Some Early Season Rivalry Games Highlighted College Football on September 14th

There are several college football rivalry games played between nonconference opponents played on a regular basis. In the past, these games were played basically every year, though some of that has changed due to conference realignments. There is generally some sort of trophy awarded to the winner. But even if there is a break in scheduling for a few years, these games still show up on the schedule fairly frequently. Some of this year’s games were played on September 14th.

Out in Utah, the game between Utah State and Utah was played for the 113th time, but the first time since 2015. This game, called the Battle of the Brothers with the Beehive Boot Trophy on the line, has been dominated in recent years by Utah, and this year was no exception as the #12 Utes beat Utah State 38-21 behind three touchdown passes by Utah QB Isaac Wilson. Utah leads the overall series 80-29-4. The schools will skip next year, but will play again in September 2026.

In the east, West Virginia and Pittsburgh met for the 107th time in the Backyard Brawl. In this edition of the game, with 1:59 left in the 4th quarter, Pittsburgh executed a 77 yard drive, scoring a touchdown with 32 seconds left to win by a final score of 38-34. The Panthers extended their lead in the series to 63-41-3. This series took a hiatus between 2012 and 2021, and will meet again next year before taking a break until 2029.

In West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue hosted in state rival Notre Dame in the 88th meeting between the two. At stake was the Shillelagh Trophy. The Fighting Irish were coming off a humiliating defeat at home to Northern Illinois, and took out their wrath on the Boilermakers, crushing them 66-7. Notre Dame leads the all time series 58-26-2, with two games vacated by Notre Dame due to NCAA sanctions. The teams will play each other next September in South Bend.

Out on the West Coast, Washington vs. Washington State, and Oregon vs. Oregon State, were rivalry games played on the final weekend of the regular season, and were Pac-12 conference games. Now Washington and Oregon are in the Big 10, so these rivalry games are now nonconference affairs.

Oregon State hosted Oregon for the 128th edition of their game, which was played in September for the first time ever. The ninth ranked Ducks struggled a little in their first two games of the season, both victories, but this time they dominated, beating Oregon State 49-14. Oregon leads the series 69-49-10.

Finally, in Seattle, Washington hosted Washington State in their 116th meeting, with the Apple Cup at stake. Washington State QB John Mateer ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as the Cougars beat the Huskies 24-19. Washington leads the overall series 76-34-6. This game is scheduled through at least 2028.

The Big 10 schedules most of its big in-conference rivalry games the last weekend of the regular season (like Ohio State-Michigan), and has scheduled Oregon vs. Washington for November 30th, which formally was a big Pac-12 rivalry game.