Bowling Green–Toledo football rivalry

Battle For I-75

Bowling Green Falcons Toledo Rockets
First meeting	October 3, 1919 Toledo, 6–0
Latest meeting	November 14, 2023 Toledo, 32–31
Next meeting	October 26, 2024
Trophy	Battle of I-75 Trophy
Statistics
Meetings total	88
All-time series	Toledo leads, 43–41–4
Largest victory	Toledo, 63–0 (1935)
Longest win streak	Bowling Green, 12 (1955–1966) Toledo, 9 (2010–2018)
Current win streak	Toledo, 1 (2023–present)

10km
6miles

Toledo

Bowling Green

  

Locations of Bowling Green and Toledo

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 25 miles (40 km) 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 43–41–4.

History

The Glass Bowl, home to the Rockets since 1937

Doyt Perry Stadium, 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 20 miles (32 km) 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. 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). 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. 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". In 2019, on the 100th anniversary of the rivalry, 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. The game was the last time they play for the Peace Pipe Trophy due to 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. 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. Then they only score fourteen points all together in the second half.

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

Bowling Green victories

Toledo victories

Tie games

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	October 3, 1919	Bowling Green	Toledo	6–0
2	October 29, 1921	Toledo	Bowling Green	20–7
3	November 4, 1922	Bowling Green	Tie	6–6
4	October 27, 1923	Toledo	Toledo	27–0
5	October 25, 1924	Toledo	Toledo	12–7
6	October 20, 1928	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	14–0
7	October 26, 1929	Toledo	Tie	0–0
8	November 1, 1930	Bowling Green	Tie	0–0
9	November 5, 1932	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	12–6
10	October 28, 1933	Toledo	Toledo	26–7
11	November 3, 1934	Bowling Green	Toledo	22–0
12	November 2, 1935	Toledo	Toledo	63–0
13	October 9, 1948	Toledo	Bowling Green	21–6
14	October 8, 1949	Toledo	Toledo	20–19
15	October 28, 1950	Toledo	Bowling Green	39–14
16	October 27, 1951	Bowling Green	Toledo	12–6
17	October 25, 1952	Toledo	Bowling Green	29–19
18	October 24, 1953	Bowling Green	Toledo	20–19
19	October 23, 1954	Toledo	Toledo	38–7
20	October 22, 1955	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	39–0
21	October 20, 1956	Toledo	Bowling Green †	34–12
22	October 19, 1957	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	29–0
23	October 18, 1958	Toledo	Bowling Green	31–16
24	October 17, 1959	Bowling Green	Bowling Green †	51–21
25	October 15, 1960	Toledo	Bowling Green	14–3
26	October 14, 1961	Bowling Green	Bowling Green †	17–6
27	October 13, 1962	Toledo	Bowling Green †	28–13
28	October 19, 1963	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	22–20
29	October 17, 1964	Toledo	Bowling Green †	31–14
30	October 16, 1965	Bowling Green	Bowling Green †	21–14
31	October 15, 1966	Toledo	Bowling Green	14–13
32	October 14, 1967	Bowling Green	Toledo †	33–0
33	October 12, 1968	Toledo	Tie	0–0
34	October 11, 1969	Bowling Green	Toledo †	27–26
35	October 10, 1970	Toledo	Toledo †	20–0
36	October 9, 1971	Bowling Green	#20 Toledo †	24–7
37	October 7, 1972	Toledo	Bowling Green	19–8
38	October 6, 1973	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	49–35
39	October 5, 1974	Toledo	Toledo	24–19
40	October 11, 1975	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	34–17
41	October 9, 1976	Toledo	Bowling Green	29–28
42	October 8, 1977	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	21–13
43	October 7, 1978	Toledo	Bowling Green	45–27
44	October 6, 1979	Bowling Green	Toledo	23–17
45	October 11, 1980	Toledo	Bowling Green	17–6

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
46	October 24, 1981	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	38–0
47	October 23, 1982	Toledo	Toledo	24–10
48	October 8, 1983	Bowling Green	Toledo	6–3
49	October 6, 1984	Toledo	Toledo †	17–6
50	November 11, 1985	Bowling Green	Bowling Green †	21–0
51	November 15, 1986	Toledo	Toledo	22–3
52	October 17, 1987	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	20–6
53	September 24, 1988	Toledo	Toledo	34–5
54	October 14, 1989	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	27–23
55	October 13, 1990	Toledo	Toledo †	19–13
56	October 19, 1991	Bowling Green	Bowling Green †	24–21
57	October 17, 1992	Toledo	Bowling Green †	10–9
58	October 2, 1993	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	17–10
59	October 15, 1994	Toledo	Bowling Green	31–16
60	October 21, 1995	Bowling Green	Toledo †	35–16
61	October 5, 1996	Toledo	Toledo	24–16
62	October 25, 1997	Bowling Green	#24 Toledo ‡	35–20
63	October 17, 1998	Toledo	Toledo ‡	24–16
64	October 2, 1999	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	34–23
65	November 22, 2000	Toledo	Toledo	51–17
66	November 23, 2001	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	56–21
67	November 30, 2002	Toledo	Toledo ‡	42–24
68	November 29, 2003	Bowling Green	#22 Bowling Green ‡	31–23
69	November 23, 2004	Toledo	Toledo †	49–41
70	November 22, 2005	Bowling Green	Toledo	44–41
71	November 21, 2006	Toledo	Toledo	31–21
72	November 23, 2007	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	37–10
73	November 28, 2008	Toledo	Bowling Green	38–10
74	November 27, 2009	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	38–24
75	November 17, 2010	Toledo	Toledo	33–14
76	October 15, 2011	Bowling Green	Toledo	28–21
77	September 15, 2012	Toledo	Toledo	27–15
78	October 26, 2013	Bowling Green	Toledo	28–25
79	November 19, 2014	Toledo	Toledo	27–20
80	November 17, 2015	Bowling Green	Toledo	44–28
81	October 15, 2016	Toledo	Toledo	42–35
82	November 15, 2017	Bowling Green	Toledo †	66–37
83	October 6, 2018	Toledo	Toledo	52–36
84	October 12, 2019	Bowling Green	Bowling Green	20–7
85	November 4, 2020	Toledo	Toledo	38–3
86	November 10, 2021	Bowling Green	Toledo	49–17
87	November 15, 2022	Toledo	Bowling Green	42–35
88	November 14, 2023	Bowling Green	Toledo ‡	32–31
Series: Toledo leads 43–41–4
†Eventual MAC Champions ‡Lost in MAC Championship Game (1997–present)

See also

• List of NCAA college football rivalry games