College Football 2021: Ranking the best trophies for bowl games

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: A general view of the College Football Playoff semifinal game between the Clemson Tigers and the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

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.

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