[4] The name refers to the two university's thirty-nine mile proximity[5] and their shared access to Interstate 74, which spans from Cincinnati, Ohio, through central Indiana and central Illinois (specifically Normal and Peoria), terminating in Davenport, Iowa.

In women's athletics, beginning with 1982 until 1992, the Redbirds and Braves competed in the newly formed Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference (GCAC), a women's only conference (the MVC did not sponsor women's athletics until 1992); it was absorbed into the MVC starting with 1992-93 academic calendar and all of its prior records were recognized.

[10][11] They have combined for seven Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships (Illinois State 3 (one outright), Bradley 4 (three outright)), five regular season division championships (Illinois State 0, Bradley 5 (all outright)) and seven tournament championships (Illinois State 2, Bradley 5).

[12][13] They have combined for thirteen Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships (Illinois State 6 (three outright), Bradley 7 (all outright)) and eight tournament championships (Illinois State 4, Bradley 4).

The Redbirds and Braves have combined for seven Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships (Illinois State 6, Bradley 1).

The Redbirds and Braves have combined for nineteen Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships (Illinois State 15, Bradley 4).

The series was suspended after the 1994 season when Illinois State halted sponsoring men's soccer.

[20][21] They have combined for fourteen Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships (Illinois State 14 (twelve outright), Bradley 0) and eight tournament championships (Illinois State 6, Bradley 2).

They have also combined for nineteen postseason tournament appearances (Illinois State 17 (eight Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) College World Series, nine National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Tournament), Bradley 2 (two NCAA)).

[22] The series was suspended after the 2014 season when Bradley halted sponsoring men's tennis.

They have also combined for five postseason tournament appearances (Illinois State 5 (five National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Women's Championships), Bradley 0).

The Redbirds and Braves have combined for eleven Missouri Valley Conference indoor tournament championships (Illinois State 11, Bradley 0) and four outdoor tournament championships (Illinois State 4, Bradley 0).

The Redbirds and Braves have combined for fourteen Missouri Valley Conference indoor tournament championships (Illinois State 14, Bradley 0) and ten outdoor tournament championships (Illinois State 10, Bradley 0).

[25][26] They have combined for eleven Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships (Illinois State 11, Bradley 0) and thirteen tournament championships (Illinois State 13, Bradley 0).