NFHS Network names Auburn-Opelika as state’s biggest high school rivalry
Reading time: 2 minutes
It may not be the oldest high school rivalry in the state but when Auburn and Opelika meet on any playing field, the rest of the state pays attention.
And that rivalry was put into the national spotlight earlier this month when the NFHS Network selected it as the biggest high school rivalry in the state of Alabama.
Keep reading to learn more about the rivalry + see some of the other noteworthy rivalries throughout the state.
Auburn vs. Opelika
The two high schools are separated by just nine miles, meaning there are plenty of home and away fans every time the two schools square off.
Between the two schools, their athletics programs have combined for 74 team state championships. Opelika most recently won a pair of track and field titles (indoor and outdoor) in 2021 while Auburn won the girls’ soccer state title in 2024.
On the football field, the two teams have met 99 times, according to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society (AHSFHS). Auburn leads the series 49-47-3 including wins in seven of the last eight meetings.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs hold the longest winning streak in series history, defeating Auburn every season from 1996 to 2004. That streak included four shutout victories.
Opelika was recently bumped into Class 7A, reuniting the two schools as region opponents in nearly every sport.
Other top rivalries
Unsurprisingly, the Instagram post from NFHS Network sparked a debate in the comments with several people pointing to other rivalries in Alabama including:
- Hoover vs. Thompson
- Auburn vs. Central-Phenix City
- Moody vs. Leeds
- Dothan vs. Enterprise
- Vigor vs. Blount
- Oak Mountain vs. Chelsea
Some people wanted to just add Central-Phenix City to the Auburn-Opelika rivalry, making a claim for the best “tri-valry” in the country.
I’m partial to the old Pelham-Thompson rival even though that game has been replaced in most sports in recent years. Some of my other favorites include Gordo-Pickens County and Hoover-Vestavia Hills.
What do you think is the biggest high school rivalry in the state? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, Facebook + LinkedIn.
