The Five Best Rivalries in Sports Right Now

By: Garret Kryzanowski

Sports are places where we as fans can find joy and happiness. However, it is also where we can find the best part of any sport, hatred. Now by hatred I do mean rivalries but hatred is what fuels those games to be more than just a regular game. A win is on the line always but when it comes to a heated rivalry bragging rights are also on the line. Beating a rival is truly an unmatched feeling in sports, whether it's playing, coaching or as a fan. Emotions are high and sometimes you lose control, I myself accidentally punched myself in the face celebrating one of my teams wins over a rival last year. Rivalries are the best part of any sport.

Today I will be ranking what I think are the top five rivalries in sports right now. History will be taken into account, but this is going to be my opinion right now. You can love it or hate it, that is your call. So let's jump right in!

5. Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins

Starting off with an "Original Six" matchup these two teams have been playing each other since 1924, almost 100 years. The Boston Bruins lead this career matchup 304-269-98-13. That is a total of 684 games. There is so much history here, which leads to me ranking them five in my list. The Bruins also lead the all-time playoff matchup 42-40-1 with the playoff series being tied with both teams winning eight playoff series each. This series may have been a little lopsided in favour of the Bruins the last couple years in the playoffs, however, those last three series in 2013, 2018 and 2019 all went seven games. Both of these teams have been loaded with star talent the last few years. The Leafs have superstars in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner while the Bruins have their own star players in David Pastrnak and Linus Ullmark.

Of course there are more players on each roster then those four but they are the cream of the crop to say the least. When they play it is hard hitting, fast paced and high tension. The Bruins may have had more success lately but the Maple Leafs have also been a top five team the past few years and could possibly be the best team in the NHL this upcoming season. These two teams will be playing each other four teams in the 2023-24 season. With there being a very good chance they will meet in the playoffs because both teams are going to be playoff teams this season.

4. Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers

This rivalry will be the youngest one of my list as these two teams have only been playing since 1996, the year the Baltimore Ravens became a franchise. The Steelers lead the regular season series 31-24 and the playoff matchups 3-1. Both teams in this rivalry have found success with the Steelers winning two Super Bowls in 2005 and 2008. While the Ravens also have won two Super Bowls in 2000 and 2012. The Steelers have also won 12 division titles since 1996 while the Ravens have won 6 division titles since they became a franchise. This rivalry is fueled by hard nosed gritty football. It has also featured countless Hall of Famers on both teams. For the Steelers that has included Troy Polamalu and Jerome "The Bus" Bettis while the Ravens have had Ray Lewis and Ed Reed among their own Hall of Fame players.

The matchup right now even features premier NFL talent. The Steelers have former defensive player of the year TJ Watt and the Ravens have former MVP Lamar Jackson. Everytime these two teams play it is close, ugly and football fans, including myself, love it. Perhaps the biggest reason for this rivalry being so amazing is the coaches; Mike Tomlin of the Steelers and John Harbaugh of the Ravens. Tomlin took over as the Steelers head coach in 2007 while John Harbaugh became the Ravens coach in 2008. They have been the two biggest consistents in this rivalry. They have coached against each other 34 times, good for second most in NFL history. Tomlin currently has the edge in this rivalry leading Harbaugh 19-15 in head to head matchups. Although this rivalry is one of the youngest it is truly one of the best in sports.

3. University of Duke Blue Devils vs University of North Carolina Tar Heels

This is the first college rivalry on this list and I have heard from many people that they prefer college rivalries to professional ones; and I tend to agree, sometimes. The reason for this is people have legitimate attachment to the teams because most of the fans attended school at these campuses and are alumni. With this rivalry I am focusing strictly on the men's basketball rivalry between these two teams, who first played each other in 1920. In basketball North Carolina leads the all-time series 143-117 and owns the only NCAA tournament win in this rivalry, winning 81-77 in the 2022 Final Four. This was also legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski's (Coach K) final game leading the Blue Devils.

