Following Texas sports at the local, collegiate and professional levels is a crucial pillar of the state’s rich and vibrant culture. With some of the largest fan bases in the country, it’s no surprise that some serious rivalries arise from those followings. Rivalries have always been a staple of Texas sports culture, with some of the more fierce rivalries having the power to divide communities, friendships and even families.

In honor of the Texas Cup rivalry between the Ariat Texas Rattlers and the Austin Gamblers, we highlight 8 of the most intense and legendary in-state rivalries the Lone Star State has to offer.

College Football

Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies
Lone Star Showdown

The rivalry between the Longhorns and the Aggies is one of the most cherished and historic in all of Texas. This feud between two of the oldest and largest universities in Texas dates back to 1894, making it one of the oldest not only in Texas, but in the entire history of college sports. It has long been a tradition to hold the Lone Star Showdown on Thanksgiving Day, attracting major media attention as well as fans and alumni from all over. The showdowns were discontinued in 2011 after A&M left the Big 12 and moved to the SEC, but Austin’s recent move to the SEC means the rivalry is set to return this year. They’re back on November 30th after a 12-year hiatus. The game takes place as part of the SEC’s rivalry week at the end of their regular season and is sure to be one of the best attended in recent history.

SMU Mustangs vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Battle for the iron pan

This Greater Texas clash between Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University has been called the “greatest college football rivalry in North Texas.” The feud between the two private universities (located just 35 miles apart in Dallas and Fort Worth) has been simmering since they first met in 1915, but it wasn’t until 1946 that the matchup earned its iconic name. The most famous origin story involves a Mustangs fan who was frying frog legs in an iron skillet before the Nov. 30 game when an horrified TCU fan confronted him and suggested that the winning team should get the skillet as a trophy. Whether this is entirely true or not, it has been a tradition for the teams to exchange a skillet-shaped trophy since 1946. The Battle for the Iron Skillet will be put on hold after next year, with the final game scheduled for fall 2025.

High School Football

Texas wouldn’t be Texas without its large following of high school football fans. While there is plenty of competitive talent throughout the state, the Permian Basin is home to some of the most impressive and notorious matchups.

Permian Panthers vs. Midland Lee Rebels
Mojo vs Lee

Ever heard Friday Night Lights? The 1990 book follows the Permian Panthers’ 1988 season and focuses on the rivalry between the Midlands. The feud between Mojo and Lee is one of the fiercest, with the two teams battling not just for old-fashioned bragging rights but also for championship spots.

Permian Panthers vs Odessa Bronchos
Odessa Bowl

Adding even more excitement within the state and within the city, the Odessa Bowl rivalry dates back to 1959, when a second high school opened in eastern Odessa and the Permian Panthers came onto the scene. Matchups between the Bronchos and Panthers are deeply rooted in the local community, and the high-intensity games regularly draw crowds of more than 10,000.

MLB

Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros
Lone Star Series / Silver Boot Series

Although football dominates the rivalry scene, there is a pretty big feud going on in the world of baseball as well. The Lone Star Series, also called the Silver Boot Series, has grown in intensity in recent years since the Astros joined the same league as the Rangers in 2013. Fans throughout the DFW area stick to their guns and cheer on their respective teams as they battle for the trophy: a 30-inch tall silver cowboy boot with a special spur.

PBR

Ariat Texas Rattlers vs Austin Gamblers
Texas Cup

Last but not least, there is the Ariat Texas Rattlers’ Texas Cup rivalry against the Austin Gamblers. The competition for the Texas Cup will heat up this fall after we’ve had the first two meetings of the 2024 Camping World Series. Austin took the first win in Florida, but the Rattlers fought back last Saturday at Gambler Days.

The final duel is scheduled for Rattler Days on September 27th in Fort Worth. See you at the Coliseum!

Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media