What is shillelagh trophy?

The Shillelagh Trophy is a college football rivalry trophy that is awarded to the winner of the annual game between the University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California. The trophy was first introduced in 1952 and is named after the traditional Irish club known as the shillelagh.

The trophy is a two-foot-long club made of blackthorn wood, which is a type of oak tree that is native to Ireland. The club is mounted on a wooden base and is adorned with shamrocks, USC and Notre Dame seals, and a list of previous winners. An engraving of the winning team's name and score is added to the base each year.

The Shillelagh Trophy game is one of the longest-running and most intense rivalries in college football, with bragging rights and national championship implications often on the line. The winner of the game gets to keep the trophy for the year, and the overall series is tied at 50-50-1 as of 2021.