Illini Football Rivalry Trophies

Last updated following the 2025 season

The Land of Lincoln Trophy / Tomahawk
Illinois-Northwestern – Rivalry trophy since 1945  //  Land of Lincoln Trophy since 2009
Illinois leads the trophy series, 40-39-2 (Illinois trails Land of Lincoln 7-10 //  Illinois led Tomahawk 33-29-2)

Illinois and Northwestern play annually for the “Land of Lincoln” trophy, a relatively new rivalry trophy. Bret Bielema is 4-1 in the series after Illinois put up a dominant performance against Northwestern to finish the 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 seasons. Bielema and the Illini secured a 47-14 victory in 2021 followed by a 41-3 win in Evanston in 2022, then took back The Hat with a 38-28 win at Wrigley Field in 2024. The Illini retained The Hat in 2025 in one of the most memorable games ever at Gies Memorial Stadium, a 20-13 victory played in 8" of snow, the most snow for a game in the stadium's history.

Illinois also owns Land of Lincoln trophy wins in 2014, 2011 and 2010, a 48-27 victory at Wrigley. The Land of Lincoln Trophy was chosen by fans of both schools in an online vote to replace the 62-year old Tomahawk Trophy.

Illinois and Northwestern played for the “Sweet Sioux” Tomahawk from 1947-2008. Illinois led the traditional trophy series by a 33-29-2 mark, but Northwestern won the final meeting for the Tomahawk with its 27-10 win in 2008. The Tomahawk was retired following the 2008 season. The story of the Tomahawk trophy dates back to 1945 when the staff members of the two student newspapers conceived the idea of a wooden Indian trophy, “Sweet Sioux.” A Tomahawk Trophy was inaugurated in 1947 to replace the wooden Indian.

The Fighting Illini and Wildcats are scheduled to play every season and will meet again to finish the 2026 regular season.

The Illibuck
Illinois-Ohio State – since 1925
Ohio State leads 66-23-2

Illinois and Ohio State play for the coveted “Illibuck” trophy. Ohio State leads the trophy series with a 66-24-2 mark. “Illibuck” is – or was – a turtle, destined for long life, it was hoped. But the wear and tear of traveling between Champaign-Urbana and Columbus was too much, even for a hardy marine reptile. “Illibuck” died in the spring of 1927 and his successor is now a wooden replica. The Illibuck is the second-oldest rivalry trophy in the Big Ten, behind only The Little Brown Jug (Michigan-Minnesota) which dates back to 1909.

Illinois last took the “Illibuck” with a 28-21 win over No. 1 Ohio State at Columbus in 2007, but Ohio State took it back with a 30-20 win in Champaign in 2008 and has retained it since. The Illini and Buckeyes are scheduled to meet in Columbus in 2026. 

The Cannon
Illinois-Purdue – since 1943
Purdue leads 42-32-2

Illinois and Purdue play each year for the coveted “Cannon.” Purdue leads the traditional trophy series by a 42-32-2 mark. The “Cannon,” more accurately known as the Purdue Cannon, made its first trip to Champaign-Urbana in 1905 when a group of Purdue students brought it to fire after a Boilermaker victory. Purdue won the game, 29-0, but the Cannon was never fired. Illinois student Quincy Hall found the Cannon hidden near the old Illinois Field and moved it to his farmhouse near Milford, Illinois. There, it survived a fire and gathered dust until 1943, when Hall donated it as a symbol of the Illinois-Purdue rivalry.

Tomahawk Service and Leadership honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride of Illinois maintain the replica trophy when the respective school has won it. The actual Cannon was last fired Nov. 4, 2001, at the Illinois football complex following an Illini victory. Illinois has won back-to-back matchups for the Cannon, a 50-49 in overtime at Memorial Stadium in 2024 and a dominant 43-27 win in West Lafayette in 2025.

The Fighting Illini and Boilermakers are scheduled to play every season and will meet in Champaign in 2026.