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Greatest Rivalries

The most consistently great head-to-head series in high school football history

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How Rivalries Are Ranked

The Rivalry Score

Rivalries are ranked by Total PRI — the sum of Pulse Rate Index scores across all qualifying meetings between two programs. This rewards both volume and quality: two programs that play each other frequently and play great, close games will rank highest.

What Counts as a Qualifying Meeting

A game qualifies for the rivalry pool if both programs were elite that season (Combined Rating > 20, five-year average > 20) and the margin was 8 points or fewer. Games outside that window still count toward the all-time head-to-head record, but not toward the rivalry score.

Minimum Threshold

A rivalry must have at least -- qualifying meetings to appear on this list. A single great game is not a rivalry — it belongs on the Greatest Games page.

All-Time Record & Full Series History

The head-to-head record and game list include all games ever played between the two programs — not just qualifying meetings. Qualifying games are highlighted in blue with their PRI score.

Limitations

Data coverage affects results. Rivalries in states or eras with incomplete game coverage will be underrepresented. A rivalry that played 60 times but only 20 games are in the database will rank lower than it deserves.

Program classification is ongoing. Some states have not yet completed the 11-man vs. 8-man classification review. Results improve as that work progresses.

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