College football used to be about geography. Rivalries were born out of proximity and state lines, as teams repeatedly battled familiar foes and nearby schools. Now in the era of super conferences, those regional bonds are being redrawn and, in some cases, erased entirely. Tradition has been put aside in the pursuit of better media deals and bigger television markets.

It’s that time again, the Rivalry Series between Team USA and Team Canada returns for the fifth season and excitement could not be any...