RIVALRY TROPHIES HAVE been part of school soccer lore for greater than 100 years. And we have reached the a part of the season (Week 14) when rivals go head-to-head for the chance to hoist a trophy excessive and safe bragging rights for the 12 months. Intense matchups resembling Stanford-Cal can tackle larger significance when historic trophies such because the Victory Bell, Territorial Cup and a 24-karat-plated 200-pound boot are at stake. These celebrated traditions will take heart stage as the faculty soccer common season enters its remaining week.
Let’s discover a number of the most iconic rivalry trophies all through school soccer historical past and when these video games are occurring.
STANFORD AXE
Stanford vs. California:
In 1899, 5 Stanford college students purchased the unique axe from a retailer in San Francisco. Stanford Yell leaders needed a bodily axe to accompany the “axe yell,” created three years earlier. The axe debuted on April 13, 1899, at a campus rally for the Stanford baseball crew, which was in the course of a sequence towards Cal. Two days later in San Francisco, the axe was stolen by Cal college students after the baseball sport. A chase unfolded and the axe deal with was reduce off in the course of the pursuit. The Cal college students efficiently escaped with the axe blade and stored it for 31 years. In 1930, a bunch generally known as the Immortal 21 pulled off an elaborate plan and recovered the axe and returned it again to Stanford. In 1933, each faculties agreed to play for the axe. The trophy options an axe head mounted on a big wood plaque that lists all of the outcomes from the earlier video games. When Stanford possesses the axe after a win, it modifies the rating from the notorious 1982 sport generally known as “The Play.” The rating on the trophy will get adjusted in Stanford’s favor to mirror a 20-19 win. At any time when Cal wins, it adjustments the rating again to the true final result 25-20. Cal and Stanford have gone on to play one another 128 instances since 1892, making it the sixth-longest energetic rivalry in FBS historical past.
First assembly: March 19, 1892, Stanford 14-10
First trophy assembly: Nov. 24, 1933, Stanford 7-3
All-time document: Stanford leads 66-51-11
File since trophy: Stanford leads 49-38-3
VICTORY BELL
USC vs. UCLA:
The Victory Bell has a storied previous full of vandalism and an elaborate heist. In 1939, the UCLA Alumni Affiliation gifted the Bruins a 295-pound Bell that was initially mounted atop a Southern Pacific freight locomotive. UCLA rang the Bell after each level the Bruins scored throughout soccer video games. The Victory Bell was stolen by six USC fraternity members after the Bruins’ 1941 season-opening victory over Washington State. Disguised as UCLA supporters, the frat members loaded the Bell into the mattress of a truck postgame. The USC college students efficiently drove off with their booty. Search efforts continued for greater than a 12 months however went unsuccessful. The feud was reignited when a USC journal printed a photograph of the Bell, which led to a sequence of retaliations and pranks between the crosstown rivals. College banners have been stolen, Tommy Trojan was vandalized, and USC college students branded their college letters throughout lawns at UCLA. College officers threatened to cancel the sport if issues continued to escalate. In the end, each pupil physique presidents agreed to make the Victory Bell the prize for the rivalry. The winner retains possession of the Bell till the next 12 months. An settlement was signed in entrance of the Tommy Trojan statue on November 12, 1942. The USC Alumni Affiliation additionally agreed to pay $150 to assist cowl their share of the Bell. UCLA captured the Victory Bell that 12 months with a 14-7 win over USC.
First assembly: Sept. 28,1929, USC 76-0
First trophy assembly: Dec. 12, 1942, UCLA 14-7
All-time document: USC leads 51-34-7
File since trophy: USC leads 46-34-4
The Bruins meet the Trojans on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET
PAUL BUNYAN TROPHY
Michigan vs. Michigan State:
Michigan Gov. G. Mennen Williams commissioned a rivalry trophy for the annual Michigan-Michigan State sport in 1953. A Chicago-based artist crafted the 4-foot-tall Paul Bunyan determine, which stands atop a 5-foot wood base with a $1,400 price ticket, or $17,000 in 2025. The completed trophy featured a wood lumberjack looming over an axe, his ft planted on a map of the state of Michigan. Two flags representing every college flank Bunyan. It is named the Paul Bunyan — Governor of Michigan Trophy. Michigan State earned the inaugural honor in 1953 after defeating Michigan 14-6 of their first matchup as Large Ten opponents. Though the trophy held little status within the early years, issues regularly modified. In 1999, the trophy drew reward from former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, calling it “the ugliest trophy in school soccer,” however added, “when you do not have him you miss him.” In 2008, Michigan State snapped a six-game shedding streak to Michigan. Following the win, Spartan gamers picked up the trophy from its base and hoisted it across the subject in celebration. Beforehand, the trophy was introduced within the locker room. As we speak, the successful groups proceed to embrace this custom.
