Bronze Stalk Trophy

The Bronze Stalk Trophy was presented to the winner of the annual college football game between Mid-American Conference rivals Northern [Illinois University] in DeKalb, Illinois and Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. The two interstate rivals began competing for this trophy in 2008 [NCAA Division I FBS football season|2008].
Designed by nationally recognized sculptor and DeKalb artist Renee Bemis, the trophy depicts several cornstalks in tribute to the prevalence of maize around the respective home states of the rivals.
The first meeting between the two occurred in 1941, a 6–6 tie. After the 2025 contest, Northern Illinois holds the all-time lead in the series, 26–25–2. Ball State won the inaugural contest for the Bronze Stalk at Scheumann Stadium in 2008, with Northern Illinois winning the trophy for the first time the following season on Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium. Northern Illinois football is moving to the Mountain West Conference after the 2025 contest, and there are currently no plans to continue the rivalry as a non-conference matchup, leaving Northern Illinois with the trophy and a permanent lead in the series.