National Football Foundation

Penn State defeated Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, marking the Nittany Lions’ second MacArthur Bowl. Coached by College Football Hall of Famer Joe Paterno, Penn State finished 12-0 after a 14-10 victory against the Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl. The 1987 Fiesta Bowl was the first in the game's history to decide the national championship, launching it into the top tier of bowls. The 1986 Penn State team featured Hall of Fame linebacker Shane Conlan, 1986 NFF National Scholar-Athlete and tight end Brian Siverling, and 1987 NFF National Scholar-Athlete and defensive tackle Matthew Johnson.

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."