Rivalries drive college sports, and this weekend is no exception in both the pool and on the football field. 

Although it may be just a coincidence, college swimming teams have aligned three intriguing meets that correspond with football rivalries also happening this weekend.

Georgia, Florida Meet On The Field & In The Pool

A day before the Gators and Bulldogs battle on the field in Jacksonville, FL, the Southeastern Conference rivals will hit the pool in Gainesville on Friday. Both men’s teams rank in the top 15 nationally, with Florida ranking third and Georgia checking in at No. 12. The women are spaced further apart: UGA is ranked sixth and UF is No. 20.

The Georgia women have beaten their southern rivals in each of the last 10 years. Meanwhile, the UGA men have claimed three straight.

An odd result came in 2011 as the men tied, something not that common in swimming.

Tennessee, Kentucky, & Indiana Meet Continues

Sticking with the SEC, although a less prominent rivalry, Tennessee and Kentucky will meet in the pool in Knoxville, TN, on Friday. Similar to Georgia/Florida, this meet is one day prior to the schools meeting on the football field.

In addition to Tennessee and Kentucky, the Indiana Hoosiers are involved as well. This is the second weekend in a row that Indiana has swam in a triangular meet in the SEC. Even though it isn’t a huge rivalry, the Wildcats and Hoosiers have experienced animosity in areas beyond the pool.

This is the seventh year combining the rivalries of the three bordering schools, and Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee have shifted the meet's host for each installment of the series.

Minnesota Looks To Continue Winning Streak Against Hawkeyes

Closing out the matching swimming and football competitions, Minnesota travels to Iowa City, Iowa, to swim against the Hawkeyes on Friday night before their football teams tries to tackle Kinnick Stadium the following night.

Out of two teams' last 10 men’s meets, Minnesota has won nine. The Gophers' only loss came by 21 points on the road in 2011. The UM women have never lost in the time span.

Minnesota enters the meet with its women ranked 17th and the men just outside the polls. Meanwhile, Iowa is coming off an dismantling of Michigan State three weeks prior. This isn’t the big-time, ranked battle of other rivalries, but on a weekend when the Floyd of Rosedale trophy is on the line in Kinnick, this meet could draw a crowd.

Swimming's Iron Bowl: Auburn vs. Alabama

If a sprint battle seems intriguing, this matchup for Alabama supremacy is the meet to watch. Both the Tigers and Crimson Tide are supported by their sprint programs, and it is sure to show Friday in Auburn, AL.

Auburn ranks higher on both the men's and women's sides — each Tigers team is ranked ninth. That said, it is by a slight margin for the men (Alabama is ranked 16th), which should for an exciting conference matchup.

The Tigers have swept their last four meetings with the Tide. Auburn's last loss on the men’s side came by 23 points in Tuscaloosa in 2012.

Other Meets To Keep An Eye On

While Indiana goes out of state, Purdue and Notre Dame will have an in-state battle. The Fighting Irish, ranked in both genders, will make the less than 100-mile trip south to West Lafayette, IN, for the Friday meet.

This time of year is traditionally when Notre Dame and Purdue race, usually just before both dive deep into the Big Ten Conference schedule.

By Ben Colin