It’s officially rivalry week

Woody Hayes was longtime head coach for the Ohio St buckeyes. He had a career record of 238-72-10. He won 5 national championships and went 6-6 in bowl games. Even with all of these accomplishments, his main focus always came at the end of the season. The reason? His team was playing Michigan.

One year his buckeyes were taking Michigan to the woodshed, late in the game his team scored a touchdown and went for two. After the game a reporter asked why did he go for two with such a big lead, his reply is hysterical: “Because I couldn’t go for three”. That is just one example of the hate and passion in rivalries, and this weekend, while we’re all munching on turkey, coaches and players have a little extra motivation when they walk on the field for the final game of the regular season.

Rivalry games in college football are so popular, they have been given names bu their fans- There’s the well known “Iron Bowl” between Alabama/Auburn. There’s “The Game” between Ohio St/Michigan. There’s “Clean, Ole Fashion Hate” between Georgia/Georgia Tech, and there’s “Bedlam” between Oklahoma/Oklahoma State.

There is a lot at stake for many teams this Saturday. Some need to just take care of business-Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State. While others need to win impressively- Notre Dame, Michigan, and Cincinnati. And then there are teams that just need to beat their rival because it’s been a long time- Oklahoma State, South Carolina, and Oregon State.

Here is Saturday’s big games:

#1 Georgia vs. Georgia Tech -Noon ABC

#2 Ohio State vs. #5 Michigan – Noon FOX

#3 Alabama vs. Auburn – 3:30 CBS

Oregon State vs. #11 Oregon– 3:30 ESPN

#15 Texas a&m vs. LSU -7:00 ESPN

#10 Oklahoma vs. #7 Oklahoma St– 7:30 ABC

#23 Clemson vs. South Carolina – 7:30 SEC Network

#6 Notre Dame vs. Stanford– 8:00 FOX

When it comes to rivalry week, I don’t care how bad your team is, you beat your rival and you have saved your season. Win and you can gloat all year. Lose and you have to be a hermit so you don’t hear it from you the opposing fanbase.

So let’s eat some turkey, throw down some dressing, and watch some football!