First assembly: Oct. 12, 1898, Michigan 39-0
First trophy assembly: Nov. 14,1953, Michigan State 14-6
All-time document: Michigan leads 75-38-5
File since trophy: Michigan leads 42-29-2
TERRITORIAL CUP
Arizona vs. Arizona State:
Arizona and Arizona State first met in entrance of followers on Thanksgiving Day in 1899. Each faculties have been part of the Arizona Territorial Soccer League. Arizona State, then generally known as the Arizona Territorial Regular College, claimed the unique Territorial Cup after going undefeated and successful the league championship in January 1900. After its debut, the Cup went lacking for 83 years, solely to be discovered within the basement of the First Congressional Church in Tempe. The trophy was returned to Arizona State. A couple of years later, Arizona alums noticed the cup on show at Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport in Phoenix. The cup was a part of a Tremendous Bowl XXX (1996) exhibit that showcased the historical past of soccer in Arizona. Makes an attempt have been made by Arizona to create a reproduction to show at its campus. In 2001, each college presidents signed an settlement designating the Territorial Cup because the touring trophy for the rivalry. That very same 12 months, the NCAA authenticated the trophy because the oldest rivalry trophy in school soccer. The present Territorial Cup is a reproduction made from bronze with a silver overlay. The unique cup weighs about 5 kilos and was manufactured by Reed & Barton with the inscription: “Arizona Foot League Championship 1899 Regular.” It was priced at $20 in 1910 which is now equal to roughly $680 in 2025.
First assembly: Nov. 30, 1899, Arizona State 11-2
First trophy assembly: Nov. 23, 2001, Arizona 34-21
All-time document: Arizona leads 51-46-1
File since trophy: Arizona State leads 15-9
The Wildcats meet the Solar Devils on Friday at 9 p.m. ET
THE IRON SKILLET
TCU vs. SMU:
A skillet trophy was first proposed by the SMU pupil council in 1946. The concept behind the trophy was to redirect the SMU-TCU rivalry in a optimistic path. Each college campuses, positioned simply 40 miles aside, had skilled important vandalism pushed by the rivalry. In line with the Dallas Morning Information, these incidents in 1945 brought on greater than $1,000 in damages, roughly equal to $18,000 in 2025. The Mustangs gained the inaugural Iron Skillet sport 30-13. The unique skillet, made from aluminum, was introduced to SMU at a joint banquet attended by each pupil councils in Dallas. Within the week main as much as the 1953 sport, the skillet was stolen from TCU’s trophy case, solely to be returned with a observe implicating SMU college students because the culprits. The custom lasted for a number of years however finally pale within the late Nineteen Fifties. The trophy’s whereabouts grew to become unknown. In 1993, each pupil our bodies agreed to revive it. A brand new skillet was launched again into the rivalry. SMU gained the second coming of the skillet 21-15. After years of wear and tear and tear, a broken Skillet was quietly changed by TCU earlier than the 2018 Iron Skillet sport. The rivalry continued till 2023, when TCU introduced it could pause the sequence after the 2025 season. Within the remaining Iron Skillet sport, the Horned Frogs have been victorious 35-24. When requested about the way forward for the skillet, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes replied, “Our gamers have it proper now, they usually’re enthusiastic about it. We took an image, now we’ll in all probability prepare dinner one thing in it.”
First assembly: Oct. 18, 1915, TCU 43-0
First trophy assembly: Nov. 30, 1946, SMU 30-13
All-time document: TCU leads 54-43-7
File since trophy: TCU leads 42-31-3
JEWELED SHILLELAGH
Notre Dame vs. USC:
Notre Dame and USC started taking part in for the coveted Jeweled Shillelagh in 1952. In line with each universities, a Shillelagh is a Gaelic conflict membership made from oak or blackthorn saplings from Eire. Throughout halftime of the 1952 sport, the Notre Dame Alumni Membership of Los Angeles unveiled the Shillelagh to the athletic administrators of each faculties. Notre Dame upset USC 9-0. There are two variations of it: Shillelagh I and Shillelagh II. The unique options medallions exhibiting sequence outcomes courting to the start of the rivalry in 1926. USC and Notre Dame at the moment play for Shillelagh II, a handcrafted Irish shillelagh crafted in County Leitrim — a county in Eire — in 1997 and inscribed with the phrase “From the Emerald Isle.” After every matchup, a brand new medallion is added to the trophy. An emerald-studded shamrock represents a Notre Dame victory and a Trojan head with a ruby represents each USC win. If the result’s a tie, then a half shamrock, half Trojan head is used as a substitute. The bronze medallions are made by Photos Jewelers in Elkhart, Indiana, utilizing a 3D printer. All of the gems on the medallions are lab-grown.
