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          American Athletic Conference Blog

          Potato State Trophy joins ranks of college football's unique awards

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          Dinich explains why any changes to CFP will occur after season (1:13)

          Heather Dinich reports on why there will not be any format changes to the College Football Playoff until after this upcoming season. (1:13)

          • ESPN staffJul 22, 2024, 10:20 PM

          There's always a lot on the line in college football's rivalry week.

          Whether it's playoff positions, bowl game implications or bragging rights, teams across college football have plenty to prove when they face off against their historic rivals.

          There's also noteworthy hardware at stake. These trophies may not be traditional, but their prestige and history shine way past conventional standards. The latest addition is the Potato State Trophy for the in-state battle between the Idaho Vandals and Idaho State Bengals, which features a wooden potato that weighs nearly 20 pounds.

          That kind of prize adds a new dimension to any rivalry. Here are some of the coolest from around the game.

          Read more: The ultimate guide to the wildest moments ever in Rivalry Week

          'Battle for the Bones': Memphis vs UAB

          Memphis, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama, are separated by 250 miles of highway, and the rivalry between the cities' respective colleges runs deep. The feud isn't exclusive to the gridiron, however -- both cities boast a rich barbecue culture, a fact the rivalry's trophy pays homage to. Its design features a rack of ribs mounted on a pedestal engraved with the game's yearly results.

          The Schnellenberger Trophy: Miami Hurricanes vs. Louisville Cardinals

          The boots worn by Howard Schnellenberger, who coached both teams, is the reward for the winner of the Miami vs. Louisville matchup.

          The 2023 season was the first in which the teams competed for the trophy, which pays tribute to the dress cowboy boots Schnellenberger would wear to match his coat and tie.

          Golden Egg: Ole Miss vs Mississippi State

          Can you imagine the Golden Egg being the Golden Goal Posts? That may have been the case if the proposal wasn't rejected.

          Instead, the student bodies of Ole Miss and Mississippi State agreed on the current trophy "in order to effect a better understanding in athletic relations, to foster clean sportsmanship, and to promote a lasting tradition."

          The first Battle of the Golden Egg took place on Thanksgiving in 1927.

          Paul Bunyan's Axe: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota

          This wooden figure made its debut in 1948 because of an interesting situation with its predecessor.

          The initial traveling trophy, known as the "Slab of Bacon," was shaped like an "M" or "W" depending on how it was viewed. Its whereabouts were unknown from 1943 until 1994, when a Wisconsin intern found it in a storage room.

          The original axe resides in the College Football Hall of Fame, and the current model has a 6-foot handle with the scores of each meeting between the longtime rivals since 1948.

          Platypus Trophy: Oregon State vs. Oregon

          The rivalry between Oregon and Oregon State dates all the way back to 1894 and may just have one of the most unique keepsakes of all.

          Beginning in 1959, the Platypus Trophy was created by then-University of Oregon art student Warren Spady. The design's duck-like bill and beaver-like tail reflect both teams' mascots.

          Legends Trophy: Notre Dame vs. Stanford

          The Legends Trophy was first presented in 1989 to Lou Holtz and Notre Dame. It's topped with a cup made of Irish crystals and a California redwood base as a tribute to the history of both institutions.