Officially, they no longer call the Florida-Georgia rivalry (or is it Georgia-Florida?) the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

This year’s rivalry installment has been besmirched with an abomination of a nickname that we won’t bother to dignify with mention in this space.

No. 3 Georgia will play No. 20 Florida on Saturday in a game that’s shifted to Atlanta this season, while renovations occur at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, the game’s traditional location.

The corporate sponsors can call it what they like, but in our hearts, this game remains the “Cocktail Party.”

Why flick a great nickname into the dustbin?

This got us wondering: Is the “Cocktail Party” the best nickname for a college football rivalry?

On this edition of “College Football Unfiltered,” a USA TODAY Sports podcast presented by Sports Seriously, host Blake Toppmeyer and his colleagues Paul Myerberg and John Brice debate college football rivalry nicknames and preview the Week 9 lineup of games.

Also, Memphis athletic director Ed Scott joins for an interview to discuss the Tigers’ aspirations of joining a Power Four conference. If Memphis had its choice, would it prefer the ACC or Big 12? He weighs in on that.

As for rivalry nicknames …

Which college football rivalry has the best nickname?

World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party

The teams:Florida-Georgia.

This nickname reflects the tailgating environment that surrounds the stadium when the Florida-Georgia rivalry is played in Jacksonville. The nickname spawned as many do: A sportswriter came up with it, decades ago. It caught on. Colloquially, it’s still the nickname, even if the SEC and the schools pivoted away from the nickname two decades ago.

Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate

Teams: Georgia-Georgia Tech

Myerberg’s submission for consideration.

Many of the best rivalries feature an element of hatred. This one inserts the hate right into the rivalry’s nickname. The two campuses are separated by 70 miles, and the game is a Thanksgiving weekend fixture.

Battle for the Beer Barrel

Teams: Kentucky-Tennessee

Brice’s submission for consideration.

This is another nickname that’s no longer embraced by the schools, but anyone who remembers Peyton Manning hoisting the beer barrel over his head remembers that an iconic trophy used to be part of this game’s tradition. The wooden barrel, which is painted orange and blue, is no longer awarded to the game’s winner. It’s displayed at the Founders Suites at Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium. The game’s old name is kept alive by fans and some media members.

The one where I see your “Cocktail Party” & raise you the “Battle for the Beer Barrel.” Real ones know: https://t.co/VEICmKwdujpic.twitter.com/9DsD8igATW

— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) October 28, 2026

Holy War

Teams: BYU-Utah

(Toppmeyer’s submission for consideration.)

The best rivalry nicknames speak to the soul of the series. This one achieves that. Two-word rivalry nicknames just sort of roll off the tongue, too. If the nickname doesn’t grab your attention, the views will. Name a rivalry with better stadium backdrops on each side of the rivalry than BYU-Utah.

Others rivalry nicknames for consideration

  • Bedlam: Oklahoma-Oklahoma State. Never has a single word suited a rivalry better than Bedlam.
  • Farmageddon: Iowa State-Kansas State. The name says it all. No notes necessary.
  • Egg Bowl: Mississippi-Mississippi State. The winning team is presented with a trophy of a golden egg. How great is that?
  • Backyard Brawl: Pittsburgh-West Virginia. Plenty of rivalries are called a “war,” but labeling this a “brawl” suits the attitude of this game that indeed occurs in each other’s backyard.
  • Iron Bowl: Alabama-Auburn. An iconic name that fans actually use on the regular. Nobody calls it Auburn-Alabama or Alabama-Auburn. It’s just simply the Iron Bowl.
  • Border War: Kansas-Missouri. The emotions of this rivalry are as bitter as it gets, and the nickname serves as a history lesson of the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict before the Civil War.
  • Brawl of the Wild: Montana-Montana State. Here’s another nickname credited to a sportswriter, and the name takes you right to the scene. If the nickname doesn’t hook you, maybe the 306-pound Great Divide Trophy will win you over.

Where to listen to College Football Unfiltered

Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' "College Football Unfiltered" podcast, hosted by columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream episodes on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts, Spotify or iHeart.Cohosts Matt Hayes, Paul Myerberg and John Brice cover college football for USA TODAY Sports.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cocktail Party is great. But is it college football’s best rivalry nickname?

Source: Yahoo Sports