Who gets to keep the Victory Bell?

The winner of the annual USC-UCLA football game gets to keep the Victory Bell for the year, painting it their school color (cardinal for USC, blue for UCLA) and displaying it as a trophy until the next game. This tradition started in 1942 after students stole the bell, leading to a prank war that the university presidents resolved with an agreement to make the game's winner the bell's keeper.

Who gets to keep the Super Bowl ring?

The Prestige of the Super Bowl Ring

They're also extremely exclusive. Only the members of the winning organization—players, coaches, executives, and sometimes even support staff—receive these rings.

What is the story behind the Victory Bell?

Origins of the Victory Bell

The Victory Bell came about when the head cheerleaders at UNC and Duke decided some kind of trophy should be handed out in the rivalry series. UNC's Norman Sper Jr., secured the Bell off an old steam train, Duke's Loring Jones designed the model and Duke's business manager funded the trophy.

Who decides who goes to the rose bowl?

The CFP Selection Committee ranks the top 25 teams and selects the four teams to participate in the semifinal games (Fiesta and Peach). Then, after the contract bowls (Sugar, Rose and Orange) are filled based on conference agreements, the Committee will assign teams to fill the remaining access bowls (Cotton).

Who gets the ball in the second half?

In American football, the team that didn't receive the opening kickoff gets the ball to start the second half (or they can choose to defer their choice to the second half), while in soccer (football), the team that kicked off the first half kicks off to start the second half, with the other team receiving the kickoff. The deciding factor in American football is often the opening coin toss and strategic deferral, whereas soccer follows a strict rotation for kickoffs at the start of halves. 

What Is The Victory Bell? - The Football Xpert

How do you determine who gets the ball after halftime?

The winner of the coin toss gets to decide if they want the ball on offense first or if they want to defer, which means they let their opponents have the ball first. During the coin toss that opens the game, teams that win the toss often defer, which means they get the ball on offense in the second half.

Who gets the 1st round bye in the NFL?

In the NFL playoffs, only the No. 1 seed in each conference (AFC and NFC) gets a first-round bye, advancing directly to the Divisional Round. This means two teams total receive a bye, while the other six teams in each conference play in the Wild Card round. 

Why is Iowa State opting out of the bowl game?

Iowa State declined their bowl game invitation primarily because the players voted not to play due to a lack of healthy players and significant roster uncertainty following head coach Matt Campbell's departure to Penn State, leading to potential player transfers and disruption, though the Big 12 Conference fined the university $500,000 for breaching bowl contracts, notes KWWL and AOL.com. 

How did Tyler Huntley get in the Pro Bowl?

Tyler Huntley made the 2023 Pro Bowl as a fourth alternate due to multiple quarterbacks above him withdrawing because of injuries or Super Bowl commitments, surprisingly earning a spot after stepping in for an injured Lamar Jackson and playing well enough to get voted in by players despite modest stats. He replaced Josh Allen, who pulled out, becoming one of the most unlikely Pro Bowl participants ever, surprising many.
 

Does Notre Dame get $14 million CFP payout as an independent?

Yes, Notre Dame earned a significant College Football Playoff (CFP) payout, reportedly around $14 million by the semifinals, because as an independent, it keeps all its winnings instead of sharing them with a conference like Big Ten or SEC teams do, making its CFP run financially very lucrative and vindicating its independent status. This money comes from $4 million for making the playoff, $4 million for the quarterfinals, and $6 million for the semifinals, with another $6 million available for the championship game, all kept by the Irish. 

Why don't cyclists use bells?

Another common grievance is the ineffectiveness of bells when pedestrians wear headphones, rendering them unable to hear warnings. Riders also share unfortunate stories of being verbally abused by pedestrians after ringing their bell—a reaction that can discourage riders from using bells altogether.

What does the bell symbolize?

Bells symbolize awakening, divine connection, and transition, serving as calls to prayer, warnings, or markers of time and significant events, representing spiritual clarity, community, and the passage of life, with their vibrations thought to clear the mind and bridge spiritual realms. They signify both profound spiritual connection (like calling deities or clearing the mind in meditation) and worldly functions (like alarms, timekeeping, or celebrating freedom).
 

What is Josh Bell known for?

Joshua Evan Bell (born August 14, 1992) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins, and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Do NFL janitors get Super Bowl rings?

Yes, janitors and other support staff can and often do receive Super Bowl rings, as team owners decide who gets them, typically distributing them to a wide range of personnel from players and coaches to grounds crew and administrative staff, though sometimes they are of lesser value than those for players. The NFL covers the cost for the first 150 rings, allowing teams to provide jewelry to many individuals beyond just the on-field personnel. 

