Looking more like a rematch!

[TheBeast]

Actually most of those other rivalries started off the field and was just carried over to football. OSU/Michigan was actually over the town of Toledo that both wanted to control for the shipping trade on Lake Erie.

[UnIoNfAn]

yep that battle started in the 1800s. What about the red river shootout? Take into concideration the UK UT game. its been 30+ years since UK won that one. Its not the rivalry it once was. VT and UT would be one tough rivalry. You think that anyone outside of Lexington to Knoxville really cares about it? I highly doubt it. The Chik Fil A bowl two seasons ago showed how much of a rivalry the VT UT game would be. That was one of the Largest fan base for that game and probably one of the highest ratings in tv for the Chik Fil A bowl. I would much rather see VT in the SEC than Mizzu or Texas A&M. Hopefully we will see that one day.

[Ironlung]

That was one of the Largest fan base for that game and probably one of the highest ratings in tv for the Chik Fil A bowl.

Nope. FSU/SC game killed it. Auburn/Clemson killed it. LSU/Miami killed it. Miami/UF killed it. Those are just in the last 10 years that beat it by a decent margin. There were several games where the ratings were .001 or so off from tying or beating that rating.

[R13]

"The hokies have one of the biggest followings in sports not just football either."

That's just silly. Notre Dame football or a UNC bball team probably have a much larger following in just those single sports then VT does as a whole, VT is not close to having a remotely close following as other schools do and I doubt very seriously they'll ever come close to it. VA has no professional basketball team, football team, baseball team or hockey team that plays from within its borders(of course the Skins and Caps have practice facilities here)...that's why VT has the large base it does IMO, we just don't have anyone else to root for besides UVA or VT. We're by far the most populous state without any professional team, which is sad. VT's base seems so faithful because the fans just don't have anyone else to cling to, sure isn't because they're so successful or that intriguing.

[TheBeast]

yep that battle started in the 1800s. What about the red river shootout? Take into concideration the UK UT game. its been 30+ years since UK won that one. Its not the rivalry it once was. VT and UT would be one tough rivalry. You think that anyone outside of Lexington to Knoxville really cares about it? I highly doubt it. The Chik Fil A bowl two seasons ago showed how much of a rivalry the VT UT game would be. That was one of the Largest fan base for that game and probably one of the highest ratings in tv for the Chik Fil A bowl. I would much rather see VT in the SEC than Mizzu or Texas A&M. Hopefully we will see that one day.

I do know for fact that the UT/UK rivalry encompases nearly the whole fanbase of both teams not just the small percentage that lives in the comparatively small area between the two. I can say that from having friends across the state of TN and having a farm in KY and family and friends across that state as well. Yes I also have friends and family on the other end of VA and they could care less about UT/VT.

I have already shown that UT had no real interest in attending or even being in that CFA game. Heck that made like the third time they played in it in 6 years and new they were outmanned and likely to lose. Like I said just because the place looks big and is enormous compared to Lane Stadium doesn't mean much it is still just average as far as college stadiums go. You want to talk about how great VT fan base is, why can't they get more than 10-15,000 to show up for the ACCCG in Charlotte? I have been to the GA dome many times to watch UT in either the SECCG or CFA bowl and every time it was 3/4 UT orange. I will bet when I went and they played LSU in the SECCG and with a win would have been playin for the NC there were more UT fans there than VT even has seats in Lane.

Like I said before I agree that VT is a much better fit than Mizzou.

[UnIoNfAn]

Nope. FSU/SC game killed it. Auburn/Clemson killed it. LSU/Miami killed it. Miami/UF killed it. Those are just in the last 10 years that beat it by a decent margin. There were several games where the ratings were .001 or so off from tying or beating that rating.

