Often times in life, the people that we love the most inflict the deepest hurts upon us. When we intertwine our lives with another, it's near impossible to untangle that web without both parties getting hurt. Roughly 40 percent of all art is inspired by this topic.
While that concept is well-covered in music, literature and film, recent events will bring themes of unrequited love, betrayal and vengeance to college football.
In light of recent news that Cincinnati is suing former quarterback Brendan Sorsby, it feels appropriate to rank the five most toxic reunions on the 2026 schedule. Turns out, near constant movement of head coaches and quarterbacks are forcing confrontations that both sides would surely prefer to avoid.
5. Arizona at West Virginia (Oct. 10): After his controversial West Virginia departure and a crash-and-burn at Michigan, Rich Rod revived his career in a largely successful 6-year run at Arizona, including a Pac-12 South championship and a Fiesta Bowl berth. He was fired after the 2017 season amid sexual misconduct claims by his former administrative assistant (Rodriguez denied all harassment claims, and the assistant's lawsuit was later dismissed.) After Arizona, it was took four seasons for Rodriguez to land another head coaching job.
Surely, the last thing Rich Rod thought when he left Arizona back in 2018 was that he'd one day face the Wildcats again, as the head coach at West Virginia, in a Big 12 conference game.
4. Northwestern at Michigan State (Oct. 17): The most accomplished player and coach in Northwestern history, Pat Fitzgerald's 30-year relationship with his alma mater ended in an investigation, a firing, a lawsuit and, ultimately, a likely 9-figure settlement. A reunion was inevitable when Fitzgerald took the Michigan State job, but neither side likely anticipated it happening in Fitz's third Big Ten game.
3. Duke at Miami (Nov. 14): Who'd have thunk that Manny Diaz would have to leave Miami to win an ACC championship. This game loses points given that it's not Diaz's first game against The U since his 2021 firing -- Miami beat Duke in South Beach last November -- but it gains points after the 'Canes swiped Darian Mensah away from the Blue Devils just before the buzzer sounded on the transfer portal window. Hopefully Duke will take the ACC championship trophy with them on the field at Hard Rock Stadium. In an ultimate sign of the times, this will be the second time Mensah has faced his former team after transferring; he led Duke to a 34-27 loss at Tulane after leaving the Green Wave last September.
2. Texas Tech at Cincinnati (Oct. 24): Location matters a lot here. Texas Tech is a heavy favorite to repeat as Big 12 champions, which means the Red Raiders will likely carry a 6-0 record and a top-10 ranking when former Bearcat Brendan Sorsby returns to Nippert Stadium. I'm imagining Sorsby running a zone-read keeper into the end zone in front of Cincinnati's student section, the students raining fake money onto the field, and Sorsby playfully pocketing a handful of the bills.
1. LSU at Ole Miss (Sept. 19): The entire reality television industry exists to create a scene half as toxic as what we'll see at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium on the night of Sept. 19. (Make no mistake, this game will be at night.) Not only did Lane Kiffin leave for Ole Miss's biggest rival in the midst of the program's best season in 60 years -- LSU leads the series 64-43-4 all-time -- he did so in the messiest way possible. Lane never barricaded himself inside the head coach's office in his ultimately doomed pursuit to coach Ole Miss while employed by LSU, but he came close -- and then took the bulk of the offensive, personnel, and strength staff with him. Oh, and four players, too.
The Tigers and Rebels played in Oxford last season, but the addition of the ninth conference game conveniently allowed the SEC to send LSU back to Oxford again this season, and both teams will likely enter at 2-0. Kiffin and Pete Golding will undoubtedly play it cool in the week leading up to the game, but the game will be more intense than a Real Housewives reunion.