User:VarsityBlue/sandbox

= Red & Blue Bowl =

The Red & Blue Bowl is an annual Canadian football rivalry game between the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and the York University Lions. The rivalry stems from the two programs being separated by only 18.7 km (11.6 miles), and that they are the only two OUA schools in Toronto to support football.

Since 1992, the winner of the Red & Blue Bowl takes homes the Argo Cup. The Varsity Blues lead the series 35-20.

Series History
While the Varsity Blues' history dates back to 1861, the Lions' did not field a football team for another century, beginning in 1969. Despite calling the same city home, Toronto and York competed in different leagues. While the storied Varsity Blues program played against other historic teams like the Western Mustangs and Queens' Golden Gaels, the newly formed York Yeomen played other Ontario teams like the Waterloo Warriors and Ottawa Gee-Gees. The Red & Blue Bowl was first played for in 1970 at Varsity Stadium as an exhibition game for bragging rights of the city. In 1971, the two teams met for in-conference play for the first time.

As a series that has been defined by streaks, the Varsity Blues dominated the Lions early on in the series, winning 23 of the first 26 Red & Blue Bowls. This includes 14 consecutive victories to begin the rivalry. York first took home bragging rights of the city in 1984 when they went to Varsity Stadium and won 44-20. After 1995, The Varsity Blues program struggled to match the success it had seen in the decades prior, and the Lions capitalized. York took home the Argo Cup every season from 1996-2007, rattling off 13 straight wins. Since then, Toronto has taken control of the rivalry once more, winning 12 of the last 16 matchups.

In all meetings, Toronto holds a 35-20 lead over York. This includes two exhibition games in 1970 & 1972. The Blues and Lions met twice in 1996 and 2021. In these years, the Argo Cup was only contested once. York won both matches in 1996 while Toronto beat York twice in 2021.