The 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl kicked off at 7:37 p.m. EST on December 31, 2009, in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia. Bowl officials announced 73,777 people attended the game, but that figure was based on the number of tickets sold rather than actual turnstile attendance.[77] That attendance figure was the fourth-largest in Chick-fil-A Bowl history, including when the game was known as the Peach Bowl
The 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Tennessee Volunteers on December 31, 2009, in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia. Virginia Tech defeated Tennessee 40–12. The game was part of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season and was the concluding game of the season for both teams. The game, the 42nd edition of the Chick-fil-A Bowl—called the Peach Bowl for much of its existence—was televised in the United States on ESPN and the broadcast was seen by an estimated 4.87 million viewers.
Seeing how and i quote "estimated 4.87 million viewers" tuned in and 73,777 people attended and that it was the 4th largest in that bowl's history including when it was the peach bowl, Id say my comment about it being one of the highest ratings in tv for the Chik Fil A bowl was not a false statement at Ironlung

[UnIoNfAn]

I do know for fact that the UT/UK rivalry encompases nearly the whole fanbase of both teams not just the small percentage that lives in the comparatively small area between the two. I can say that from having friends across the state of TN and having a farm in KY and family and friends across that state as well. Yes I also have friends and family on the other end of VA and they could care less about UT/VT.

I have already shown that UT had no real interest in attending or even being in that CFA game. Heck that made like the third time they played in it in 6 years and new they were outmanned and likely to lose. Like I said just because the place looks big and is enormous compared to Lane Stadium doesn't mean much it is still just average as far as college stadiums go. You want to talk about how great VT fan base is, why can't they get more than 10-15,000 to show up for the ACCCG in Charlotte? I have been to the GA dome many times to watch UT in either the SECCG or CFA bowl and every time it was 3/4 UT orange. I will bet when I went and they played LSU in the SECCG and with a win would have been playin for the NC there were more UT fans there than VT even has seats in Lane.

Like I said before I agree that VT is a much better fit than Mizzou.

you summed it up right there. A rivalry encompasses the team's fanbase. Its like that with any rivalry. Thats what a rivalry is and is about the teams fans not the rest of the nation. Im agreeing with you on every point you make about rivalries. Its also why the VT UT game would be that if VT was in the SEC. Lane Stadium is in the TOP 10 just like Neyland stadium on hardest places to win. Thats what would make this game killer! as close as these two schools are and if they were in the same conference and division it would be a killer rivalry. It would encompass all the fans from Knoxville to Blacksburg, which is what rivalries do. and Comment about "not the small area between the two" That is the majority of the fanbase for UK is right around the Lexington and southern KY area just like UT's main fan base is North East Tennessee so that does basicly engulf the small area between the two schools.
Now with all the VT UT beef over with, lets get back to the posts original topic. The SEC will be in the national title picture no matter how its cut now. LSU, Bama, Arkansas pick your poison but these are the best in NCAA football this season. IMO its going to boil down to a Bama LSU rematch with the Swamp cats winning again

[TheBeast]

Only having been to Lane a few times I can't say for sure how much of the fan base lies east of Blacksburg but I would imagine that is at least even east/west for them. Having been to Neyland multiple times a year for the last 10 years I can say without a doubt that the majority of UT fans live west of Knoxville. All you have to do is go and you will see a far greater number of cars heading west on 40 than there is heading east. And that was point the whole time I said the same thing twice. That the majority of UT's fan base could care less about VT and about half of VT's could care less about UT.

