Rivalries are one of the main things that make College Football better than the NFL. Some teams have hated each other for over a century, and when that culminates on the field in an intense matchup, there’s truly nothing like it. Everyone knows their team’s rival and will glare at them across the street. But, one of the best parts of the rivalries themselves? The trophies. College Football has some of the coolest, weirdest and most unique trophies of any sport – here, we feature our 25 favorite College Football Rivalry Trophies based on a combination of quality, uniqueness, and history.
25. The Old Brass Spittoon (Michigan State vs Indiana)
No, the winning team does not spit tobacco waste into the Old Brass Spittoon – but, it is a unique trophy with a funny origin story nonetheless. In 1950, Michigan State had lost three of their last four matchups to Indiana. Class President Gene McDermott went into an antique shop looking for a trophy. He purchased the Brass Spittoon for $25, with the supposed backstory that it had been used by traders travelling between Michigan and Indiana. The teams have been playing for the trophy to this day.
24. The Bronze Stalk Trophy (Ball State vs Northern Illinois)
The Bronze Stalk is a tribute to the agricultural heartlands of Ball State and Northern Illinois. Designed in 2008 by local sculptor Renee Bemis, the trophy depicts a cluster of cornstalks, a nod to the prevalence of maize in both universities’ states. Since its inception, the Bronze Stalk has been a hotly contested prize, with Northern Illinois holding the historical edge despite Ball State’s recent dominance.
23. The Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy (Army vs. Navy vs. Air Force)
Steeped in military tradition, the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is a symbol of football supremacy among the United States service academies. First awarded in 1972, the trophy is given to the service academy boasting the best record in their annual head-to-head matchups. Dreamed up by Air Force General George B. McKee, the trophy fostered inter-service camaraderie while adding prestige to the academies’ already intense gridiron battles. What you may not know is, despite Army-Navy being the most historic rivalry of the three, Air Force has actually earned this trophy the most.
22. The Platypus Trophy (Oregon vs. Oregon State)
This rivalry trophy certainly wins the award for most unique. Created in 1959, this wooden sculpture merges the Oregon and Oregon State mascots, featuring a duck’s bill for the Ducks and a beaver’s tail for the Beavers. Despite its clever design, the Platypus trophy’s claim to fame lies in its multiple disappearances. Frequently stolen by overzealous students, the trophy vanished for over 40 years before resurfacing in 2005. Now safely awarded to the winning team’s alumni association, the Platypus trophy injects a playful element into this heated rivalry, formerly known as the Civil War.
21. The Land of Lincoln Trophy (Northwestern vs Illinois)
In the heart of Big Ten country, the Land of Lincoln Trophy honors the annual rivalry game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and Northwestern Wildcats. Established in 2009, the trophy replaced the retired Sweet Sioux Tomahawk. Designed by cartoonist Dick Locher, it’s a bronze replica of Abraham Lincoln’s iconic stovepipe hat. The best part? Hat hat hat hat hat.
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20. The Land Grant Trophy (Michigan State vs Penn State)
Penn State used to flex that they did not have rivals – this trophy was an attempt to change that when they joined the Big Ten in 1993. The trophy honors the universities’ status as the nation’s first land-grant institutions, established just ten days apart in 1855. Designed by then-Michigan State coach George Perles, the Land Grant Trophy stands as a testament to the academic and athletic excellence fostered by these pioneering universities. This trophy’s unwieldy design makes it a cult favorite for many college football fans – and we’ve all seen THAT picture.
19. The Iron Skillet (TCU vs SMU)
The Iron Skillet trophy is a sizzling symbol of the long-standing rivalry between TCU and SMU. Dating back to 1946, the cast-iron skillet was likely conceived by student bodies from both schools. Some accounts claim it originated from an SMU fan frying frog legs in a skillet, and a TCU fan, offended, wagering them that the winner of the football game would keep the skillet. Combine the unique trophy with an in-state Texas showdown, and you’ve got a great rivalry on your hands.
