Click here for a historical video about the MacArthur Bowl.
 
ATHENS, GA, (Jan. 15, 2022) - The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame today formally presented the University of Georgia football team and head coach Kirby Smart with the MacArthur Bowl, the organization's national championship trophy for the Football Bowl Subdivision, during the National Championship Celebration on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens.
 
"The MacArthur Bowl has remained one of our sport's most coveted prizes since it was first presented in 1959, establishing a truly unique tradition that honors an unbroken chain with the names of all our national champions from the past 63 years etched on its iconic arches," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We are extremely pleased to continue the tradition today, and on behalf of our chairman, Archie Manning, and our 12,000 members of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in all 50 states, present the trophy to Coach Smart and the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs."
 
NFF Chief Operating Officer Matthew Sign made the presentation on behalf of the organization. Coach Smart accepted the award on behalf of his 2021 Georgia football team between the hedges in front of a standing room only crowd of more than 93,000 fans. Several community leaders made remarks on stage, including Georgia J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks, Governor Brian P. Kemp, Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey, University of Georgia President Jere Morehead, and Coach Smart.
 
"Being here today on Dooley Field brings back a lot of special memories for me," said Coach Smart. "But as our players sit to my left and right, what you 95,000 people don't get to see is these guys in here at 6 a.m. about a year ago running on this field and sweating blood and tears. Before we came out today, the first thing a lot of these guys were thinking about is how much work they did in this stadium.…'Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it,' said Henry David Thoreau, and that embodies this team."
 
The NFF previously announced Georgia (14-1) as the recipient of the trophy for the 2021 season, following the team's 33-18 victory over Alabama (13-2) in the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Presented by AT&T in Indianapolis on Jan. 10. The name of the 2021 Bulldogs will now be etched alongside the greatest teams in college football history on the MacArthur Bowl Championship Trophy, including the 1980 Georgia team, the last and only time the school has claimed the trophy. The trophy is housed at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

"'There Is No Substitute For Victory,'" said NFF COO Matthew Sign, quoting General Douglas MacArthur, an early leader of the NFF in the 1950s and 60s. "When the National Football Foundation created a national championship trophy in 1959, it was General MacArthur who became the trophy's namesake with his immortal words etched on the side…the University of Georgia becomes only the 14th institution in history to have their name appear on the trophy multiple times with this team joining the 1980 champions led by Coach Dooley, Herschel [Walker], Buck [Belue] and [Scott] Woerner…further proof that 'There Is No Substitute For Victory.'"
 
Presented to every national champion since 1959, the MacArthur Bowl represents the pinnacle of team achievement in college sports, and each year during its 63-year history a new name has been etched alongside the greatest teams of all time. The trophy, a replica of a football stadium, features archways with space to engrave the names of 100 teams and miniature goal posts. The trophy was the gift of an anonymous donor, who commissioned Tiffany & Co. to craft it from 400 ounces of silver, in honor of early NFF leader General Douglas MacArthur. It took eight months to make, and the trophy features MacArthur's famous quote.
 
With the win, Georgia recorded its first national title in 41 years, claiming the MacArthur Bowl for a second time. The Bulldogs won the MacArthur Bowl in 1980, under College Football Hall of Fame head coach Vince Dooley. Prior to the presentation of the MacArthur Bowl in 1959, Georgia was recognized as national champions by polling agencies in 1920, 1927, 1942 and 1946. A team in the current SEC has now claimed the trophy 20 times.
 
Twenty-four different schools have claimed the trophy at least once during its 63-year history. Alabama has hoisted it the most, claiming it 10 times. Notre Dame is second with five wins while Ohio State, Miami (FL), Southern California and Texas have each etched their names four times on the trophy. Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Nebraska and Oklahoma each boast being three-time recipients. Georgia, Michigan State and Penn State have each won the trophy twice.
 
During college football's Poll Era, the NFF MacArthur Bowl Committee selected the recipient of the trophy. With the advent of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1998, the national championship game has determined which team claimed the MacArthur Bowl, a tradition that continues under the College Football Playoff.
 
First presented in 1959, NFF National Champions and MacArthur Bowl recipients include: Syracuse 1959, Minnesota 1960, Alabama 1961, Southern California 1962, Texas 1963, Notre Dame 1964, Michigan State 1965, Michigan State/Notre Dame 1966, Southern California 1967, Ohio State 1968, Texas 1969, Ohio State/Texas 1970, Nebraska 1971, Southern California 1972, Notre Dame 1973, Southern California 1974, Oklahoma 1975, Pittsburgh 1976, Notre Dame 1977, Alabama 1978, Alabama 1979, Georgia 1980, Clemson 1981, Penn State 1982, Miami (FL) 1983, Brigham Young 1984, Oklahoma 1985, Penn State 1986, Miami (FL) 1987, Notre Dame 1988, Miami (FL) 1989, Colorado 1990, Washington 1991, Alabama 1992, Florida State 1993, Nebraska 1994, Nebraska 1995, Florida 1996, Michigan 1997, Tennessee 1998, Florida State 1999, Oklahoma 2000, Miami (FL) 2001, Ohio State 2002, LSU 2003, Vacated 2004, Texas 2005, Florida 2006, LSU 2007, Florida 2008, Alabama 2009, Auburn 2010, Alabama 2011, Alabama 2012, Florida State 2013, Ohio State 2014, Alabama 2015, Clemson 2016, Alabama 2017, Clemson 2018, LSU 2019, Alabama 2020 and Georgia 2021.