| Wide: | yes |
| Battle For I-75 | |
| Team1: | Bowling Green Falcons |
| Team1logo: | Bowling Green Falcons wordmark.svg |
| Team2: | Toledo Rockets |
| Team2logo: | Toledo Rockets wordmark.svg |
| Firstmeeting: | October 3, 1919 Toledo, 6–0 |
| Mostrecent: | November 14, 2023 Toledo, 32–31 |
| Nextmeeting: | October 26, 2024 |
| Total: | 88 |
| Series: | Toledo leads, 43–41–4 |
| Largestvictory: | Toledo, 63–0 (1935) |
| Longeststreak: | Bowling Green, 12 (1955–1966) Toledo, 9 (2010–2018) |
| Currentstreak: | Toledo, 1 (2023–present) |
| Trophy: | Battle of I-75 Trophy |
The Bowling Green–Toledo football rivalry is annual college football rivalry game between Mid-American Conference members Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and the University of Toledo (UT). The universities are separated by about along Interstate 75 (I-75). The Bowling Green Falcons and Toledo Rockets have exchanged two traveling trophies; the Peace Pipe Trophy (1980–2010), and the Battle of I-75 Trophy (2011–present). Toledo currently leads the series 43–41–4.
The game is sometimes referred to as The Black Swamp Showdown and the Battle of I-75, as the cities of Toledo and Bowling Green are both located on I-75, just apart, and in the Black Swamp area of Northwest Ohio.
In 1980, a scale-down replica was fashioned and placed on top of a trophy created by former UT football player Frank Kralik. The Peace Pipe Trophy is a miniature replica of an American Indian sacred ceremonial pipe, sitting atop a trophy with both football teams' logos. Kralik donated the trophy to the university to be given to the winner of each year's football game, which like many other college football rivalries is usually the last game of the regular season for both teams. Though the two schools play in different divisions in the Mid-American Conference, they have yet to meet in the MAC Championship Game.
The awarding of the Peace Pipe Trophy was discontinued after the 2010 game. The schools agreed to change the trophy after conversations with members of the American Indian community. Taken into consideration was the spiritual symbolism of the ceremonial pipe to the American Indian community, as well as the NCAA's push to remove inappropriate American Indian nicknames and symbols associated with member's athletic teams.[1] The Peace Pipe Trophy will be permanently housed in the Toledo football trophy case as the Rockets won the last battle for the Peace Pipe in 2010.
Beginning in 2011, the two schools started playing for the Battle of I-75 Trophy. Sponsored by Taylor Kia Automotive Group, it replaced the Peace Pipe Trophy. The Battle of I-75 Trophy was designed by Jeff Artz, who also designed the Fred Biletnikoff Award (awarded to America's top college football wide receiver).[2] Toledo leads 10–2.
Toledo won nine straight games from 2010 to 2018. The 2017 contest was, "a snoozer” as they blew out the Falcons 66–37 before a crowd that barely dented the Doyt’s capacity.[3] Coaches on both teams agreed, "the fiercest and most-heated rivalry in the Mid-American Conference has lost some luster, and that's probably because of the lopsidedness".[4] In 2019, on the 100th anniversary of the rivalry,[5] Toledo's streak ended as Bowling Green, a 26-point underdog, defeated the Rockets. The Falcons coached by first-year Head Coach Scot Loeffler dominated all game. Walk-on Grant Loy got his first career start at QB, rushing for 137 yards and a TD while throwing for another. The Falcons Defense led by Brandon Perce held the dominant Toledo offense to only 7 points as the Falcons won 20–7. Toledo resumed their winning ways in 2020 to continue to lead the overall series.
On November 17, 2010, Toledo and Bowling Green met for the first primetime game in series history. The game was held in Toledo and broadcast by ESPN2, Dave Neal and Andre Ware on the call. Toledo Rockets came into the game with a 6–4 record on the season. The Bowling Green Falcons came into the game at 2–8 on the season. Toledo defeated Bowling Green 33–14. The Rockets gained 537 yards and held the Falcons to 254 yards. Toledo forced five turnovers (three fumbles and two interceptions) in the game and gave up one interception. Toledo took a 26–7 lead at halftime. Fourteen points were scored between the two in the second half, securing the victory for Toledo.
On November 15, 2022, the Barstool College Football Show went to the Glass Bowl for the 87th meeting of Toledo and Bowling Green rivalry. Dan Katz also known as "Big Cat" received the key to Toledo from Wade Kapszukiewicz the mayor of Toledo. Bowling Green upset the Rockets in the snow by the score of 42–35.