The Sweet Sioux Tomahawk goes annually to the winner of the Northwestern-Illinois football game.

The Sweet Sioux initially was designed as an authentic wooden Indian, like those that used to stand in front of cigar stores throughout the nation. It eventually posed a transportation problem and was replaced by the current Tomahawk.

Northwestern and Illinois met for the 100th time on Nov. 18, 2006 in Evanston. Since 1945, the two teams have played for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Trophy. Illinois leads the overall series 51-44-5, although the Wildcats have won the last four games (2003-06). Since the two teams began playing for the Sweet Sioux, Illinois holds a 31-27-2 series advantage.

Northwestern gained possession of the first trophy with a 13-7 victory over Illinois in 1945.

The Wildcats and former head coach Randy Walker display the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk trophy after capturing the 2003 rivalry contest.

Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Series (Started in 1945)
All-Time Results

1945 - Northwestern 13, Illinois 7 1946 - Illinois 20, Northwestern 0 1947 - Northwestern 28, Illinois 13 1948 - Northwestern 20, Illinois 7 1949 - Northwestern 9, Illinois 7 1950 - Northwestern 14, Illinois 7 1951 - Illinois 3, Northwestern 0 1952 - Northwestern 28, Illinois 26 1953 - Illinois 39, Northwestern 14 1954 - Northwestern 20, Illinois 7 1955 - Northwestern 7, Illinois 7 (tie) 1956 - Northwestern 14, Illinois 13 1957 - Illinois 27, Northwestern 0 1958 - Illinois 27, Northwestern 20 1959 - Illinois 28, Northwestern 0 1960 - Northwestern 14, Illinois 7 1961 - Northwestern 28, Illinois 7 1962 - Northwestern 45, Illinois 0 1963 - Illinois 10, Northwestern 9 1964 - Illinois 17, Northwestern 6 1965 - Illinois 20, Northwestern 6 1966 - Northwestern 35, Illinois 7 1967 - Illinois 27, Northwestern 21 1968 - Illinois 14, Northwestern 0 1969 - Northwestern 10, Illinois 6 1970 - Northwestern 48, Illinois 0 1971 - Illinois 24, Northwestern 7 1972 - Illinois 43, Northwestern 13 1973 - Northwestern 9, Illinois 6 1974 - Illinois 28, Northwestern 14 1975 - Illinois 28, Northwestern 7

1976 - Illinois 48, Northwestern 6 1977 - Northwestern 21, Illinois 7 1978 - Northwestern 0, Illinois 0 (tie) 1979 - Illinois 29, Northwestern 13 1980 - Illinois 35, Northwestern 9 1981 - Illinois 49, Northwestern 12 1982 - Illinois 49, Northwestern 13 1983 - Illinois 56, Northwestern 24 1984 - Illinois 24, Northwestern 16 1985 - Illinois 45, Northwestern 20 1986 - Northwestern 23, Illinois 18 1987 - Northwestern 28, Illinois 10 1988 - Illinois 14, Northwestern 9 1989 - Illinois 63, Northwestern 14 1990 - Illinois 28, Northwestern 23 1991 - Northwestern 17, Illinois 11 1992 - Northwestern 27, Illinois 26 1993 - Illinois 20, Northwestern 13 1994 - Illinois 28, Northwestern 7 1995 - Northwestern 17, Illinois 14 1996 - Northwestern 27, Illinois 24 1997 - Northwestern 34, Illinois 21 1998 - Illinois 13, Northwestern 10 1999 - Illinois 29, Northwestern 7 2000 - Northwestern 61, Illinois 23 2001 - Illinois 34, Northwestern 28 2002 - Illinois 31, Northwestern 24 2003 - Northwestern 37, Illinois 20 2004 - Northwestern 28, Illinois 21 (OT) 2005 - Northwestern 38, Illinois 21 2006 - Northwestern 27, Illinois 16