For the first time in its 90-year history, the Heisman Trophy has left the United States, arriving in Dublin for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in celebration of the 2025 “Week Zero” season opener.
While the Heisman Trophy will be on display throughout game week, Georgia Tech and Florida State University will be competing for the Keough-Naughton College Football Trophy and the Coach’s Award, which will be presented at the end of the game to the respective winners.
The Heisman Trophy will be exhibited through the August 24th kickoff, including appearances at the Georgia Tech Pep Rally, Georgia Tech Welcome Experience for fans attending via On Location travel packages, on the set of ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, inside Aviva Stadium, and at today’s Ireland-US CEO Club lunch in the Round Room of the Mansion House, one of the hottest business tickets of the year.
With over 47,000 tickets sold, the 2024 Aer Lingus Classic game is officially a sell-out for the second consecutive year. Over 25,000 Americans will travel to Dublin to attend the game and experience local culture.
“The Aer Lingus College Football Classic spotlights the best of college football in one of the most culturally rich countries in the world,” said John Anthony, Co-Founder of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
“As we continually aim to elevate the experience for fans, players, and participating schools, we are pleased to have on display an iconic trophy annually awarded to the top college football player, a symbol of both individual and team greatness on and off the field.”
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic was announced in 2015 as part of a series that was intended to bring college football back to Ireland and promote the country as a travel destination. This is the third consecutive season that college football kicks off in Dublin.
ESPN’s College GameDay will be on hand for the Aer Lingus Classic, broadcasting live from Dublin ahead of the game.
“The love and passion for college football extends beyond the United States, and we’re pleased to bring the Heisman Trophy overseas to further promote the game and the Heisman Trophy’s legacy of athletic excellence,” added Rob Whalen, Heisman Trophy Trust Executive Director.
The Heisman Trophy is named after John Heisman, whose standout coaching career included 15 years at Georgia Tech, where his team was a scoring powerhouse and tallied 33 consecutive wins. During his coaching career, Heisman changed the face of the game. Amongst his many contributions to college football, he legalized the forward pass. Following retirement, Heisman organized and set in motion the structure and voting system to determine the best collegiate football player in the country.
The House of Waterford Crystal manufactures the Keough-Naughton College Football Trophy and the Coach’s Award. The Keough-Naughton trophy bears the names of two powerhouses of Irish America – Don Keough, former head of Coca-Cola and the first inductee into the Irish America Hall of Fame in 2010, and Martin Naughton, whose support fostered Irish studies programs in the United States. The trophy is an American Football mounted on three individual sculpted pillars of crystal, resting on a beautiful base and plinth. The Coach’s Award is a masterful replicate of an American football helmet. The design, sparkle and quality reflect the unique design and craftsmanship of Waterford Crystal.
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