Rivalry games are the pinnacle of every college football team's season. Every school has that one rivalry that means more than the entirety of the season combined, and every student, sports fan or not, puts on their best school spirit for the occasion. Whether it is based on a friendly competition, or a historical hatred, a rivalry is a rivalry, and it's something that can unite thousands of students, athletes and faculty behind a common goal: winning.
Along with the pride of winning, many NCAA football rivalry games also come with a special trophy for the winning team to bring home as a symbol of their triumph. Some of these trophies are nothing that seems out of the ordinary, whereas others are crazy pieces of art that have a storied history. In this article we break down the best of the best and craziest when it comes to rivalry trophies. Rating criteria includes; historical significance, uniqueness and overall visual appeal.
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22. Ole Miss vs Mississippi State – The Golden Egg
Beginning in 1927, the Egg Bowl is a long-standing Southern rivalry. The egg that tops the trophy was originally made to resemble a football, but in the 1920's footballs were much rounder than modern day ones, leading to the egg-like shape we see today.
21. Purdue vs Indiana – The Old Oaken Bucket
The Old Oaken Bucket originated as part of an old tradition in the state of Indiana, and developed into the rivalry trophy we know today as of 1925. It is adorned with the logo of the winning team each year.
20. Fresno State vs Boise State – The Milk Can
One of the more recent rivalries on this list is a brawl of Western states. The rivalry began with Boise State's transfer to the WAC, and the milk can was first presented in 2006. This piece of hardware is said to originate from a feud between dairymen in the two regions that subsequently carried onto the football field.
19. Colorado State vs Wyoming – The Bronze Boot
The Bronze Boot is presented to the winner of the “Border War” as the game is known, which began in 1899. The boot itself is actually a combat boot worn in the Vietnam war by Army Veteran, Daniel Romero, who was also an ROTC instructor at Colorado State. Captain Romero unfortunately passed away in 2020 at the age of 82, but his school's rivalry lives on.
18. Kent State vs Akron – The Wagon Wheel
These two rivals located just 10 miles apart played their first game in 1923. The Wagon Wheel trophy came to be in 1946, and is said to be a wheel of a wagon owned by Akron founder John Butchel from the late 1800's.
17. Northern Illinois vs Ball State – The Bronze Stalk
The Bronze Stalk began with the first meeting of these teams in 1941 and has continued ever since. The Bronze Stalk serves as a state symbol for both of these programs, being that corn is a common crop in the states of Indiana and Illinois.
16. Wisconsin vs Minnesota – Paul Bunyan's Axe
This midwestern rivalry holds the title of being the most played rivalry game in all of NCAA DI football. These teams have met every year since 1890 (with the exception of 1906), and the Axe marks the second trophy presented in this historic rivalry. The first trophy (“The Slab of Bacon”) was lost in 1943, and the Axe was introduced shortly after.
15. SMU vs TCU – The Iron Skillet
This in-state rivalry has been played every year since 1915. The skillet is said to have originated when a TCU fan spotted an SMU fan cooking with an iron skillet prior to a game in 1946, and he suggested that the skillet should be presented to the winner.
14. Michigan vs Minnesota – The Little Brown Jug
Dating back to 1903 The Little Brown Jug originated from Michigan head coach Fielding Yost, fearing that rival Minnesota's water would not be clean, so he brought his own water jug for the team. After their win, the Minnesota head coach inscribed the results of the game on the side of the jug, thus beginning the tradition of The Little Brown Jug.
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13. Tulane vs LSU – The Rag
While this rivalry is no longer kept up, playing 98 games between 1893 and 2009 put a lot of miles on The Rag. This trophy may not be as flashy or unique as others, but being one of very few victory flags, it holds a notable place on this list.
12. Houston vs Rice – The Bayou Bucke
The Bayou Bucket has been awarded each year since 1974. Overseen by the Touchdown Club of Houston, the trophy took inspiration from the Old Oaken Bucket, which is handed out in the Purdue vs. Indiana matchup. Regarded by many as one of the ugliest trophies in sports, what it lacks in beauty it makes up for in value–as with all rivalry trophies, no matter what you are hoisting at the end of a rivalry game, having the right to hoist it is priceless.
11. Iowa vs Minnesota – Floyd of Rosedale
Prior to this rivalry matchup in 1935, the governor of Minnesota proposed a bet to the governor of Iowa on the winner of the game: a prize hog. While no longer playing for a real pig, these teams battle it out for the bronze swine each year.
10. Florida vs Georgia – The Okefenokee Oar
Carved from a tree on the Okefenokee river – which borders both states – these Southern rivals compete to be the holder of the oar during each of their meetings, which are known as “The War for the Oar.”
9. Texas vs Texas Tech – Chancellor's Spurs
The spurs were first given out in 1996 (the first year that both universities had a school chancellor), but the matchup began way back in 1928. The spurs themselves are gold and silver, and they are adorned with the logo of both schools.
8. Notre Dame vs USC – Jeweled Shillelagh
The shillelagh (an Irish club), was the prize for the first matchup of this rivalry in 1926. Ever since, the winning team adds a jewel to the trophy each year: a ruby for USC or an emerald for Notre Dame.
7. Michigan vs Michigan State – The Paul Bunyan Trophy
This long standing, in-state matchup has been taking place since 1898. The trophy was first presented to MSU by the Michigan governor upon their joining of the Big 10 conference. The statue itself stands at a staggering 4 feet tall.
6. St. Olaf vs Concordia (Moorhead) – The Troll
The Troll has been awarded to the victor of this small school showdown since 1974, and is widely accepted as the undisputed ugliest trophy in college football. Being made primarily of moss and pinecones, its look speaks for itself.
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5. Nevada vs UNLV – The Fremont Cannon
The game known as “The Battle for Nevada” began in 1969, and the next year the cannon was introduced as the prize for the winner. After a failed plot to steal the cannon by UNLV in 1966, the exchange of the cannon became a tradition that coincided with the rivalry game.
4. Cincinnati vs Louisville – The Keg of Nails
Over 4 different conferences and almost 100 years the keg has been presented to the winner of this rival game since 1929. As a replica of a traditional nail keg, it is said to display that the winning players are “tough as nails.”
3. Maryland vs Navy – The Crab Bowl Trophy
Beginning in 1905, the Crab Bowl game is a clash between two Maryland institutions separated by less than 50 miles. Representing the Chesapeake Bay blue crab, the trophy is fitting for this coastal state rivalry.
2. Oregon State vs Oregon – The Platypus
With the first game in 1894, this in-state matchup is one of the most heated rivalries in college football. The trophy came around in 1959 and is said to be a combination of the beaver and the duck–the mascots of both rival teams.
1. Ohio State vs Illinois – “Illibuck”
With a matchup dating back to 1903, Illibuck the turtle came around in 1925. Originally the trophy was indeed a live turtle, but when the original Illibuck passed away he was replaced by a wooden double. The turtle is said to symbolize the longevity of the rivalry.
Whether it be a simple rusty bucket, a state symbol or a live animal, rivalry trophies have value that no other trophy can surpass. The pride and triumph of defeating your rival is only augmented by getting to hoist whatever trophy had become the tradition of the matchup – regardless of how strange or unpleasant to the eye it may be. Folks around the world can all agree that being able to unite behind beating a rival is one of the best feelings for both players and fans.
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* Originally published on September 2, 2022, by Tyler Traskos