First assembly: Dec. 4, 1926, Notre Dame 13-12
First trophy assembly: Nov. 29, 1952, Notre Dame 9-0
All-time document: Notre Dame leads 53-37-5
File since trophy: Notre Dame leads 39-31-2
THE GOLDEN BOOT
LSU vs. Arkansas:
The Golden Boot trophy stands 4-feet and contains a design that outlines the borders of Louisiana and Arkansas within the form of a boot. Molded from pure gold, the trophy weighs almost 200 kilos and is acknowledged as one of many heaviest trophies in school soccer. The Golden Boot, valued at $10,000, was designed by former Arkansas linebacker David Bazzel. The previous defensive star had beforehand labored with a famous sculptor to assist create the Broyles Award, the annual trophy given to one of the best assistant coach in school soccer. Frank Broyles, the athletic director at Arkansas in the course of the time, was impressed by Bazzel’s work. Fascinated by Arkansas’s rivalry with LSU, Bazzel finally approached Broyles with a trophy concept for the rivalry. He envisioned the trophy as massive however later thought-about utilizing a Bowie knife as the ultimate design. LSU and Arkansas every contributed $5,000 to fund the trophy. Ultimately, he took his design to a jewellery store in Little Rock, Arkansas. His proposed idea was handed on to an organization in Boston. The trophy made its debut on Nov. 29, 1996. LSU took residence the primary Golden Boot with a 17-7 win. In 2015, Bazzel designed the Battle Line Rivalry trophy for the Arkansas-Missouri sport.
First assembly: Nov. 22, 1901, LSU 15-0
Yr created: Nov. 29, 1996, LSU 17-7
All-time document: LSU leads 46-23-2
File since trophy: LSU leads 21-9
OLD BRASS SPITTOON
Indiana vs. Michigan State:
The Outdated Brass Spittoon was launched in 1950. Getting into Week 7 of that season, Michigan State had a 5-1 document and was making ready for Indiana. Following a 36-33 victory over Notre Dame the earlier week, the Spartan fan base needed to keep away from a letdown towards the Hoosiers. A rivalry trophy was recommended so as to add further motivation. MSU junior class president Gene McDermott bought a spittoon for $25 from an vintage store in East Lansing, utilizing cash from a category promenade fund. A observe discovered contained in the spittoon claims it to be from a buying and selling submit within the 1800s. Indiana accepted Michigan State’s proposal by telegram and initiated the faculty soccer custom. The engraving on the spittoon reads: “The Outdated Brass Spittoon Inaugurated by the scholars of Michigan State Faculty and Indiana College November 4, 1950.”
First assembly: Oct. 28,1922, Indiana 14-6
First trophy assembly: Nov. 4, 1950, Michigan State 35-0
All-time document: Michigan State leads 50-20-2
File since trophy: Michigan State leads 50-17-1
THE GOLDEN EGG
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State:
The historic rivalry between Ole Miss and Mississippi State goes again to 1901 however the Golden Egg trophy was not awarded till Thanksgiving Day in 1927. After Ole Miss snapped a 13-game shedding streak to Mississippi State within the 1926 sport, a number of of their followers rushed the sphere and tried to tug down the goalposts. This led to quite a few fights between the fan bases on the sphere in Starkville. Mississippi State followers tried to defend the goalposts from Ole Miss followers by utilizing chairs as weapons. The postgame scene was described as a “chair brigade” by The Mississippian. Following these occasions, members of Sigma Iota, an honorary society from Ole Miss recommended the trophy to assist calm issues across the sport. Simply two weeks earlier than the 1927 sport, each faculties agreed to play for the Golden Egg. The regulation-sized gold-plated soccer value $250 and was break up between the faculties. The sport was generally known as the Battle for the Golden Egg till 1978 after Tom Patterson of The Clarion-Ledger referred to it because the Egg Bowl.
