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Every year as summer comes to a close, and college students pack up their lives to head back to their respective schools, an excitement rumbles across the country as football fans anxiously await the beginning of another college football season. Each weekend, thousands of people pack their cars and RV’s to the brim with coolers of food and drinks, foldable chairs, tables, corn hole (bags), and whatever else makes for the perfect tailgate. Hours later, the whistle blows, the ball is kicked off and the crowd roars. It’s the beginning of another magical season full of hope and excitement. When it comes down to it, the true spirit of the game unifies us all but at the same time; ties are severed through long-lasting, traditional rivalries.  But who doesn’t love a good old fashioned rivalry?

It’s time for another road trip around the MS Companies’ regions! Except, this time we’re talking football…and saving the beers for the games this weekend.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past week, then you would know that Ohio State (#10) beat Iowa (now #13) to claim a spot in the coveted Rose Bowl. Playing in the Rose Bowl will be a moment that the current players will never forget. However, a traditional rivalry against University of Michigan still looms in the air. This year, ‘The Game’ is set to take place on November 21st @ noon on NBC. Since 1935, the annual meeting has taken place and has been a battle for glory every year, no matter the season’s rankings or the game’s ending score. A victory is the trophy. Over the years, Michigan leads, 57-42-6.  But this year, Ohio State is 9-2 while Michigan is behind at 6-5. The match up will certainly be an interesting one. The Ohio State Buckeyes are a consistently strong collegiate team and this year # 2, Terrelle Pryor leads the team as quarter back with 1,761 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. If you are a Big Ten fan looking for a good game to watch on Saturday, this may be the one for you.

Traveling east reminds us of the in-state rivalry that is only truly appreciated by Indiana residents, and current students and alumni of two certain schools. It is known as the Old Oaken Bucket game and it is a battle of pride between Indiana University’s Hoosiers and Purdue University’s Boilermakers. The prize? It’s the old oaken bucket, of course.  In 1925, the IU and Purdue alumni associations were trying to decide upon a proper trophy to be awarded to the winning team. It was decided that, “an old oaken bucket was the most typical Hoosier form of trophy, that the bucket should be taken from some well in Indiana, and that a chain to be made of bronze block ‘I’ and ‘P’ letters should be provided for the bucket. The school winning the traditional football game each year should have possession of the ‘Old Oaken Bucket’ until the next game and should attach the block letter representing the winning school to the bail with the score engraved on the latter link.” This Saturday, November 21st, in Bloomington, Indiana at 3:30pm, the tradition will continue after 84 years.

Football in Alabama isn’t just a sport…it’s a way of life. I don’t think it can be truly understood unless you were born and raised there. There isn’t a top ten college football rivalry list without this one on it. It has been said numerous times before and I say it again, this is a battle for the state, not a trophy. In Alabama, you either cheer for The Tide or for Auburn. University of Alabama or Bama’ as many locals would say, chants “Roll Tide!” around their parts to pump themselves up for games. The Auburn Tigers are just as fierce and the Iron Bowl battle has been taking place since February 22nd 1893. The name is derived from Birmingham, Alabama’s historic role in the iron and steel industry. From 1907 – 1948, no rivalry game took place because the two teams could not fairly decide upon referees to use. Since putting their differences aside in 1948, the Iron Bowl has easily become the number one national collegiate football rivalry in its purest form. This year’s Iron Bowl takes place on Friday November 27th at 1:30 pm on CBS. Quarterback Chris Todd will lead the Auburn Tigers against quarterback Greg McElory and his Bama Crimson Tide.

If you are a fan of any of the above teams and would like to share any sort of news about them, please feel free to post in our comment box below!