Bowling Green–Toledo football rivalry#Peace Pipe Trophy

{{Infobox sports rivalry

| wide = yes

| name = Battle of I-75

| image = Battle of I-75 logo.svg

| image_size = 200

| caption =

| team1 = Bowling Green Falcons

| team1logo = Bowling Green Falcons wordmark.svg

| team2 = Toledo Rockets

| team2logo = Toledo Rockets wordmark.svg

| sport =

| firstmeeting = October 3, 1919
Toledo, 6–0

| mostrecent = October 26, 2024
Bowling Green, 41–26

| nextmeeting = October 11, 2025

| total = 89

| series = Toledo leads, 43–42–4

| largestvictory = Toledo, 63–0 (1935)

| longeststreak = Bowling Green, 12 (1955–1966)
Toledo, 9 (2010–2018)

| longestunbeatenstreak =

| currentstreak = Bowling Green, 1 (2024–present)

| currentunbeatenstreak =

| trophy = Battle of I-75 Trophy

| trophy series =

| stadiums =

| map_location =

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{{OSM Location map

| coord = {{coord|41.5732|-83.63}}

| zoom = 9

| width = 295

| height = 250

| caption = Locations of Bowling Green and Toledo

| mark1 = Orange pog.svg

| label1 = Bowling Green

| mark-coord1 = {{coord|41.38|-83.64}}

| label-pos1 = top

| label-color1 = black

| mark2 = Blue pog.svg

| label2 = Toledo

| mark-coord2 = {{coord|41.66|-83.62}}

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The Bowling Green–Toledo football rivalry is annual college football rivalry game between Mid-American Conference members Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and the University of Toledo (UT). The universities are separated by about {{convert|25|mi}} along Interstate 75 (I-75). The Bowling Green Falcons and Toledo Rockets have exchanged two traveling trophies; the Peace Pipe Trophy (1980–2010), and the Battle of I-75 Trophy (2011–present). Toledo currently leads the series 43–42–4.

History

File:Glass bowl stadium utoledo.jpg, home to the Rockets since 1937]]

File:BGSUStadium1.jpg, home to the Falcons since 1966]]

The game is sometimes referred to as The Black Swamp Showdown and the Battle of I-75, as the cities of Toledo and Bowling Green are both located on I-75, just {{convert|20|mi}} apart, and in the Black Swamp area of Northwest Ohio.

Traveling trophies

=Peace Pipe Trophy=

In 1980, a scale-down replica was fashioned and placed on top of a trophy created by former UT football player Frank Kralik. The Peace Pipe Trophy is a miniature replica of an American Indian sacred ceremonial pipe, sitting atop a trophy with both football teams' logos. Kralik donated the trophy to the university to be given to the winner of each year's football game, which like many other college football rivalries is usually the last game of the regular season for both teams. Though the two schools play in different divisions in the Mid-American Conference, they have yet to meet in the MAC Championship Game.

The awarding of the Peace Pipe Trophy was discontinued after the 2010 game. The schools agreed to change the trophy after conversations with members of the American Indian community. Taken into consideration was the spiritual symbolism of the ceremonial pipe to the American Indian community, as well as the NCAA's push to remove inappropriate American Indian nicknames and symbols associated with member's athletic teams.{{cite web|title=Toledo and Bowling Green Announce New "Battle of I-75 Trophy" for Football Series|url=http://www.utrockets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18000&ATCLID=205313874|publisher=utrockets.com|access-date=September 11, 2012}} The Peace Pipe Trophy will be permanently housed in the Toledo football trophy case as the Rockets won the last battle for the Peace Pipe in 2010.

=Battle of I-75 Trophy=

Beginning in 2011, the two schools started playing for the Battle of I-75 Trophy. Sponsored by Taylor Kia Automotive Group, it replaced the Peace Pipe Trophy. The Battle of I-75 Trophy was designed by Jeff Artz, who also designed the Fred Biletnikoff Award (awarded to America's top college football wide receiver).{{cite news|title=Battle of I-75 winner to earn new trophy |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/College/2011/10/10/Battle-of-I-75-to-winner-to-earn-new-trophy.html|access-date=September 11, 2012 |newspaper=Toledo Blade|date=October 10, 2011}} Toledo leads 10–2.

=Recent Toledo domination=

Toledo won nine straight games from 2010 to 2018. The 2017 contest was, "a snoozer” as they blew out the Falcons 66–37 before a crowd that barely dented the Doyt’s capacity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sent-trib.com/sports/rockets-dominate-falcons-for-8th-straight-win-in-rivalry/article_4ce8f6dc-ca93-11e7-9251-bf82ae69e2b9.html|title=Rockets dominate Falcons for 8th straight win in rivalry|author=Thomas Schmeltz|website=Sentinel-Tribune}} Coaches on both teams agreed, "the fiercest and most-heated rivalry in the Mid-American Conference has lost some luster, and that's probably because of the lopsidedness".{{Cite web|url=https://www.sent-trib.com/sports/toledo-still-owns-bowling-green/article_e6e0f79f-8848-5787-88a1-9b64a776fc0d.html|title=Toledo still owns Bowling Green|author=Thomas Schmeltz|website=Sentinel-Tribune}} In 2019, on the 100th anniversary of the rivalry,{{cite web |title=Falcon Football 100th Anniversary |url=https://www.bgsu.edu/events/falcon-football-100th-anniversary.html |website=Bowling Green State University |access-date=October 13, 2019 |language=en}} Toledo's streak ended as Bowling Green, a 26-point underdog, defeated the Rockets. The Falcons coached by first-year Head Coach Scot Loeffler dominated all game. Walk-on Grant Loy got his first career start at QB, rushing for 137 yards and a TD while throwing for another. The Falcons Defense led by Brandon Perce held the dominant Toledo offense to only 7 points as the Falcons won 20–7. Toledo resumed their winning ways in 2020 to continue to lead the overall series.

Notable games

=2010: First primetime game=

On November 17, 2010, Toledo and Bowling Green met for the first primetime game in series history. The game was held in Toledo and broadcast by ESPN2, Dave Neal and Andre Ware on the call. Toledo Rockets came into the game with a 6–4 record on the season. The Bowling Green Falcons came into the game at 2–8 on the season. Toledo defeated Bowling Green 33–14. The Rockets gained 537 yards and held the Falcons to 254 yards. Toledo forced five turnovers (three fumbles and two interceptions) in the game and gave up one interception. Toledo took a 26–7 lead at halftime. Fourteen points were scored between the two in the second half, securing the victory for Toledo.

=2022: Barstool college football show=

On November 15, 2022, the Barstool College Football Show went to the Glass Bowl for the 87th meeting of Toledo and Bowling Green rivalry. Dan Katz also known as "Big Cat" received the key to Toledo from Wade Kapszukiewicz the mayor of Toledo. Bowling Green upset the Rockets in the snow by the score of 42–35.

Game results

{{Sports rivalry series table

| format = compact | cols = 2 | series_summary = yes

| team1 = Bowling Green

| team1style = {{NCAA secondary color cell|Bowling Green Falcons}}

| team2 = Toledo

| team2style = {{NCAA color cell|Toledo Rockets}}

| note =

†Eventual MAC Champions
‡Lost in MAC Championship Game (1997–present)

| footnote = {{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/bowling-green/vs/toledo|title = Winsipedia – Bowling Green Falcons vs. Toledo Rockets football series history}}

}}

== See also ==

List of NCAA college football rivalry games

References

Category:College football rivalries in the United States

Category:Bowling Green Falcons football

Category:Toledo Rockets football

Category:1919 establishments in Ohio