"Somehow, 13 weeks of college football have already come and gone, leaving us with one, last Saturday of regular-season action. It's hard to believe that, a mere three months ago, we thought LSU, Clemson and Penn State were top-10 teams, that when Florida State beat Alabama, it meant times had changed in Tallahassee, and that when Miami beat Notre Dame, it meant that the Hurricanes would have a better shot at the playoff than the Irish. What fools we all were!"
"Up and down the docket, the games are big -- not because of the records or the postseason stakes, but because Rivalry Week means something different altogether. It's bragging rights for a year, it's talking smack to your neighbors, it's a chance to right anything that has gone wrong in the past 13 weeks and finish the season with a defining moment. -- David Hale"
Thirteen weeks of results often fade in importance during Rivalry Week because single games can redefine seasons. Rivalry matchups prioritize bragging rights, redemption, and local pride over records and playoff positioning. Programs with disappointing seasons can salvage narratives with a key rivalry victory. Longstanding rivalries like Ohio State–Michigan, Clemson–South Carolina, Florida–Florida State, Georgia–Georgia Tech, and Alabama–Auburn carry emotional and symbolic stakes beyond standings. Coaches, fan bases, and players treat these games as opportunities to right perceived wrongs, alter recruiting momentum, and shape public perception. Specific stakes include Michigan seeking a fifth straight victory, which would be its longest streak in the rivalry since the 1920s.
Read at ESPN.com
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