How much did Travis Kelce's Super Bowl ring cost?

Travis Kelce's Super Bowl rings, particularly the most recent ones for the Chiefs' victories, are valued at around $40,000 to $50,000 each in creation cost, but their actual worth, especially a championship ring, is far higher due to player status and rarity, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands if sold, though he hasn't sold them.
 

Does the Waterboy get a Super Bowl ring?

Yes, waterboys (and other support staff like janitors, secretaries, or trainers) can and often do get Super Bowl rings, but it's up to the individual team owner and organization to decide who receives one, with some receiving full rings and others potentially getting less elaborate versions. While players, coaches, and executives typically get the main rings, teams often extend this honor to a broader group, including non-playing personnel, as a gesture of recognition for their contributions.
 

What QB refused to play for the team that drafted him?

The most famous quarterback to refuse to play for his drafted team is Eli Manning, who was selected first overall by the San Diego Chargers in 2004 but forced a trade to the New York Giants due to his unwillingness to play for them, a situation mirroring his father Archie Manning's experience, leading to a blockbuster deal where he spent his legendary career with the Giants. Another notable instance involved John Elway, the first pick in the 1983 draft, who threatened to play baseball to avoid the Baltimore Colts, leading them to trade him to the Denver Broncos.
 

Do the A's still own Kyler Murray's rights?

Yes, the Oakland Athletics (A's) still hold Kyler Murray's professional baseball rights from when they drafted him in 2018, meaning if he ever left the NFL for baseball, he would have to go through the A's, though they'd likely trade those rights to another MLB team. He initially signed with them and returned part of his bonus, but they retain control of his rights indefinitely, placing him on the restricted list. 

Why is there no tackling in the Pro Bowl?

There's no tackling in the modern Pro Bowl because the NFL replaced the traditional tackle game with the Pro Bowl Games, featuring skills competitions and a flag football finale, to prioritize player safety and boost fan engagement, as players were hesitant to risk injury in a meaningless game. The shift to non-contact flag football eliminates the high risk of severe injuries, like concussions or ACL tears, that players faced in the old tackle format, making it more appealing for stars to participate. 

Why is Marshall opting out of the bowl game?

Marshall opted out of the 2024 Independence Bowl because a coaching change (head coach Charles Huff left for Southern Miss) triggered a massive player exodus to the transfer portal, leaving them with too few healthy, eligible players (around 41) to safely compete, forcing a decision to prioritize player safety and accept a Sun Belt fine. 

Why did Ohio State get banned from bowl games?

Ohio State received a one-year NCAA bowl ban for the 2012 season due to a scandal involving players selling memorabilia and receiving improper benefits (cash and tattoos) from a tattoo parlor owner, compounded by former coach Jim Tressel knowing about the violations but failing to report them, and the university's failure to monitor the program, resulting in additional penalties like scholarship reductions. 

What did Kirk Ferentz get suspended for?

Kirk Ferentz was suspended for the 2024 season opener due to a Level II NCAA recruiting violation involving improper contact with quarterback Cade McNamara and his family before he entered the transfer portal in late 2022, a mistake Ferentz admitted to, leading to a self-imposed one-game suspension by the University of Iowa.
 

Who is favored to be in the Super Bowl in 2026?

As of January 2026, the Seattle Seahawks are widely considered the favorites to win Super Bowl LX (2026), followed closely by the Los Angeles Rams, with the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and Denver Broncos also strong contenders, according to various sportsbooks and betting markets. The Seahawks and Rams lead the NFC contenders, while the Bills, Patriots, and Texans are top AFC picks. 

What happens if chargers lose to Texans?

If the Chargers lose to the Texans (as happened in Week 17 of the 2025 season), they miss out on winning the AFC West title, which goes to the Broncos, and are locked into a lower Wild Card seed (likely #6 or #7), guaranteeing a road playoff game in the Wild Card round instead of potentially hosting one as the division winner. The loss officially ends their chance at the AFC's #1 seed, but they still make the playoffs as a Wild Card team. 

Who is favored to be in the Super Bowl 2025?

As of mid-January 2026, heading into the NFL Playoffs for the 2025 season, the Seattle Seahawks are widely favored to win the upcoming Super Bowl (Super Bowl LX) in February 2026, with odds around +270 to +350, followed by teams like the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Rams, but favorites shift as the playoffs progress.