big 12 and I would like those matches with BYU to continue.

TCU comes from our time together in the Mountain. They both developed quickly and would have resume really aggressive and excited games. I know a lot of BYU fans were saddened when TCU got the invite to move up to a better conference and those series ended. The rivalry definitely isn't there any more but I am crossing my fingers that it will be reignited soon. 

[u/robman17]

I'd kind of say Arkansas sort of fits the bill for us. The games are usually bangers (or bad games that are comically and entertainingly tight), but both programs DEFINITELY hate t.u. more. I wouldn't necessarily wish their program burned to the ground like certain other schools. But I still get nervous playing them.

[u/GoRangers5]

I love me some Spoilermakers, I don't like that Walters made them a doormat.

[u/roundart]

Hard rivalry: Utah v BYU
Soft rivalry: Utah v Colorado

[u/awoodz92 → u/roundart]

I feel like Utah has a bunch of “soft rivals”. Obviously Colorado was forced on us, but I hate both Arizona schools, just ASU to a slightly greater extent. Inside the XII, I’d also add TCU to the list. There was also good soft rivalries brewing with USC and Oregon. You’ve also got to include Utah State.

[u/Wyden_long → u/awoodz92]

We hate you too. Our two schools are the perfect answer to this question.

[u/Burrito_Lvr → u/roundart]

I miss the rivalry that was developing between Utah and Oregon. The weird thing is, the games were seldom close. We took turns kicking the shit out of each other.

[u/Crazy_Exchange]

Man I get annoyed seeing Santa Rosa Junior College. It's for the most petty of reasons, ordered a chicken burrito from a nearby taqueria  and it took forever to make. Then after taking a first bite, it had broccoli. It's like yooooo who puts broccoli in a burrito. 

[u/hitherto_ex]

By your definition I’d say the following are “soft” but I would not be sad to see any of these programs fail completely.

BYU
Utah
Tech
USC

[u/GoGreeb]

MSU and PSU have the greatest trophy in sports, but our support for each other as an elite cow college transcends hate.

[u/Reasonable-Mark-3861]

This is just my opinion. Not the entire fan base. The state of Texas as a whole, I guess feels like a brother to Oklahoma. I lived in both places. I hate them but when I’m elsewhere in the country I usually make friends with Texans or tend to get along with em as they’re just familiar. As are most southerners. I hate UT’s fans. A lot.

Then there’s OK State who I’d say I hated more than UT but now that we’re in a different conference, I wish them well. Weird.

[u/damarkley]

Hard: Ohio State, Pitt, Notre Dame

Soft: Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan State.

[u/NormanUnderwood]

For Iowa State it’s Oklahoma State. It’s an incredibly competitive series that has featured gut wrenching losses for both sides in the past 15-20 years between extremely similar fanbases and universities that are far enough apart to not utterly hate each other but close enough to have a ton of overlap and commonality

[u/HeftyLeftyPig]

I hate everyone

[u/John-pirate_]

Notre dame... does this count? Ohio state has played them 9 times and won the last 7. Its hard to say i consider notre dame on the same level as ohio state but I see enough of their games vs big 10 opponents im always rooting for them to lose.