Paul Bunyan? Little Brown Jug? Your Big Ten Trophy Power Rankings

College football connects past and present like no other sport. Schools enjoy spirited rivalries that date back to the 19th century and many are lucky enough to trade personalized hardware. Rivalry trophies represent folklore, tradition, or in some cases meticulous marketing. With fifteen trophies available in the Big Ten and the Ohio State Buckeyes on a bye, I figured now would be an ideal time to chronicle the conference’s awards in order of excellence.

While arbitrary, these rankings take into account history, backstory, and aesthetics. Do enjoy.

15. Heroes Trophy: Nebraska leads Iowa 29-13-3 overall; leads trophy series 3-1

When Nebraska joined the Big Ten multiple new trophies emerged from the ether. The most unimaginative one is the Heroes Trophy. Awarded annually to the winner of the Iowa-Nebraska game, the trophy lacks any discernible personality or cache. While it is sizable, its lack of history and generic appearance does not compare to the conference’s more eccentric awards.

14. Land Grant Trophy: Michigan State and Penn State are tied 14-14-1; Penn State leads the trophy series 13-6.

Penn State and Michigan State began a trophy game when the former joined the Big Ten in 1993. While both teams have enjoyed periods of success in the rivalry, the object they play for lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. The trophy displays pictures of academic buildings from both MSU and PSU at the bottom with small momentos from the school on the raised shelves. The capper, a small bronzed football player, resembles the trophy topper a peewee league player would receive.

13. $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy: Minnesota leads Nebraska 31-22-2; Trophy Series tied 1-1

Consider this the anti-trophy. When Nebraska joined the Big Ten a series of new trophies appeared with little justification more than “trophies are cool.” In a playful Twitter exchange between @GoldytheGopher and @FauxPelini the two arranged a bet that if Nebraska wins then “Pelini” would receive five dollars and if Minnesota won then he would break a chair over Goldy’s back. The joke quickly gained traction online and a crowdsourced trophy came into existence. While relatively new, the award feels both quirky and organic.

12. Freedom Trophy: Wisconsin leads Nebraska 6-4; leads trophy series 2-0

Whenever marketers cannot choose a word to title something, they go with “Freedom.” Because if you come down against the name, then you must be against freedom. Are you against freedom, you commie? That’s what I thought. The trophy debuted before the Badgers-Cornhuskers’ 2014 matchup and Wisconsin claimed the first two games. Design-wise, the trophy is certainly unique to the schools. Replicas of Camp Randall Stadium and Memorial Stadium sit stacked with an American flag protruding from the top. While patriotic, the massive wood filing cabinet it sits upon undercuts its cool factor.

11. Land of Lincoln Trophy: Illinois leads Northwestern 55-48-5; trophy series tied 3-3.

Between 1945 and 2008 Illinois and Northwestern annually battled for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk. However, in 2008 the NCAA passed a rule prohibiting abusive and hostile Native American imagery which led to the end of the Tomahawk. The following year the clubs debuted the Land of Lincoln trophy, a bronzed stovepipe hat modeled after Illinois’ favorite son, Abraham Lincoln. The trophy is very Illinois-specific — it would not make sense with any other teams, and the throwback hat has a 19th century charm.

10. Purdue Cannon: Illinois leads Purdue 43-41-6; Purdue leads trophy series 33-28-2

The trophy’s origins begin with that most classic college prank — theft. In 1905 Purdue students brought the cannon with them to Champaign with intent to fire it after a Boilermaker victory. While the Boilers did win 29-0, Illini students found and confiscated the weapon before the guests could celebrate. The cannon then resided on Quincy A. Hall’s farm for several decades. In 1943 the cannon became a trophy for the clubs’ football series. While the backstory sizzles, the cannon itself lacks the corresponding importance and heft of its legend.

9. Heartland Trophy: Wisconsin leads Iowa 44-43-2; trophy series tied 5-5

While Wisconsin and Iowa trace their rivalry back to 1894, the Heartland Trophy is a recent addition to the contest. Introduced in 2004, a bronze bull rests on a wooden stand listing the winners of each year’s game. A muscular and aggressive animal, the bull represents the states’ long traditions of beef and dairy farming. If you have ever driven through Wisconsin or Iowa then you no doubt saw a few cows, bulls, or other livestock along the road. The bronzed bull is a strong addition to the rivalry.

8. Paul Bunyan Trophy: Michigan leads Michigan State 68-35-5; leads trophy series 35-26-2

In 1953, Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams introduced a four-foot tall statue of mythic lumberjack (and alleged Michigander) Paul Bunyan. The trophy was meant to help welcome MSU to the Big Ten. The only problem was Michigan didn’t want it. When the Wolverines defeated Sparty in 1954 the team left the trophy on the field for a half hour after the game, and eventually placed it in an equipment closet in the Big House. Michigan State reclaimed the award and updated the neglected years’ scores on it. Michigan State played the role of “little brother who really wanted to keep playing” to Michigan’s “too cool for school older brother.” The trophy gained traction in recent years, and victorious players have taken to adorning Mr. Bunyan with the team helmet in an on-field celebration.

7. Governor’s Victory Bell: Penn State leads Minnesota 8-5

The Governor’s Victory Bell trophy commemorated Penn State’s arrival to the Big Ten. Their first conference game came against Minnesota so the clubs enacted a trophy to play for. The hardware features a large bell hanging from a wooden arch. The plaques on the base display the dates and scores of the previous matchups. Both teams covet the bell, which at one point required at least a little glue.