18. The $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy (Minnesota vs Nebraska)
Not your typical trophy, the $5 Bits of Broken Chair is a testament to fan-driven fun in college football. Sparked by a playful Twitter exchange in 2014 between Minnesota’s Goldy Gopher mascot and a parody account of then-Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, the trophy is a miniature broken chair with two $5 bills taped on. After Minnesota fans brought the trophy to life, it has become a cherished symbol of the Nebraska-Minnesota rivalry, with both fanbases raising money for pediatric cancer charities in its name. We certainly hope this trophy is here to stay, for both its novelty and the good causes it supports.
17. The Golden Hat (Texas vs Oklahoma)
The only thing better than a good rivalry trophy? A rivalry trophy that you can wear. Donated by the State Fair of Texas in 1941, it started life as the “Bronze Hat.” This 10-gallon cowboy hat, now gleaming gold after a 1970s makeover, is awarded to the victor and displayed in their athletic department until the next year’s showdown. We can only hope for comical pictures of star quarterbacks wearing the Golden Hat for years to come.
16. The Megaphone Trophy (Notre Dame vs Michigan State)
Few trophies better reflect the spirit of College Football than The Megaphone. A joint effort by the Detroit alumni clubs of both schools, the megaphone is painted with Notre Dame colors on one side and Michigan State’s on the other. Each year’s game score is etched onto the trophy, making it a one-of-a-kind historical record of the series. Notre Dame has quite a few more wins recorded on the Megaphone, with the trophy serving as a physical reminder of their historic dominance.
15. The Bayou Bucket (Houston vs Rice)
The only thing more contentious than an in-state rivalry is an intra-city rivalry, and the winner of Houston’s intra-city rivalry gets a bucket! The Bayou Bucket wasn’t always an official prize. In 1974, a former Rice player, Fred Curry, found a silver bucket at an antique store and had it redesigned, christening it as their new rivalry trophy. Despite its unofficial origins, the Bayou Bucket has become a cherished symbol of the rivalry, awarded annually since then.
14. The CyHawk Trophy (Iowa vs Iowa State)
The CyHawk trophy has faced a number of redesigns, and the negative fan responses to the previous iterations of this trophy may honestly put it even higher on our list. Established in 1977 to mark the rivalry’s revival after a long hiatus, the trophy wasn’t born from athletic departments, but from the Greater Des Moines Athletic Club. This fan-driven creation is named after the schools’ mascots, Cy the Cardinal and Herky the Hawk. Though the current iteration is probably the best-looking, we remember all versions of this trophy fondly.
13. The Old Oaken Bucket (Purdue vs Indiana)
Some buckets carry water, this bucket carries tradition. First awarded in 1925, the Old Oaken Bucket wasn’t born from grand designs, but from a desire for a “worthy joint enterprise” by alumni of both schools. This seemingly ordinary bucket, sourced from an Indiana farm, became a symbol of Hoosier and Boilermaker pride. Each matchup, the winner places a link with their schools letter on the gold chain. Though the Bayou Bucket is a bit flashier, we put this bucket higher on our list for its history.
12. The Axe (Stanford vs California)
This trophy, a standard 12-inch axe, first appeared in 1899 at a Stanford rally where it was used to symbolically “chop down” a Cal mascot. After decades of being stolen back and forth by students in a spirited prank war, The Axe was officially designated the trophy for the annual “Big Game” in 1933. The trophy is walked to midfield during the game by representatives from each school, during “The Stare Down”. As the game ends, with the winner ultimately walking away with the hardware as time expires.
11. The Golden Egg (Ole Miss vs Mississippi State)
Established in 1927 after a wild brawl between Ole Miss and Mississippi State fans, the trophy aimed to quell tensions. Designed as a gold-plated football, it’s become more egg-shaped over time, which led to a newspaper coining the name “Egg Bowl” for the rivalry.
10. The Beer Barrel (Tennessee vs Kentucky)
This is the only formally retired trophy on our list, but this icon deserves it. Debuting in 1925, this wooden trophy, painted half orange and half blue, was a playful tribute to both states’ love of libations. Despite surviving Prohibition with a clever “Ice Water” inscription, the Beer Barrel was sadly retired in 1998 after a fatal alcohol-related car crash of two Kentucky players. But this trophy makes our list because, when you think of Tennessee football, you think of Peyton Manning hoisting the Beer Barrel. Perhaps this trophy will one day return.
