The Battle for the Paddle is an American college football rivalry game played between the Texas State Bobcats and the Nicholls Colonels.

[1] Athletic directors and coaches from both schools decided to postpone the game and coined the annual contest the "Battle for the Paddle," joking that fans and athletes needed to use a boat and paddle to get to the game.

The game eventually took place on November 28, 1998, with Texas State prevailing 28–27 to win the Paddle Trophy.

[2] Nicholls head coach and offensive guru Charlie Stubbs brought controversy to the rivalry in 2011, when he refused to bring the Paddle Trophy to San Marcos due to Texas State having a scholarship advantage as an FCS transitional school, stating "we ain't bringing the damn thing.

[4] Since Texas State's ascension to the FBS, the teams do not meet as frequently.