Business: Battle of the OSUs

In Buckeye Country, everyone knows there's only one OSU: THE Ohio State University. When Ohio State had the gall to file an application in February for trademark rights to “OSU,” Oklahoma State University was less than thrilled. The two schools eventually signed a pact in September to keep the matter out of court, agreeing to mutual use of the initials because fan confusion between the schools was unlikely. Duh. But upon closer inspection, maybe the Buckeyes and Cowboys have a little more in common than the diehards in Columbus and Stillwater realize.

Founded

Ohio: In 1870, as Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, a land-grant public school

Oklahoma: In 1890, as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, a land-grant public school

Mascot

Ohio: Brutus Buckeye, an exuberant, strangely muscular, poisonous nut, played by a student wearing an oversized cartoon head

Oklahoma: Pistol Pete, based on the larger-than-life, outlaw-killing cowboy Frank Eaton, played by a student wearing an oversized cartoon head

Famous alumnus

Ohio: Patricia Heaton, also known as fictional character Debra Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond

Oklahoma: Garth Brooks, also known as fictional “rocker” Chris Gaines, for reasons that remain unclear

Famous alumnus (oil edition)

Ohio: Melvin De Groote, a chemist with a specialty for creating demulsifying agents to separate crude oil from other substances, who rivaled Thomas Edison in number of patents

Oklahoma: T. Boone Pickens, a wildcatter-turned-oil-executive-turned-hedge-fund-billionaire, who founded Mesa Petroleum, once one of the world's largest independent oil companies

Best sport (popularity)

Ohio: Football!!! Go Bucks!!!

Oklahoma: Football!!! Go Cowboys!!!

Best sport (reality)

Ohio: Synchronized swimming, which won its 30th national title this year, though OSU also boasts great alumni golfers like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and John Cook

Oklahoma: Wrestling, which owns 34 national titles, though OSU also fields a storied golf program, claiming PGA winners like Bob Tway, Scott Verplank, Charles Howell and Ricky Fowler

Best former athlete

Ohio: Archie Griffin, an undersized running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1974 and 1975

Oklahoma: Barry Sanders, an undersized running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1988

Winner: Oregon State University, which was smart enough to sit this one out