The Victory Bell is a coveted trophy in the world of American college football, marking the fierce rivalry between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Miami RedHawks. This rivalry is the oldest current non-conference college football rivalry in the United States, dating back to its inception in 1888. The first game between these two teams was played on December 8, 1888, in Oxford, Ohio, marking the first college football game in the state of Ohio. The original bell, which hung in Miami’s Harrison Hall, was used to celebrate Miami victories. However, the tradition of the Victory Bell as a traveling trophy began in the 1890s after Cincinnati fans ‘borrowed’ the bell. This practice continued until the bell mysteriously disappeared in the 1930s, only to reappear in 1946. Today, a replica of the original bell serves as the trophy, with one side painted black with white numbers for Cincinnati’s victories and the other side white with red numbers for Miami’s victories, adding an element of visual history to the rivalry. Throughout the years, the Victory Bell game has seen its share of drama and excitement, becoming a staple of college football traditions. The rivalry was so intense that from 1912 to 1960, the game was a centerpiece of Thanksgiving Weekend traditions, exclusively held at Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium for several decades due to the close proximity and shared fan base in the Greater Cincinnati area. Despite the rivalry’s significance, it is set to conclude after the 2026-2027 season, marking the end of an era in college football history.
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