Coach K is the true embodiment of how close this rivalry has been with a career record of 50-50 against the Tar Heels. He was also the coach for all five of the Blue Devils National Championships, while the Tar Heels six National Championships were split between two Hall of Fame coaches, Dean Smith and Roy Williams. Now, the coaches aren't the only Hall of Famers who have played in this rivalry. James Worthy and Michael Jordan for the Tar Heels and Christian Laettner and Grant Hill for the Blue Devils are key parts of this rivalry. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the Hall of Fame talent that has played in college basketball's most storied rivalry. The hatred between these two schools isn't only part of the fans demeanor but the players and coaches as well. These two schools are separated by ten miles and that close proximity just adds fuel to the fire. This has been one of the best rivalries for over 100 years and will continue to be for the next 100 years and more.

2. Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees

This rivalry is the most decorated on this list with the two teams combining for 36 World Series Titles. With the Yankees winning 27 World Series and the Red Sox winning nine World Series. This rivalry also has the most games played against each other on this list, with the Yankees again leading that head to head matchup 1238-1022. Now, if you're reading this you may think that this rivalry is a bit one sided but before you jump to that conclusion we need to discuss the head to head playoff matchups. They have met five times in the MLB playoffs with the record between the two teams being 12-12, however, the Red Sox have won three of the five playoff series including the last three. That's as close as you could possibly be in playoff matchups.

Now I do know that this rivalry has dipped in excitement the last two years, especially this past season as both teams missed the playoffs. This dip in excitement won't last long for one reason, money. These two teams are incredibly wealthy and with no salary cap in baseball you can literally buy success. While the Yankees have been using this approach lately, the Red Sox have a bit as well but have relied on their drafting and developing prospects more. That may all change this offseason with the MLB's most mesmerizing and dynamic player Shohei Ohtani set to hit free agency. Ohtani coming to play out east is a real possibility and could lead to a more intense rivalry between these two teams. Ohtani would just be the next star player added to this rivalry, joining the likes of Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Babe Ruth and so many more Hall of Famers. Big time money attracts big time players, plain and simple. This rivalry is a little down right now but it will be on the upswing as soon as next year leading them to have the number two spot on this list.

1. Michigan Wolverines vs Ohio State Buckeyes

This great college rivalry is the oldest on the list with the teams first playing in 1897. Again, I will be focusing on just one sport, the biggest in this rivalry in my opinion, football where Michigan leads the all-time series 60-51-6. As I stated in the previous line these teams first meant in 1897 and this rivalry has evolved into more then two teams who play once a year. They have combined to win 19 claimed national titles. The Buckeyes literally don't refer to Michigan by name, instead calling them "The Team Up North" or "TTUN". On top of that they cross out all the M's on campus with red tape. When this rivalry is at its peak it captivates not only the college football world but the entire sports world, who will tune in every late November to watch what is known as "The Game". From 1969-1978 the two teams played in ten tough, hard fought games in a decade dubbed "The Ten Year War". In 2006 they played in "The Game of the Century" where the 11-0 and number one ranked Buckeyes beat the 11-0 number two ranked Wolverines 42-39.

This rivalry on paper did get a little one sided from 2012-2019 when the Buckeyes won eight straight games. However, the Wolverines have won the last two meetings by 15 points and 22 points respectively. Furthermore, five of the last seven meetings have had huge college football playoff implications with the winner four of those times making the college football playoff. These two teams have combined for seven College Football Playoff berths with the Buckeyes winning the only National title between the two schools in 2014. This year is no different with Wolverines and Buckeyes both ranked in the top three currently and all signs pointing towards another "Game of the Century" type of matchup in late November. Also, with the college football playoff expanding to 12 teams next season this game and rivalry will only get more important, with a better chance of both teams playing in a playoff environment. "The Game" just means more to both these universities for not only the players and coaches but the fans as well. This is the best rivalry in sports right now. If you disagree, tune in on November 25, 2023 when these two teams play in Ann Arbor and see for yourself just how great this rivalry is.

Those are in my opinion the five best rivalries in sports. If you disagree that's okay, you won't change my mind anytime soon. Feel free to leave your own opinions on Instagram or X (Twitter). You could even leave your top five list on the website.

Rivalries are truly the best part about any organized sport. Without that rivalry and hatred it wouldn't be nearly as fun. Some people have even said that they hate certain teams more than they love their favorite team. I love it. Nothing better than beating the team you hate more than anything.

Rivalry wins and losses are the ones you remember most.