When college basketball fans discuss the sport's greatest rivalries, the same familiar matchups usually dominate the conversation.
Duke and North Carolina immediately come to mind, while Kentucky-Louisville and other traditional showdowns attract enormous attention.
But college basketball features numerous rivalries that deserve more recognition.
Some involve universities separated by only a few miles. Others have histories stretching back more than a century, with generations of fans growing up supporting one school while cheering against another.
These matchups might not receive the national television attention associated with major-conference rivalries, but their histories are every bit as fascinating.
Here are five underrated college basketball rivalries that deserve more attention heading into the 2026-27 season.
1. Belmont vs. Lipscomb: The Battle of the Boulevard
Few college basketball rivalries feature two schools located as close together as Belmont and Lipscomb.
Both universities are located in Nashville, Tennessee, with their campuses separated by a short stretch of Belmont Boulevard.
The proximity has helped create one of the most distinctive rivalries in college basketball.
Known as the Battle of the Boulevard, the series has produced more than 150 men's basketball meetings.
The 150th installment took place in December 2023, when Belmont defeated Lipscomb 72-71 on a dramatic late three-point play by Ja'Kobi Gillespie.
That victory provided another memorable moment in a rivalry filled with competitive games and passionate supporters.
The programs have also experienced different conference affiliations, creating opportunities for the series to remain meaningful outside regular league competition.
Belmont's 75-68 victory in November 2025 marked the 152nd meeting between the schools.
The rivalry demonstrates that geographic proximity and school pride can create an atmosphere comparable to much larger national matchups.
2. Montana vs. Montana State: The Brawl of the Wild
Montana and Montana State have one of the longest-running rivalries in college basketball.
The series dates to 1903 and has produced more than 300 meetings between the Grizzlies and Bobcats.
Known as the Brawl of the Wild, the rivalry extends beyond basketball and plays an important role in the athletic identities of both universities.
The men's basketball series is particularly fascinating because the programs have experienced periods of success that often overlap.
In 2024, Montana State defeated Montana in the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship game, earning another NCAA Tournament appearance.
The victory was especially meaningful because it came against the Bobcats' biggest rival with a postseason opportunity at stake.
The rivalry also features distinctive home environments in Missoula and Bozeman.
Both programs regularly compete for position in the Big Sky standings, adding another layer of importance to their meetings.
For fans unfamiliar with the conference, Montana-Montana State provides an excellent example of how competitive and passionate mid-major basketball can become.
3. UTEP vs. New Mexico State: The Battle of I-10
The rivalry between UTEP and New Mexico State stretches back more than a century.
The schools first met in men's basketball in 1914, creating one of the oldest continuing rivalries in the region.
The matchup is known as the Battle of I-10 because Interstate 10 connects El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The schools are separated by a relatively short drive, making the rivalry particularly meaningful for fans throughout the region.
UTEP and New Mexico State have also shared conference affiliations during different periods of their histories.
Their rivalry became a conference matchup again during the 2024-25 season after a lengthy period as nonconference opponents.
One memorable recent meeting occurred in January 2025, when New Mexico State defeated UTEP 85-57 before a sold-out crowd of 12,000 at the Don Haskins Center.
The atmosphere demonstrated how much the rivalry means to both fan bases.
The series has included more than 200 games and continues to provide some of the most passionate basketball environments in the region.
4. Richmond vs. VCU: The Capital City Classic
Richmond and VCU share something that immediately makes their basketball rivalry interesting.
Both universities are located in Richmond, Virginia.
The schools represent different institutional traditions, with VCU operating as a public university and Richmond as a private institution.
Their basketball rivalry has become one of the most recognizable matchups in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Known as the Capital City Classic, the series has produced memorable games and significant conference implications.
The programs first met in 1976, and their rivalry developed through different conference affiliations before becoming an Atlantic 10 matchup.
One particularly memorable meeting occurred in March 2024, when Richmond defeated VCU 79-76 at the Robins Center.
Jordan King scored 27 points, helping the Spiders secure an important victory during their pursuit of the Atlantic 10 championship.
The matchup demonstrated how competitive the rivalry can become when conference positioning is at stake.
Richmond-VCU deserves more national recognition because it combines geographic proximity, conference competition and contrasting university identities.
5. South Dakota vs. South Dakota State: The Interstate Series
South Dakota and South Dakota State have one of the most passionate in-state rivalries in college basketball.
The Coyotes and Jackrabbits have competed against one another for generations, with their athletic rivalry extending across numerous sports.
Their men's basketball meetings are particularly meaningful because both programs compete in the Summit League.
The rivalry is also part of the Interstate Series, an all-sports competition that awards points based on athletic results and academic performance.
That structure gives basketball victories significance beyond conference standings.
South Dakota State enjoyed an extended period of success against the Coyotes, including a ten-game winning streak that lasted until February 2026.
South Dakota finally ended that streak with a dramatic 68-67 victory in Brookings.
The Coyotes later completed a regular-season sweep of the Jackrabbits, helping their university capture the overall 2025-26 Interstate Series championship.
Those results demonstrated how quickly a rivalry's momentum can change.
For fans looking beyond the traditional national powers, South Dakota-South Dakota State provides a compelling combination of history, geography and conference competition.
Why these rivalries deserve more attention
College basketball rivalries are about more than national television audiences or the number of championship banners hanging inside an arena.
The relationships between universities, communities and generations of supporters often create the most meaningful competition.
Belmont and Lipscomb demonstrate how two neighboring campuses can develop a remarkable basketball tradition.
Montana and Montana State bring more than a century of history to their matchups, while UTEP and New Mexico State represent one of the region's oldest athletic rivalries.
Richmond and VCU offer a fascinating competition between two universities in the same city, and South Dakota's rivalry with South Dakota State regularly carries conference implications.
These five matchups deserve more recognition because they represent the traditions that make college basketball special.
The 2026-27 season offers another opportunity for fans to discover rivalries that have been producing memorable moments for decades.
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