ESPN named the Schnellenberger Trophy that goes to the winner of the Louisville versus Miami football game as one of seven of "college football's unique awards" in an article on Monday. The Louisville at Miami game is the only one involving two ACC football teams to have their trophy game named.
The other games are the Potato State trophy between Idaho and Idaho State, the 'Battle for the Bones' between Memphis and UAB, Mississippi State versus Mississippi for the Golden Egg, Minnesota and Wisconsin for the Paul Bunyan Ax and the Platypus Trophy between Oregon State and Oregon.
The Schnellenberger Trophy was instituted in July 2023. Louisville won the first Schellenberger Trophy with a 38-31 win at Hard Rock Stadium in November. Miami has won 11, lost four and tied one in the all-time series with Louisville. Louisville has won four of the last six games versus Miami.
Miami plays at Louisville on October 19. Louisville and Miami are expected to be among the favorites to win the ACC. The ACC media picks will be taken at Kickoff this week in Charlotte and released early next week. Miami will appear at ACC Kickoff on Wednesday at 10 AM Eastern Time and Louisville will meet the media at 11 AM.
Jeff Brohm and Mario Cristobal had some very kind words and thoughts on Howard Schnellenberger in response to the announcement that Louisville and Miami will play for the Howard Schnellenberger trophy. Brohm played for him, Schnellenberger recruited Cristobal. Watch below: pic.twitter.com/WqI5h7MwTq
— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) July 25, 2023
"The Schnellenberger Trophy: Miami Hurricanes vs. Louisville CardinalsESPN Staff
The boots worn by Howard Schnellenberger, who coached both teams, is the reward for the winner of the Miami vs. Louisville matchup.
The 2023 season was the first in which the teams competed for the trophy, which pays tribute to the dress cowboy boots Schnellenberger would wear to match his coat and tie."
Louisville is 21st and Miami 23rd in the ESPN Football Power Index rankings entering the 2024 season. The Cardinals and Hurricanes have produced exciting outcomes the last three times they have played. Louisville and Miami have produced an average of 76.33 total points in their last three meetings.
Miami beat Louisville in 2019 and 2021. The Hurricanes and Cardinals did not play in 2023. Miami will play Florida State and Virginia Tech in its two protected rivalry games annually in the ACC. After this season, Miami and Louisville will play in 2025 and 2027. Miami and Louisville are not scheduled to play after 2027.
ACC opponents are scheduled through 2030. With at least two seasons not playing, the 2027 winner between Louisville and Miami will hold the Schnellenberger Trophy indefinitely. Adding to the mystique of the trophy are Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm are both alums of the teams they coach.