National Football Foundation

Notre Dame tied Big Ten Champion Michigan State, resulting in the first joint MacArthur Bowl presentation. It marked the Fighting Irish’s second MacArthur Bowl. Coached by College Football Hall of Famer Ara Parseghian, Notre Dame finished 9-0-1 after a 10-10 draw with the Spartans in what is considered as one of the greatest college football games in history. The 1966 Notre Dame team featured Hall of Fame linebacker Jim Lynch, a 1966 NFF National Scholar-Athlete, and Hall of Fame defensive tackle Alan Page, the 2005 NFF Distinguished American Award recipient.

Representing the pinnacle of team achievement in college sports, the trophy was the gift of an anonymous donor, who commissioned Tiffany & Co. to craft it from 400 ounces of silver, in honor of NFF founder General Douglas A. MacArthur. It took eight months to make, and the trophy features MacArthur's famous quote: "There is no substitute for victory."