Rivalry games are a big part of what makes sport in America so special. All of our major sports have rivalry games, and even the casual fan can probably name a few rivalries in each sport. Just off the top of my head, without looking up all-time records or anything: Bears-Packers, Cubs-Cardinals, Celtics-Lakers, Canadiens-Maple Leafs, Sounders-Timbers, Alabama-Auburn, Duke-North Carolina.
Each of those games is special for its own set of reasons. But college football games are different. College football games are unique because the rivalry game itself has a nickname and the winner takes home a rivalry trophy.