The Top 5 Best Sports Rivalries: Difference between revisions

Coaching Wins- George Halas 318 wins 1920-1967

Duke and North Carolina have been always known as the greatest rivalry in college basketball history. There are more than a few college basketball diehards who object to the fact that The Battle of Tobacco Road is the sport's foremost series and rivalry, but it's an established status that won't be challenged anytime soon. For nearly 100 years, the third-and-fourth winningest programs in college basketball history have fought on Tobacco Road, setting a precedent for rivalries around the country. Both teams located just eight miles apart, Duke and North Carolina have battled for local and national dominance since the first meeting on Jan. 24, 1920. That is when North Carolina beat Duke. The last 83 matchups North Carolina has 42 and Duke has 41 wins. The two teams have not only set historic matchups in ACC play, but have also stood as NCAA powerhouses. Duke is currently fifth all time with NCAA titles in 1991, 1992, 2001, and 2010 while North Carolina stands as third all-time with titles in 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, and 2009. Duke has earned 19 ACC tournament titles and is first overall in the conference for most conference titles. North Carolina is second overall in the conference with 17. Other Carolina greats like Vince Carter, Rasheed Wallace, Billy Cunningham, Phil Ford, James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Antawn Jamison, Rick Fox, Kenny Smith, Jerry Stackhouse and countless others have contributed to the Tar Heels program success over the decades. The Duke program has fostered countless standout players that have sealed their names in the Blue Devil history books. Duke greats Art Heyman, Dick Groat, Jason Williams, Danny Ferry, Johnny Dawkins, J.J. Redick, Shane Battier, Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill, and Christian Laettner are just a few Blue Devils who have paved the way for a historically successful program. The result of the dueling philosophies is an unrivaled combination of sustained success. The last 134 times these two have played, at least one has been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The last time neither was ranked by the AP was on February 27, 1960. The last meeting where neither was ranked in either poll was February 25, 1955. In all, UNC has owned a national ranking in 107 of the past 133 meetings with Duke, and the Blue Devils have also been ranked in 86 of those matchups.

==Numbers You Need to Know for North Carolina==

22-Conference Regular Season Championships  

9-National Player of the Year

Ohio State and Michigan are known as the best rivalry in college football history. They call this rivalry The Game.  No other rivalry in the sport approaches the combination of rich history, balanced competition, and consistent championship implications. The first game between the two was in 1897 and they have played each other every year since with seven exceptions: 1898, 1899 and between 1913 through 1917. Michigan dominated the early years compiling a 13-0-2 record in non-conference match-ups between 1897 and 1918. The Buckeyes first win against Michigan came in 1919. Michigan leads the series 58-46-6. From 1968 through 1982, either Ohio State or Michigan won, or shared, the Big Ten Title. The same is true 16 more times in the 22 years between 1984 and 2005. In 1968 Ohio State beat Michigan 50-14 and went on to win 1968 National Championship. It also ushered out Michigan head coach Bump Elliott. The next year, 1969, Bo Schembechler took over as head coach of Wolverines. He broke Woody Hayes 22 game winning streak and knocked #1 Ohio State from atop the college rankings. Some call this game the greatest college football upset of all-time. Woody said he thought his 1969 team, which went 9-1, was his best, even better than the 1968 National Champions. The most heated period the rivalry took place during the Ten Years War between 1969 and 1978. During that time, Ohio State Head Coach Woody Hayes faced off against UM Head Coach Bo Schembechler, who was Hayes’ former coaching assistant. On five occasions, both teams went into The Game unbeaten. The Bucks won four and the fifth was a tie: 1944, OSU won 18-14; 1970, OSU won 20-9; 1973, 10-10 tie; 1975, OSU won 21-14; 2006, OSU won 42-39. Ohio State spoiled perfect seasons for Michigan in 1944, (OSU won 18-14), 1970 (Ohio State won, 20-9), 1972 (Ohio State won, 14-11), 1973 (teams tied, 10-10), 1974 (Ohio State won, 12-10) and 2006 (Ohio State won, 42-39). People still know this rivalry hasn’t lost it’s luster because this year both teams were fighting during the game. A few players got ejected from both teams.