The Hays County Rivalry is the name of the showdown between the Hays Hawks and the San Marcos Rattlers. First meeting in 1988, the football series has seen 18 total games with the Hawks leading the series 14-4. One of the biggest games in the history of the series came 1998 when both teams were placed in the same district for the first time. Hays and San Marcos came into the game with undefeated records with the winner gaining a leg up for the district championship. The Hawks won 28-21 in front of standing room only crowd at now UFCU stadium. San Marcos later got revenge in 2003 beating the Hawks for the district championship. The Rattlers have won the last meeting between the teams beating the Hawks 62-49.
Texas State will renew their longtime football rivalry with Sam Houston State this year in the first meeting between the two teams in 2011. The Bobcats and Bearkats have met 87 times with their first game being played in 1915.