[EJ3]

The 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl kicked off at 7:37 p.m. EST on December 31, 2009, in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia. Bowl officials announced 73,777 people attended the game, but that figure was based on the number of tickets sold rather than actual turnstile attendance.[77] That attendance figure was the fourth-largest in Chick-fil-A Bowl history, including when the game was known as the Peach Bowl
The 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Tennessee Volunteers on December 31, 2009, in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia. Virginia Tech defeated Tennessee 40?12. The game was part of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season and was the concluding game of the season for both teams. The game, the 42nd edition of the Chick-fil-A Bowl?called the Peach Bowl for much of its existence?was televised in the United States on ESPN and the broadcast was seen by an estimated 4.87 million viewers.
Seeing how and i quote "estimated 4.87 million viewers" tuned in and 73,777 people attended and that it was the 4th largest in that bowl's history including when it was the peach bowl, Id say my comment about it being one of the highest ratings in tv for the Chik Fil A bowl was not a false statement at Ironlung

That really doesn't prove anything. Their isn't really any kinda rivalry between the Nole's and Cock's but they have they most viewed peach bowl ever. The game is primetime on new years eve, shouldn't be to hard to pull a big audience.



2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl was the Most-viewed in its History

ATLANTA (Jan. 7, 2011) ? More people viewed the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl than any other game in its 43-year history.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl led all non-BCS bowl game telecasts on ESPN with a 5.0 TV rating for its match-up of No. 19 South Carolina and No. 23 Florida State.
The 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl is now the fifth most-viewed bowl game telecast in ESPN history.

The rating represents the game being viewed in more than five million households nationwide. On average, the game was watched by more than 7.4 million viewers and peaked at more than 8.4 million viewers.

?Having such an incredible relationship with ESPN and an unopposed time slot in prime time has really created a national showcase for our game,? said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. ?When you add premier national football brands like Florida State and South Carolina, you have all the elements for a ?must-see TV? event. We?re blessed to have had such a compelling game and our hats go off to ESPN for their hard work in creating such a powerful broadcast for our bowl.?

Florida State (10-4) defeated South Carolina (9-5) 26-17 in a game that was close throughout. The Chick-fil-A Bowl was also able to notch its 14th consecutive sellout with a crowd of 72,217 in attendance. The Chick-fil-A Bowl?s string of 14 straight sellouts is second in the nation, behind only the Rose Bowl.

?A 5.0 rating is a tremendous accomplishment and I want to thank Gary and the entire Chick-fil-A Bowl team for providing us with a great match-up like Florida State and South Carolina, said Dave Brown, ESPN vice president, programming and acquisitions. ?We greatly appreciate the promotional support we receive from Chick-fil-A which dovetails perfectly with our promotional efforts during Capital One Bowl Week to drive Chick-fil-A Bowl viewership.?

The Chick-fil-A Bowl has been telecast by ESPN every year since 1992. Chick-fil-A Bowl games are now four of the top 10 and six of the top 25 most-viewed non-BCS bowl game telecasts in ESPN history.

About the Chick-fil-A Bowl:
The Chick-fil-A Bowl is the ninth-oldest bowl game in the country and hosts the longest-running rivalry series between the ACC and SEC. Now in its 43rd year, the Chick-fil-A Bowl has established itself as one of the nation?s elite bowl games with a string of 14 consecutive sellouts and has earned a reputation as one of the most competitive bowls in the nation. Ten of the last 19 games have been decided by a touchdown or less. The Chick-fil-A Bowl has disbursed more than $103 million in team payouts over its 43-year history and has increased team payout every year since 1996. The Bowl also leads all other bowl games in charitable and scholarship contributions, giving more than $7 million to organizations in need since 2002. Other events under the Chick-fil-A Bowl brand include the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge head coach and celebrity golf event each April and the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game season-opening game over Labor Day weekend which hosted No. 16 LSU and No. 18 North Carolina, to open the season Sept. 4.

[Ironlung]

Id say my comment about it being one of the highest ratings in tv for the Chik Fil A bowl was not a false statement at Ironlung

You said ratings, every game I mentioned above surpassed it in ratings. It doesn't matter what the attendance of the game is. That means zilch. What matters is TV viewers. I didn't even go that far back to find 4 games that beat in in terms of RATINGS to even really get into the Peach bowl years. If you want to change how you quantify it and say something about attendance, feel free. If 2 teams about 5-6 hours can't fill a 70+,000 seat arena there's a big problem.