It's unlikely anyone would be surprised to hear both Auburn University and the University of Alabama ended up in the top 10 of a recent USA Today ranking of the best universities for die-hard sports fans.
They might be surprised to see which school ranked higher though.
The list, which ranked the best college experiences for sports fans based on everything from mascots to the school's longstanding traditions and more, used an expert panel to nominate an array of contenders, according to USA Today. Then they allowed readers to vote on their favorite.
The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa came in at No. 9 on the ranking, which acknowledged its many national championships and lively gameday atmosphere as major draws for sports fans.
"With an impressive 18 national championships, the University of Alabama has earned its spot among football royalty," the article reads. "While baseball, softball, golf and gymnastics also shine at the Tuscaloosa campus, nothing quite tops the excitement for the Crimson Tide football team's game days."
Meanwhile, Auburn University in Auburn just missed the top spot, coming in at No. 2 in the ranking, thanks to its "mastery of college sports" and appeal to out-of-state visitors.
"A prominent member of the Southeastern Conference, Auburn University draws Alabama natives and far-flung visitors alike thanks to its mastery of college sports," the article said. "While the Auburn Tigers football team made waves back in 2010 with a national championship win led by Cam Newton, the institution is also renowned as the home of the Jordan-Hare Stadium, a colossal structure that can host more than 85,000 patrons."
As for what school ranked first, it was the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Other universities to make the list included Duke University in Durham, N.C.; the University of Tennessee in Knoxville; Texas A&M University in College Station; the University of Wisconsin in Madison; West Virginia University in Morgantown; The Ohio State University in Columbus and Pennsylvania State University.