The coaching rivalries in college football make up a big portion of the intensity and intrigue surrounding so many key matchups. Whether it’s on the recruiting trail, competing in the same conference or contending on the national stage there are plenty of elements that factor in to the best of the coaching rivalries. The 2016 schedule is loaded with intriguing matchups that we can’t wait to see. Here is a look at the top four college football coaching rivalries we are looking forward to this season.
Nick Saban vs. Les Miles
Alabama Crimson Tide vs LSU Tigers – November 5th
Alabama has won five straight matchups in this series, but that doesn’t mean the intensity won’t ramp up again when the Crimson Tide visit LSU in November. Miles, who replace Saban at LSU in 2005, won a national title in 2007 and their rivalry has been one of the most intriguing in college football ever since. Saban’s ascendance at Alabama has added fuel to the fire between them and this year there will be the added intrigue of the fact that Miles will be coaching for his job after many felt he would be fired following last year’s disappointment. LSU is loaded with returning starters and on looks like an SEC title contender on paper, but once again Miles and his team will have to find a way to beat Saban and the Tide in order to achieve that goal.
Dabo Swinney vs. Jimbo Fisher
Clemson Tigers vs Florida State Seminoles – October 29th
Clemson and Florida State has become of the best rivalries in college football and that will certainly be the case again this year with both teams entering this season as legitimate ACC title contenders. Their statuses as the top teams in the conference has created a budding rivalry between their head coaches and their recent matchups have added fuel to the fire. Fisher has the 4-2 overall lead in the series, but five of their last six matchups were decided by 10 points or fewer. The Tigers will visit Florida State on October 29th and that game should have major implications in both the ACC and on the national stage.
Jim Harbaugh vs. Mark Dantonio
Michigan Wolverines vs Michigan State Spartans – October 29th
Jim Harbaugh’s Big Ten arrival and Michigan’s corresponding ascension in the standings last season has added fuel to the fire of the existing rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State. The two coaches have already clashed on the recruiting trail in the state of Michigan and their first Big Ten matchup resulted in one of the wildest finishes ever with the Spartans managing to steal a crucial victory in the final seconds. Part II of Harbaugh versus Dantonio will take place on October 29th and the matchup will once again have major implications in both the Big Ten standings and on the recruiting trail, not to mention the fact that these teams could both potentially be in the College Football Playoff conversation at that point in time.
Nick Saban vs. Urban Meyer
Alabama Crimson Tide vs Ohio State Buckeyes – TBD
Saban’s second spot on this list doesn’t feature a rivalry that will see him go head-to-head with another coach in an individual game, but rather on the national stage over the course of the season. Saban and Urban Meyer are widely considered two of the best in the game and every year they are competing both on the national stage and on the recruiting trail. The Tide are coming off a national championship and edged out Ohio State for the top recruiting class again in 2016, but the Buckeyes will have a chance to fire back this year. Saban and Meyer aren’t scheduled to meet on the football field this season, but with both teams projected to be national title contenders there is a still a very real chance that Alabama and Ohio State meet at some point in this year’s College Football Playoff.
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