The Nickel Trophy, 250 times larger than a regular five-cent piece and weighing 75 pounds, was inaugurated in 1938 and is presented each fall to the winner of the North Dakota-North Dakota State football battle. Two inches thick and 22 inches in diameter, it is an exact replica of the once-minted U.S. coin. It has been the object of many intercampus raids, recoveries, and more thefts. The late Robert Kunkel, a UND alumnus and Chicago advertising executive, was the originator of the trophy. Blue Key, an honorary service fraternity on each campus, awards the nickel trophy. UND and NDSU have each enjoyed a 12-game winning stretch.
Trophy holder: UND won 28-21 on Oct. 18, 2003, in Grand Forks
Current streak: UND has won the last 3 nickel trophy competitions
Nickel-winning record: UND leads 35-30
All-time UND vs NDSU record: UND leads 62-45-3
What happens when the Sioux meet the Bison twice in a season?
This first occurred in 1945 when the Sioux won the their first contest against the Bison and lost the second. Since both were regular season matchups, the Sioux held the trophy for only 7 days, after which they lost to the Bison in a Fargo rematch and surrendered the trophy.