6. Little Brown Jug: Michigan leads Minnesota 73-25-3; leads trophy series 69-23-2

In 1903, Michigan traveled to Minnesota riding a 28-game winning streak. Wolverines head coach Fielding H. Yost believed the Gopher student body would contaminate his water supply, because early 20th century football was pretty much the Old West. Yost ordered a student manager to purchase him a five gallon jug in town. Minnesota engineered a remarkable defensive effort and scored a late touchdown to tie the game at six with just over two minutes to go. Delirious Gopher fans stormed the field, and everyone pretty much figured, “fifty eight minutes is practically sixty” so the game ended in a tie. Minnesota came to possess the jug when Yost fled the field among the madness. Minnesota athletic director ordered the jug be painted half in Gopher colors and in 1909 it became a traveling trophy. The jug is not especially large, but it tells a long story of football rivals.

5. Old Brass Spittoon: Michigan State leads Indiana 45-12-2; leads trophy series 45-9-1

College football trophies can raise up the most mundane object into a covetous possession. So when Michigan State joined the Big Ten in 1950, founding member Indiana decided to welcome them with a trophy rivalry. At the time, the Hoosiers were 3-0-1 against the Spartans. MSU quickly turned the tables winning eight straight games against IU and thirteen of fourteen. The trophy is not much to look at, but matters deeply to both Hoosiers and Spartans alike.

4. Floyd of Rosedale: Minnesota leads Iowa 62-44-2; leads trophy series 42-36-2

Floyd of Rosedale arrived during a cloud of controversy. In 1935 the 5-0 Gophers and 4-0-1 Hawkeyes clashed in Iowa City. The previous year Iowa accused Minnesota of piling on late hits against their star running back Ozzie Simmons. To help stoke the fires in ’35, Iowa Governor Clyde L. Herring told reporters, “If the officials stand for any rough tactics like Minnesota used last year, I’m sure the crowd won’t.” He tacitly implied that mob justice would rule if the referees underperformed. To ease tensions, Minnesota governor Floyd Olson arranged a game-day bet. Each governor would wager a prize hog on the outcome of the game. Herring accepted. The crowd showed no malice as the visiting Golden Gophers triumphed 13-6. Iowa’s governor selected the porcine prize from Rosedale Farms which he named “Floyd.” The current Floyd of Rosedale trophy is modeled after the original pig and currently resides in Minneapolis. The bronze porker reflects the Midwest brilliantly and remains a beloved trophy on both campuses.

3. Illibuck Trophy: Ohio State leads Illinois 66-30-4; leads trophy series 62-23-2

The Illibuck Trophy holds the distinction of originally involving a live animal. In 1925 the school’s honorary societies – Ohio State’s Bucket and Dipper and Illinois’ Atius-Sachem — decided to begin the chelonian rivalry by exchanging a turtle. They chose the turtle because its traditional long life would reflect the expected long life of the rivalry. The animal died two years later. Moving forward, the clubs substituted a replica wooden tortoise which is notoriously difficult to kill. The scores of the games are carved into its shell. The turtle possesses originality and multiple iterations; the upcoming game currently concerns the tenth Illibuck Trophy. The Buckeyes and Illini will battle for the Illibuck on November 14th.

2. Old Oaken Bucket: Purdue leads Indiana 72-39-6; leads trophy series 58-29-6

While the all-Indiana battle dates back to 1891, the clubs did not begin trading hardware until 1925. The schools’ presidents decided an old oaken bucket as “the most typical Hoosier form of trophy.” Nothing typifies farm life like venerating a bucket. Furthermore, whichever team wins that year’s matchup gets to add an “I” or “P” link to the chain that surrounds the bucket. The clubs tied 0-0 in the first trophy year resulting in the distinctive “I-P” handle. The chain provides an extra element to the bucket’s mystique. Since every year the winning team adds a link, the OOB holds the distinction of growing larger every season.

1. Paul Bunyan’s Axe: Minnesota leads Wisconsin 59-57-8; Wisconsin leads trophy series 40-24-3

Paul Bunyan makes his second appearance on this list. The Axe replaced the original Minnesota-Wisconsin trophy the “Slab of Bacon.” From 1930-43 the clubs traded a wooden paddle with the word “bacon” written on both ends. Because if you win that means you “brought home the bacon.” Puns are great. In 1943 a field rushing in Minnesota led to both schools losing the bacon. In 1948 the clubs introduced Paul Bunyan’s Axe as the new replacement trophy. At six feet long, the trophy resembles the type of implement the mythical lumberjack would have wielded. Plus, there are few things more intimidating than a hulking linebacker carrying a comedically oversized axe and pretending to chop down a goal post (except that one time the two teams almost came to blows post game because of the upright chopping tradition which was less funny and more tense).The score of each contest is written upon the axe’s handle.

Any Big Ten alum in a trophy rivalry would likely categorize theirs as the best in the conference, and that is part of the beauty of these games. A Penn State fan would not care much about Floyd of Rosedale and a Hawkeye does not worry about who has Paul Bunyan (or his axe). However, the deeply personal stories behind the prizes help build the lore of each team and provide an extra charge any time it is on the line. College football delights a nation every fall because even something as simple as a jug or spittoon can be as cherished as a family heirloom. For a lot of these schools, they are one and the same.