Everyone in the SEC hates LSU pretty equally, and it's mutual. We are about 5 or 6 teams' secondary or tertiary rival. Ole Miss, Auburn or Alabama are probably who we consider to be our own biggest rivals but each of those schools has an in-state team standing in our way for their #1 rival position. Florida is also a huge rival since we play them annually but we'll never overtake Georgia or FSU for their main rivalry. Arkansas and LSU have a manufactured rivalry that is only about 20 years old, but it's getting pretty good. I'd still say Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and Florida are more hated by us than Arkie though.
For a while there, Oregon looked at the University of Washington as a bigger rival than Oregon State. Until 1999, Oregon State had 28 straight losing seasons. Washington was winning PAC-10 championships, Rose Bowls, and national titles. Oregon wanted to be Washington, so Oregon took aim and dethroning the kings of the Northwest. It took until 1995, when Kenny Wheaton had the infamous "The Pick" and returned it for the go ahead score, sending Oregon to the Rose Bowl. The rivalry was given a boost, at least in Oregon eyes, when former Colorado Buffaloes head coach Rick Neuheisel was named head coach of Washington 1999. It was Neuheisel who called for a fake punt during the 1996 Cotton Bowl between Oregon and Colorado while the Buffaloes led 38-6. Oregon fans were also accused of turning Neuheisel in for recruiting during the dead period. The rivalry grew even more when Coach Neuheisel celebrated by taking photos and jumping up and down on the "O" in the middle of the field after a win against Oregon at Autzen Stadium.[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autzen_Stadium"][/ame] Since Washington has fallen on hard times thanks to Neuheisel and his NCAA violations he gifted the team, Oregon State's rivalry has gone to an all time high. Only 37 miles separates the universities, so there are many families here that are divided when it's time for the Civil War. It get's pretty ugly!
Depends on who you talk to you. We have no natural rivalies (Like Ore Ore State or Bama Auburn) My father will say Ole Miss Currently many will Say Bama but Bama has Auburn so it is one sided. For me its simple Arkansas. I am tired of the recent history with them and the fact I moved next door to an ex razorback football player makes it even worse. LSU has lost 3 of 4 against Arkansas and its time to turn that around. The only win came in overtime on a missed FG by their kicker.
Right now our biggest rival is easily Alabama with Saban at the helm. The stuff that goes on when we play Bama is similar to the civil war between OSU and Oregon. First time Saban took his team to Baton Rouge, there was a large gathering the night before the game where fans burned a Saban scarecrow in effigy. But then again, you can make an argument for Auburn (not as much hate since Tubby left), Arkansas (They have our # lately), Ole Miss (long time rivals, "Geaux to hell Ole Miss"), and Florida (top 2 teams in the SEC of the past 10 years). It's really hard to say because I want to beat each of those teams every single year and can't stand the thought of losing to either of them...
I would say it would have to be Alabama, and coming in close to second, It would have be Arkansas!!! They have been pretty annoying, the past few years....
The Arkansas LSU game has been a pretty big game over the years. I think playing it on the day after Thanksgiving has really killed some of the passion. As big as some of the games recently have been, I have never seen such a subdued and down right lethargic crowd as at an LSU/Arky game following a big Thanksgiving. Schedule wise it has really worked for me, but for the game atmosphere they really need to move it back to Saturday. However I don't see LSU fans ever hating Arkansas as bad as we hate Bama/AU/Gayterds.
Claiming a rivalry as an LSU fan is sort of missing the point. All the fun about being purple and gold is the equal opportunity haterdom. There's an art to being the most loathed fans and the best place to visit at the same time.