9. The Okefenokee Oar (Georgia vs Florida)
When you think of rivalries, surely you think of the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. But, you should also think of Georgia and Florida’s rivalry trophy – The Okefenokee Oar. This 12-foot behemoth, carved from a 1,000-year-old oak, originated in 2009 thanks to a mysterious Gator donor. Though not officially recognized, the Oar has become a student-driven tradition, with the winning team taking this swamp-inspired trophy back to their campus.
8. The Wagon Wheel (Akron vs Kent State)
We obviously give extra points to unique rivalry trophies, and it’s hard to top the Wagon Wheel. Awarded to the winner of Kent State vs. Akron, it’s a real (and really massive) painted wagon wheel. Legend claims it belonged to John Buchtel, founder of Akron, who got stuck in the mud near Kent State’s future site. In 1946, after a WWII hiatus, Kent State’s Dean Manchester, with a wink and a nod to history, offered the wheel as the rivalry’s trophy, solidifying a tradition that rolls on today.
7. The Keg of Nails (Cincinnati vs Louisville)
What could possible be more tough than a Keg of Nails? Awarded to the winner of Cincinnati vs. Louisville, this trophy signifies the teams’ “tough as nails” spirit. Started by fraternity chapters in the 1920s, it’s a replica keg, though sadly not filled with actual nails. The original trophy got lost during construction at Louisville, but the tradition – and the bragging rights – live on. In fact, this trophy had a resurgence in the 2022 Fenway Bowl despite the teams not playing in the same conference anymore.
6. The Jeweled Shillelagh (Notre Dame vs USC)
It is only fitting that a storied rivalry between two powerhouses should have a worth rivalry trophy – but good luck spelling this one! A shillelagh is a traditional Irish walking stick, and this one is adorned with jewels and features Notre Dame and USC’s colors and mascots. Established in 1952, this trophy fittingly adds a touch of Irish flair to this heated matchup. Plus, who else has a shillelagh as a trophy?
5. The Illibuck (Ohio State vs Illinois)
More than just a trophy, the Illibuck is a testament to resilience. In 1925, student groups from Ohio State and Illinois dreamt up this wooden turtle to commemorate their anticipated rivalry. Originally, a live turtle was used, but it only lasted two years! Luckily, a wooden version took its place, keeping the tradition alive. The winner displays the Illibuck, adding the latest score to its shell, until the next year’s game.
4. The Bones (UAB vs Memphis)
Remember when we said unique trophies get extra points? None are beating The Bones for unique factor. This rivalry between UAB and Memphis got its trophy in 2006 – a massive, 100-pound bronze rack of ribs. The trophy honors the reputation of both Birmingham and Memphis as barbecue powerhouses. First played in 1997, the football series adds fuel to the fire of a rivalry that began on the basketball court in 1984.
3. The Floyd of Rosedale (Iowa vs Minnesota)
What do Gophers and Hawks have to do with Pigs? Nothing much, really, but that doesn’t stop the Floyd of Rosedale from being one of the best trophies in College Football. Since 1936, this 98-pound bronze pig has been awarded to the winner of the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers matchup. The tradition began as a lighthearted wager between governors in 1935, with a live hog from the losing state up for grabs. Thankfully, for all parties involved, the metallic pig has taken the hogs place ever since.
2. The Fremont Cannon (Nevada vs UNLV)
No trophy is as hefty and impressive as the literal cannon exchanged between Nevada and UNLV. The Fremont Cannon is awarded to the winner of the “Battle for Nevada” between these two in-state rivals. This 545-pound replica howitzer honors explorer John C. Fremont’s 19th-century expedition through Nevada. Donated in 1970, the cannon is one of the most expensive trophies in college football. And yes, it does work – though it was briefly silenced for a bit in 2000 after a celebratory drop by UNLV.
1. Paul Bunyan’s Axe (Wisconsin vs Minnesota)
History and uniqueness are two of the biggest factors we used when making this list. It’s tough to beat Paul Bunyan’s Axe on either count. This axe is awarded to the winner of Wisconsin vs. Minnesota, the most-played rivalry in College Football. This six-foot-tall trophy worthy of Paul Bunyan himself has been awarded since 1948. Replacing the mysteriously missing “Slab of Bacon” trophy, the axe’s handle keeps score, etching each game’s result into college football history. What better symbol of victory to swing over your head – just look behind you first!
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