University and college rivalry

Pairs of schools, colleges and universities, especially when they are close to each other either geographically or in their areas of specialization, often establish a university or college rivalry with each other over the years. This rivalry, which is frequently synonymous with a sports rivalry, can extend to both academics and athletics, and sometimes even politics, the middle being typically better known to the general public. These schools place an added emphasis on emerging victorious in any event that includes their rival. This may include the creation of a special trophy or other commemoration of the event. While many of these rivalries have arisen spontaneously, some have been created by college officials in efforts to sell more tickets and support their programs.

The oldest modern sporting rivalry between two schools is Eton v Harrow, a cricket match between Eton College and Harrow School that was first held in 1805 at Lord's Cricket Ground, England, and has taken place annually since 1822. The earliest known association football match between two schools was Eton v Harrow in 1834, among several other notable rivalries in English public school football games. The oldest university-level intercollegiate sporting rivalries are between the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge in England: The University Match in cricket, which was first held in 1827, at Lord's; and The Boat Race, which was first contested in 1829 on the River Thames in London. Oxford-Cambridge rivalry influenced college rivalries in the United States and other countries around the world.