South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State met in the 139th Black Hills Brawl on Oct. 5, 2024 in the oldest rivalry in DII football. Black Hills State eked out a 22-20 as Hardrockers kicker Connor Taylor set the South Dakota Mines record for career points.
Let’s take a look at the 11 most-played rivalries between current DII football programs.
That rivalry from the Mount Rushmore State is the oldest on the list, dating back to 1895. The Hardrockers were shut out by their now-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes 18-0 that late November day. South Dakota Mines took it to heart, and when the teams next met in 1900, the Hardrockers dominated the Yellow Jackets 27-0 to start a 14-game unbeaten stretch in the rivalry.
Tuskegee holds the most lopsided advantage on our list, leading the all-time series 74-30-8.
The Turnpike Tussle and Battle of the Ravine — perhaps two of the better know rivalries in all of college football — are famous because of their proximity. Emporia State and Washburn travel the 58-mile trek down the Kansas Turnpike each year for some exciting MIAA football while Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist literally walk across the street to the other’s stadium to see who will claim the rights to the Ravine.
Washburn cut into Emporia State’s lead in 2019 with a 37-17 victory, but Emporia State struck back with five consecutive wins from 2021 through 2024.
Below is a list of the 11 most played rivalries in DII football along with their series records.
| GAMES | TEAMS (SERIES LEADER LISTED FIRST) | SERIES RECORD | FIRST GAME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 139 | South Dakota Mines, Black Hills State | 65-63-11 | 1895 |
| 120 | Emporia State, Washburn | 61-53-6 | 1899 |
| 114 | Virginia State, Virginia Union ^^ | 58-48-9 | 1900 |
| 112 | Tuskegee, Morehouse | 74-30-8 | 1902 |
| 109 | Southeastern Oklahoma St., East Central | 52-49-8 | 1909 |
| 103 | Catawba, Lenoir-Rhyne | 50-49-4 | 1907 |
| 102 | Pittsburg State, Emporia State | 65-35-2 | 1915 |
| 97 | Truman, Central Missouri | 52-40-5* | 1905 |
| 96 | Ouachita Baptist, Henderson State | 46-44-6 | 1907 |
| 94 | Pittsburg State, Washburn | 66-27-1 | 1921 |
| 91 | Truman, Northwest Missouri State | 54-33-4+ | 1908 |
Notes: ^^ will play a second time in 2024 at the CIAA championship game | *Have not played since 2013 | + Have not played since 2011. Truman left the MIAA for the Great Lakes Valley Conference, annual games no longer scheduled. All records via the official NCAA DII football record book on NCAA.org.