Illinois vs NorthwesternLand of Lincoln Trophy
A bronze Lincoln stovepipe hat designed by a Pulitzer-winning cartoonist, played for by Illinois and Northwestern since 2009.
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Start a pick'em contestHow the Land of Lincoln Trophy came to be
From 1945 through 2008, Illinois and Northwestern played for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk, a trophy that began as a carved wooden cigar-store Indian figure and was later replaced by a tomahawk replica after the original was stolen.
The tomahawk was retired after the 2008 season as the NCAA pushed schools away from Native American imagery, so the two programs needed a new prize.
The replacement borrowed its name from Illinois' official state nickname, "Land of Lincoln," fitting for an in-state rivalry.
Dick Locher, the Chicago Tribune cartoonist who also drew the Dick Tracy comic strip, designed the bronze stovepipe hat.
Northwestern won the first Hat game, 21-16, on November 14, 2009.
The trophy itself. A bronze replica of Abraham Lincoln's stovepipe hat mounted on a wooden base, designed by Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago Tribune editorial cartoonist Dick Locher. Fans of both schools simply call it "The Hat."
Land of Lincoln Trophy history
- 1892
First meeting, a 16-16 tie in Champaign on October 12.
- 1945
The Sweet Sioux Tomahawk becomes the rivalry trophy.
- 2009
Land of Lincoln Trophy debuts; Northwestern wins 21-16.
- 2010
Game moves to Wrigley Field, where the Big Ten ruled every offensive play had to head toward the west end zone because the east end zone sat too close to the outfield wall. Mikel Leshoure ran for a school-record 330 yards in Illinois' 48-27 win.
- 2015
Northwestern begins a six-game winning streak in the series (2015-2020).
- 2023
Northwestern wins a 45-43 shootout in Champaign.
- 2024
Back at Wrigley Field, Illinois wins 38-28.
- 2025
Illinois wins 20-13 in a snowstorm at Gies Memorial Stadium, the stadium's first November night game and first snow game there since 1993.
Recent results
| Season | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Illinois Fighting Illini 20, Northwestern Wildcats 13 | Gies Memorial Stadium |
| 2024 | Illinois Fighting Illini 38, Northwestern Wildcats 28 | Wrigley Field |
| 2023 | Northwestern Wildcats 45, Illinois Fighting Illini 43 | Gies Memorial Stadium |
| 2022 | Illinois Fighting Illini 41, Northwestern Wildcats 3 | Ryan Field (1926) |
| 2021 | Illinois Fighting Illini 47, Northwestern Wildcats 14 | Gies Memorial Stadium |
Land of Lincoln Trophy facts worth knowing
The 2010 Wrigley Field game used only one end zone for offense: after every change of possession the ball was flipped so the offense always drove west, and the east end zone could only see scores on returns or defensive plays.
Mikel Leshoure's 330 rushing yards in that one-way Wrigley game broke Illinois' single-game school record and led the nation that season.
Northwestern's athletics department says "Land of Lincoln" beat out three other finalist names, including the "Popcorn Bowl" (after the state snack) and the "Graham-Grange Fire Bell."
The 2025 game was played in about 8 inches of snow, the first snow game at Illinois' stadium since 1993.
Even though Illinois leads the all-time series, Northwestern has won more games for The Hat, 10-7.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Land of Lincoln Trophy?+
The Land of Lincoln Trophy is the trophy Illinois and Northwestern play for in college football, first awarded in 2009. A bronze replica of Abraham Lincoln's stovepipe hat mounted on a wooden base, designed by Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago Tribune editorial cartoonist Dick Locher. Fans of both schools simply call it "The Hat."
How did the Land of Lincoln Trophy come to be?+
From 1945 through 2008, Illinois and Northwestern played for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk, a trophy that began as a carved wooden cigar-store Indian figure and was later replaced by a tomahawk replica after the original was stolen.
Who has the Land of Lincoln Trophy right now?+
Illinois holds the Land of Lincoln Trophy after winning the 2025 game, Illinois 20, Northwestern 13. The live block on this page updates as soon as the next meeting is played.
Who leads the Illinois-Northwestern series?+
Illinois leads the all-time series 59-55-5 as of the end of the 2025 season. In games played for the Land of Lincoln Trophy since 2009, Northwestern leads 10-7. Northwestern's own count uses fewer games (Illinois 57-53-5).
When is the next Land of Lincoln Trophy game?+
Illinois Fighting Illini play at Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, Nov 28, 2026 at Ryan Field. Odds and the community lean post on the matchup page as the game approaches.
Where can I bet on the Land of Lincoln Trophy game?+
You can bet Illinois vs Northwestern on BettorEdge, a peer-to-peer marketplace where you trade with other bettors rather than a sportsbook, so the price carries no built-in house vig. You can also run a free pick'em contest for the game with your group.
More college football
Records and the current holder are as of the end of the 2025 season; the next-game block and recent results update from ESPN. Northwestern's own count uses fewer games (Illinois 57-53-5).Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nusports.com, nusports.com, fightingillini.com.
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