Rivalry rock debut

Washington State and Oregon State football teams will compete for a new rivalry trophy made from 100-million-year-old rocks.

“A rivalry rock?”

112th game since 1903

The Cougars and Beavers have played almost every year since 1903, making this one of the longest-running series in college football.

Two-part trophy

The trophy is a two-part formation: glossy basalt on top and white granite on the bottom, totaling about 50 pounds.

Biggs Junction source

The rocks hail from Biggs Junction, an unincorporated community in northern Oregon along the Columbia River.

Rivalry rock status

The rock formation doesn’t have an official name yet and isn’t recognized as a school-sanctioned tradition.

Alumni sponsorship

The trophy is sponsored by alumni associations from both schools and will likely be displayed in the winner’s alumni building.

Missoula floods connection

The trophy connects both schools to the Missoula floods, a sequence of glacial lake outbursts 14,000 years ago that shaped the Pacific Northwest.

Geologists' idea

WSU grad Jesse Lyon and OSU grad Ian Madin created the trophy after researching rivalry trophies and realizing the Missoula floods impacted both schools.

Rock selection

Madin found Missoula flood erratics, boulders transported hundreds of miles by the floods, and Biggs Junction stones for the trophy.

Trophy creation

Madin used a wet grinder and polishing pads to shape the rocks into the final trophy over several months.

Trophy symbolism

The basalt side has a fractured texture like mountains, while the granite side is smoother like the Palouse plains.

Player reaction

WSU safety Jaylen Thomas and linebacker Keith Brown both learned about the trophy and expressed excitement to win it.

Trophy significance

The trophy represents the two surviving schools after the Pac-12 Conference imploded, making it a symbol of resilience.

Future plans

The trophy is expected to become more official in the years ahead as alumni and fans continue to support it.