Yes!!!! Football is back!!!! I’m so ready to cheer on my Cowboys!!! Luckily, my husband is a Cowboys fan, too, or else we would have some serious rivalry going on in our house.

But I recognize there are couples who do indeed cheer for different teams. Most of the time, it’s just a playful rivalry. But in the game of football, it’s easy for emotions to go high. In these tense game situations, sometimes a snide remark about someone’s team or a bad down, can send playful banter down into the depths of pettyville.

But do not fear football fans. I have some do’s and don’ts on cheering for different teams while keeping the peace during football season.

1. Do play nice! If your teams are playing at different times, surely you guys can support each other right? You could always find common ground by picking a team you both hate. But just Not the Cowboys.
2. Do invite friends and family over when your teams meet. The extra company will serve as a buffer, and you get free food if you make it a potluck.
3. Do place bets on the game—friendly ones of course. Depending on how good your team is, you could really clean up in the winnings! Some examples are: not doing dishes for a week. Not cooking for a week. Having your spouse wear your team jersey with nothing else on. Just note, silly bets can take the edge off of losing. You can’t be too sulky after a loss when your punishment is to live stream yourself dancing to the Macarena in your spouse’s football jersey.
4. Don’t be a sore loser. If your team is a sorry team, you may have to change the terms of your bets or be prepared to pay up. Acknowledge their win and move on. Also don’t be a poor winner. If you’re too focused on rubbing it in, then you could be missing out on that rub down from your spouse after the game.
5. Don’t let the trash talking take you to another level—after all, it’s just a game. Be aware of how serious your spouse gets when it comes to football. It’s always better to tread on the side of caution with your remarks.
6. If your spouse’s team is playing the same time as yours, you may need to watch in different rooms. Or you could even head to a sports bar. Or watch it on your tablet. Being the bigger man (or woman) in this situation might even reward you with some good football karma.
7. Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy your quality time together. Be grateful that you both share an interest in the same sport, so use it for bonding time. If you both have busy schedules, this is a great time to bring the family together.

Keep it clean and keep it fun. If you have kids old enough, explain how the game is played and also how your team became your favorite. I’m sure you have some good stories to share. So to all the couples who are fans of rival teams, good luck to you this season. Remember this is the only time it is okay for the house to be divided.

BMWK, how do you handle sports rivalries in your house?