By Nicole Campoy-Leffler
TheDailyMeal.com

Some rivalries are so intense, they have to be played on neutral ground (ahem, Texas and Oklahoma). Some are so historic, they almost instill a sense of camaraderie in their opponents, and still some are fought in such close proximity that friendships and family bonds have been strained by hard fought wins and difficult losses (looking at you, USC and UCLA).

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Slideshow: Ultimate tailgating rivalries

But before the players have started warming up and running drills, before they've swabbed black strips of war paint on their faces, the fans -- a healthy mix of students, alums, teachers and families -- have packed team logo-emblazoned RVs, trucks and cars to the brim with brats, beer and grills. Tailgating is as American a pastime as you can get. Grilling up burgers and hot dogs, laying out a full spread of sweet and savory snacks, making sure your face and body paint looks right, and setting up for a game of corn hole or two is known far and wide as being the best way to prep for the big game.

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As in every activity, though, some fans do it better than others. Some bring enough food to put county fairs to shame, some make big pots of jambalaya and Gumbo the night before so they can get it just right. And the really dedicated fans go above and beyond the requisite cooler of beer. The Florida v. Georgia rivalry, for example, has a tailgate that's been lovingly nicknamed The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, while the serious tailgaters at LSU sip on Bourbon and soda, when they're not knocking
back oyster shooters.

And when it comes to the food, some fans stick to the good ol' fashioned barbecue, grilling up meats like burgers, brats and chicken. But to others, that sounds like child's play. Why tuck into a barbecued chicken when you could be eating a Low Country boil and Cajun-style shrimp with the other Auburn fans? Or, wake up early with Ohio State because they come prepared with Bloody Mary's and homemade egg "McMuffins" for breakfast while they're firing up the grill.

It just makes you wonder -- could the teams really press on if the tailgaters weren't there firing up their grills at 6 a.m.? So, we pit 12 of college football's most iconic rivalries against each other when it comes to pre-game grub, cocktail concoctions and tailgate scene. Don't think we were precious about it, either -- we declared a "The Daily Meal Tailgate Winner" of each rivalry. Did your team win the Ultimate Tailgate Rivalry?

The Top Five:
1. Oklahoma Sooners v. Texas Longhorns
2. Alabama Crimson Tide v. Auburn Tigers
3. Ohio State Buckeyes v. Michigan Wolverines
4. USC Trojans v. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
5. Florida Gators v. Georgia Bulldogs

College Football: Ultimate Tailgating Rivalries Slideshow

 

1. Oklahoma-Texas

Oklahoma's fans bring multi-liter bottles of pre-made shots and set up their grills to make stuffed peppers, pulled pork, ribs, and hot dogs. While that may seem like a valiant effort, Texas' food scene looks more like a county fair -- their famous Corny Dogs, chicken fried bacon, fried cookie dough, fried guacamole bites, fried butter, fried Coke and fried beer all make it to the game.

 

2. Alabama-Auburn

Alabama fans bring seven-layer dips, corn and shrimp chowders, Gumbos and pots of chili. Auburn fans have ... Low Country boil, Cajun-style shrimp, deep-fried turkey and classic barbecue like ribs and chicken are made in an old dairy truck-turned-grill with Bourbon and soda to wash it all down.

 

3. Michigan-Ohio State

Ohio State's tailgaters spread all over campus. Early kickoffs mean a breakfast of homemade egg "McMuffins" and Bloody Marys by the field; while for lunch, they make buffalo wings, sausages smothered in marinara sauce, chili, and a whole roasted pig. Michigan goes big with themed tailgates (one organizing website had luau, white trash, and Mardi Gras themes lined up for the 2011 season). They deep fry Snickers, make mayo-and-bacon pies, and bring bagels and cream cheese for early kickoffs.

 

4. Notre Dame-USC

Some USC tailgaters start off with a cigar before doling out shots of Patron. They make a diverse spread of food with carne asada tacos, homemade sausages, ribs, chips and salsa, and a spit-roasted lamb among tailgaters favorites. Notre Dame equips themselves with "Chill'N Grills" (coolers with a stereo and gas grill built in) to make breakfast burritos, sausages, burgers, barbecued chicken and some classic picnic dishes like potato salad. Beers and margaritas help to wash it down.

 

5. Florida-Georgia

The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party: Floridians bring sausage and pancake sandwiches, bushels of oysters, and bacon-wrapped everything while Georgians start their party a few days ahead with po' boys, onion rings, and cocktails at St. Simon, nearby. The real tailgate starts when the Bourbon comes out and Low Country boils are shared between opposing fans.

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