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.^[1]

SportFootball

FirstmeetingOctober 4, 1941
Ball State 6, Northern Illinois 6

LatestmeetingOctober 25, 2025
Ball State 7, Northern Illinois 21

Nextmeetingnone planned

Quick facts Sport, First meeting ...

Battle for the Bronze Stalk

Ball State Cardinals Northern Illinois Huskies
Sport	Football
First meeting	October 4, 1941 Ball State 6, Northern Illinois 6
Latest meeting	October 25, 2025 Ball State 7, Northern Illinois 21
Next meeting	none planned
Trophy	Bronze Stalk Trophy (2008–present)
Statistics
Total meetings	53
All-time series	NIU, 26–25–2
Trophy series	Northern Illinois leads, 12–6
Largest victory	NIU 63–17 (2017)
Longest win streak	NIU, 10 (2009–2018)
Current win streak	NIU, 1 (2025)

Close

110km
68miles

Northern Illinois

Ball State

   

Locations of Ball State and Northern Illinois

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.^[2] With Northern Illinois football moving to the Mountain West Conference in 2026, there are currently no plans to continue the rivalry as a non-conference matchup. Northern Illinois holds on to the trophy, and a permanent (for now) lead in the series.^[3]