First assembly: Oct. 28, 1901, Mississippi State 17-0
First trophy assembly: Nov. 24, 1927, Ole Miss 20-12
All-time document: Ole Miss leads 66-47-6
File since trophy: Ole Miss leads 60-30-5
The Rebels go to the Bulldogs on Friday at midday ET on ABC and the ESPN App.
THE GOLDEN HAT
Texas vs. Oklahoma:
Texas and Oklahoma performed for the primary time in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 10, 1900. Almost three a long time after their first assembly, the 2 faculties started taking part in yearly at Honest Park in Dallas in the course of the State Honest of Texas. No trophy was related to the annual matchup till 1941, when the State Honest Affiliation donated a 10-gallon bronze cowboy hat to function the official trophy for the rivalry. Days earlier than the trophy was unveiled, the hat was rushed to New York by aircraft for a remaining bronze coating. The trophy, initially known as the Bronze Hat, was displayed atop a wood base. It was first awarded to Texas in 1941 following its 40-7 win over Oklahoma. Stories over time recommended that the bronze hat acquired “ugly with age.” In an effort to enhance its situation, the bronze hat was despatched for restoration and later emerged as a gold hat. One reporter joked that the jeweler in control of restoring the hat had painted it the improper colour. The completed product prompted the identify change to the Golden Hat. After a win, the victorious gamers usually take turns placing on the symbolic hat whereas parading across the subject. Former Oklahoma quarterback Jason White as soon as recalled sporting the Golden Hat after a win, noting: “It is a small hat, and laborious as a rock.”
First assembly: Oct. 10, 1900, Texas 28-2
First trophy assembly: Oct. 11, 1941, Texas 40-7
All-time document: Texas leads 65-51-5
File since trophy: Texas leads 43-40-2
THE BAYOU CLASSIC TROPHY
Grambling State vs. Southern College:
Grambling and Southern College first performed in 1932, however the two HBCU soccer applications first met within the Bayou Traditional on Nov. 23, 1974, in New Orleans. Grambling sports activities info director Collie J. Nicholson was instrumental in relocating the rivalry sport to New Orleans. The competition was first performed at Tulane Stadium however moved to the newly constructed Superdome after building wrapped the next 12 months. For greater than 25 years, the successful crew was awarded the Waterford Crystal trophy. After the 2014 Bayou Traditional, the touring trophy was retired. In 2015, the trophy was donated to the Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition in Washington, D.C. The Bayou Traditional Trophy, designed by Ryan Rivas, was launched simply 4 days earlier than the 2015 sport throughout an awards ceremony on the Superdome. Grambling State secured a 34-23 comeback win within the first assembly for the trophy. The design contains a silver-plated soccer that sits on prime of a geometrical platform. A Bayou Traditional medallion highlights the black wood base.
First assembly: Nov 11,1932, Southern 20-0
First trophy assembly: Nov. 28, 2015, Grambling State 34-23
All-time document: Southern leads 42-34
File since trophy: Southern leads 6-4
The Jaguars play the Tigers on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET
Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy
Military vs. Navy vs. Air Pressure:
The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is a three-way rivalry trophy between the Military, Navy and Air Pressure. The three service academies have contested the trophy yearly in a round-robin format since 1972. Gen. George B. Simler, who had beforehand served because the athletic director for the Air Pressure Academy, introduced the concept to the USAFA Affiliation of Graduates in 1972. The venture was proposed to the Navy and Military alumni associations. In the end, all three alumni associations accepted the venture and labored collectively to fund the trophy. The three-sided trophy is 2½ ft tall and weighs 170 kilos. Three silver footballs are positioned on prime of the trophy and align with the three army crests. Every academy has its personal arc-shaped part on the trophy, that includes a silver figurine modeled after its mascot. The Military Mule, Navy Goat and Air Pressure Falcon stand on the heart of their respective sides of the trophy. From 1989 to 1993, the winner of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy would obtain an computerized bid to the Liberty Bowl. The trophy is called after the president of the US, who serves because the nation’s Commander-in-Chief. President Richard Nixon was the primary president to current the trophy, awarding it to the Military Black Knights. The trophy winner receives an invite to the White Home within the spring. If there’s a three-way tie, then the reigning champion retains the trophy for an additional 12 months however doesn’t get to go to the White Home.
Yr trophy created: 1972, Military gained
All-time information:
Air Pressure (66-41), 21 trophy wins. (Final win in 2022)
Navy (55-51-1), 17 trophy wins. (Final win in 2024)
Military (38-67-1), 10 trophy wins. (Final win in 2023)
5 three-way ties (final tie in 2021)