College football rivalries: Ranking the 10 best rivalry trophies

By Phil Poling | Aug 9, 2019

The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy sits on a table before President Trump's presentation to the U.S. Military Academy football team, the Army Black Knights, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Photo by Cheriss May) (Photo by Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /

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2. USC vs. Notre Dame – The Jeweled Shillelagh

One of the most high-profile rivalries in college football, powerhouse programs Notre Dame and USC have played annually since 1926. Their rivalry trophy, however, The Jeweled Shillelagh, didn’t enter the picture until 1952.

Both have reached the mountaintop multiple times, too, claiming a combined 22 national championships while deploying 13 Heisman Trophy winners and 183 consensus All-Americans. Neither team is who they once were, though.

The Irish hold the all-time series lead (46-36-5), but each side has taken turns dominating the other. Notre Dame’s enjoyed the longest winning streak (11 games; 1983-1993), but the Trojans have had their number since, going 14-10-1 and winning multiple national titles.

This rivalry’s produced plenty of big moments, too, in particular the game in South Bend circa 2005. The defending-champion Trojans strolled into town as the No. 1 team in the country. Notre Dame, on the other hand, was ranked No. 9 with an opportunity in front of them they’d surely regret missing.

Fast-forward to the final drive where the Trojans trailed the Irish, 31-28. With the ball on the 1-yard line and the game clock dwindling, Matt Leinart took the under-center snap, lunged forward and was stopped dead in his tracks. Luckily, Reggie Bush was in the backfield and pushed Leinart forward for the go-ahead score, forever cementing this game as the, “Bush-Push.”