The Big Ten is not alone in its habit of playing for odd trophies. Here’s a national look at this weekend’s rivalries:
Washington (6-3) at No. 3 Washington St. (9-1)
The Apple Cup
Series record: Washington leads 61-27-6
How it came to be: In 1995, Washington guard Trevor Highfield summed up all the emotion that goes into this game when he said, “To just think about losing this game makes me want to puke. It would absolutely disgust me.” Thank you, Trevor. Mission accomplished.
No. 7 USC (8-2) at No. 25 UCLA (7-3)
The Victory Bell
Series record: USC leads 37-27-7
How it came to be: The winning team paints the bell in their color to match the gold. If UCLA wins, the bruins paint it blue. If USC wins, they paint it cardinal. Why bother? The bell is stored in a warehouse for all but two days a year.
Auburn (7-4) at No. 9 Alabama (9-2)
Omicron Delta Kappa-James E. Foy V Sportsmanship Trophy
Series record: Alabama leads 38-27-1 (2001)
How it came to be: The state is so wrapped up in this game that the winning school gets to pick the Governor each year. And we forget: Did Forrest Gump win this game or not? Man, that guy could run.
South Carolina (5-6) at Clemson (6-5)
Battle of the Palmetto State
Series record: Clemson leads 59-36-4 (2001)
How it came to be: Here’s our recap from 1896: South Carolina won the first contest between the two state rivals 12-6 at the state fair grounds in Columbia. Gamecock Cansen Foster scored the go-ahead touchdown in the second half on a five-yard run. Two years later, the Spanish-American War starts and ends.
Stanford (2-8) at California (6-5)
The Big Game for the Stanford Axe
Series record: Stanford leads 54-39-11.
How it came to be: All you need to know about this rivalry is what happened in 1982. Kevin Moen was the California defensive back who scored at the end of The Play–the dramatic five-lateral, 57-yard kickoff return that ended this game. Gary Tyrrell was the Stanford trombone player who got smacked in the end zone for storming the field too early. We can’t watch that hit enough. That right there is college football.
