10. The Cotton Bowl Trophy
The Cotton Bowl trophy is unique in structure. Start with a base made of a replica of AT&T Stadium because of course, it has to be “Jerry World”. Follow that with intertwined metal providing the structure to a silver football on top.
The trophy has not always looked like this but the latest iteration is definitely the best. The Cotton Bowl has a long history dating back to 1937. The game featured for many years the champion of the old Southwest Conference versus a top team from around the country, usually a major independent or runner up from the SEC.
After the SWC broke up, the runner-up of the Big 12 would face off against an SEC opponent. However, it was the start of the College Football Playoff and New Year’s Six eras that gave the Cotton Bowl a return to the national stage.
This year’s edition of the Cotton Bowl will be the third time the game will be a CFP semifinal. Alabama takes on Cincinnati in the Bearcats’ first appearance in the playoff and Cotton Bowl. The winner moves on to the national championship game and gets a sweet-looking trophy to boot.