College football best rivalry trophies (Top 5)

With some resemblance of a rivalry week coming up this weekend, I decided to take a look at all of the rivalry trophies in College Football (FBS only). I wanted to write this article last year but I just kept putting off doing it and then once rivalry week was over I felt like it was a little late. Covid has ruined a lot this year, and the Wisconsin-Minnesota game couldn’t escape the clutches of Coronavirus. I’m also not sure if there’s an actual rivalry week this year, because the Iron Bowl is being played Saturday but “The Game” isn’t being played until December 12th, so it’s more of a “rivalry month”. The trophy celebrations also may have to be toned down a bit this year to try and follow health guidelines, but the games should still be exciting either way. While not all of the trophies I’m putting in the top 5 will be won this weekend, I’m putting the 5 that I think are the best based on my criteria. Those criteria are:

1. How recent/often the teams play; if they haven’t played in the last 5 years, they probably aren’t included on this list

2. How cool the trophy is; cool could mean unique, historic, or just a badass trophy, it’s my list I’ll do what I want

3. How meaningful the game typically is; this may be meaningful for conference standings, national rankings, etc.

4. How old the trophy is; sorry Nebraska, nobody likes your 7 year old trophies they forced us to all partake in in the Big Ten

If there is a cool backstory on how the trophy got started that may (probably) earn bonus points.

Every team on this list may not check all the boxes either. For example, the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy (between Army, Navy, and Air Force) isn’t going to determine who’s in the College Football Playoff anytime soon, but the teams play every year and it’s a badass trophy with badass teams. USA. I’m already regretting putting my criteria for what makes a good trophy because I know I’m going to have a trophy or three on here that don’t check most boxes particularly well, but either way, let’s get into it.

1. Paul Bunyan’s Axe: Wisconsin vs Minnesota

Yes I am a Wisconsin fan. Again, it’s my list, I’ll do what I want. This is (was) the most consecutively played rivalry in FBS History, dating back to 1890 and played every year for the last 113 years. This years game looked huge up until right before March, then we all know what happened and I wasn’t sure if we’d get any football at all, and then when we did get football, the Gophers sucked to start the year. As you probably know if you’re reading this, the game will not be played this weekend due to Covid cases at Minnesota. No matter, this is still an awesome trophy. A giant axe, the winning team “chopping down” the goal post, the near brawls when the team runs through their opponents sideline to grab the axe after the game, what’s not to like?

2. Commander-In-Chief Trophy: Air Force vs. Army vs. Navy

This trophy, like I said earlier, doesn’t typically have many national ranking/playoff implications. With that being said, I still think it’s one of the best trophies in the Nation. Every year all three D1 service academies play each other, with the winner of this round-Robin style tournament taking the trophy home (I found out if there’s a tie, the two winners split the title of champion but it stays with the previous winner at their facility). The trophy itself is pretty damn cool too. Each year the winner gets their mascot and the years they’ve won put on the trophy. To top it all off, the trophy is usually decided by who wins the Army-Navy game.

3. Golden Hat: Oklahoma vs. Texas

This trophy makes the list mostly because of the game itself more so than the trophy, although a giant golden cowboy hat ain’t bad. This is always one of my favorite rivalry games to watch because there’s a lot of points, usually some sort of playoff implications, and an awesome atmosphere. Another thing that makes this trophy/rivalry game pretty sweet is that there’s more than just the golden hat on the line. The winning school’s student body gets a trophy, the governors of Oklahoma and Texas get a trophy, and even the ROTC programs compete against each other every year for a trophy.

4. Okenfenokee Oar: Florida vs. Georgia

The trophy itself in this game isn’t that old, but the rivalry is. I say the trophy isn’t that old, but in reality, 11 years ago a 12 foot oar was carved out of a 1,000 year old cypress tree and turned into the trophy for the game that’s also known as “the largest cocktail party on earth”. More often than not this game has a lot to do with who wins the SEC East (and who loses to Bama in the SEC championship game [except this year, go Gators]). Between a giant 1000 year old oar, one of the biggest games of the year in the SEC, and an electric neutral-site atmosphere, this trophy belongs in the top 5.

5. Floyd of Rosedale: Iowa vs. Minnesota

As much as it pains me to put anything related to Minnesota in a top 5, they play for some damn good trophies. This 98-pound brass hog started as a live trophy, as Floyd was wagered between the two states on the game in 1935. After Floyd passed on, the bronze trophy was created. This game may not mean a lot in the national landscape, but a Big Ten trophy with a bronze hog on top is enough for me to say it’s top 5.

Honorable Mentions

• The platypus: Oregon vs. Oregon State

• Fremont cannon: UNLV vs. Nevada

• The Old Brass Spittoon: Michigan State vs. Indiana

• The Golden Egg: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State