The Minnesota-Wisconsin football rivalry is one of the oldest college football rivalries, dating back to 1890. The rivalry is played between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers, which is considered the most played in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The two teams have now faced off against each other 133 times, as of 2024. In addition to this, the rivalry between the two sides is also the longest continuously played rivalry in Division I FBS. Minnesota and Wisconsin have made a record of an uninterrupted streak of 117 games.
The intense rivalry is also known as the Border Battle. Meanwhile, the two teams also play to win the Paul Bunyan's Axe which is awarded to the winner of the game. This is a tradition that began in 1948. They earlier used to fight for Slab of Bacon, which was in action until the 1943 game.
Wisconsin vs Minnesota Football Rivalry History
Being one of the oldest rivals in the history of college football, Wisconsin and Minnesota played each other for the first time on November 15, 1890. The match ended in favor of Minnesota with a score of 63-0 on Minnesota's campus, in Minneapolis. Later, the two teams became conference rivals when the Western Conference (later the Big Ten Conference) was introduced in 1896.
The rivalry game has not been played anywhere else than Minneapolis and Madison, Wisconsin. Except for 1906, when the college football rivalry games were called off by President Theodore Roosevelt following safety concerns, the two teams have played each other every single year.
The games of the 2014 and 2019 seasons also concluded in the outcome of the Big Ten West champion when Wisconsin managed to bag the win with a score of 34–24 and move to the 2014 Big Ten Football Championship Game. Wisconsin again came past Minnesota 38–17 in 2019 to reach the 2019 Big Ten Football Championship Game against Ohio State.
Some of the notable stats between the rivalry include Wisconsin winning 14 consecutive games against Minnesota from 2004 to 2017 until the Gophers defeated the Badgers in their 2018 face-off.
Wisconsin vs Minnesota Football Rivalry Head-to-Head Stats
Minnesota and Wisconsin have met each other 133 times as of 2024, and Wisconsin leads their head-to-head record with 63–62–8. They also lead the trophy series with 46–27–3.
| Stat | Wisconsin | Minnesota |
| First Meeting | November 15, 1890 Minnesota, 63–0 | |
| Total Meetings | 133 | |
| All-Time Wins | 63 | 62 |
| Largest victory | Minnesota, 63–0 (1890) | |
| Longest Win Streak | Wisconsin, 14 (2004–2017) | |
| Paul Bunyan's Axe | 46 | 27 |
Wisconsin vs Minnesota Rivalry Winner Year-by-Year
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 1 | November 15, 1890 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 63–0 |
| 2 | October 24, 1891 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 26–12 |
| 3 | October 29, 1892 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 32–4 |
| 4 | November 16, 1893 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 40–0 |
| 5 | November 17, 1894 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 6–0 |
| 6 | November 16, 1895 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 14–10 |
| 7 | November 21, 1896 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 6–0 |
| 8 | October 30, 1897 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 39–0 |
| 9 | October 29, 1898 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 29–0 |
| 10 | November 18, 1899 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 19–0 |
| 11 | November 3, 1900 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 6–5 |
| 12 | November 16, 1901 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 18–0 |
| 13 | November 15, 1902 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 11–0 |
| 14 | November 26, 1903 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 17–0 |
| 15 | November 12, 1904 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 28–0 |
| 16 | November 4, 1905 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 16–12 |
| 17 | November 23, 1907 | Madison, WI | Tie | 17–17 |
| 18 | November 7, 1908 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 5–0 |
| 19 | November 13, 1909 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 34–6 |
| 20 | November 12, 1910 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 28–0 |
| 21 | November 18, 1911 | Madison, WI | Tie | 6–6 |
| 22 | November 16, 1912 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 14–0 |
| 23 | November 1, 1913 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 21–3 |
| 24 | November 14, 1914 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 14–3 |
| 25 | November 20, 1915 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 20–3 |
| 26 | November 18, 1916 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 54–0 |
| 27 | November 3, 1917 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 10–7 |
| 28 | November 16, 1918 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 6–0 |
| 29 | November 1, 1919 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 19–7 |
| 30 | November 6, 1920 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 3–0 |
| 31 | October 29, 1921 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 35–0 |
| 32 | November 4, 1922 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 14–0 |
| 33 | October 27, 1923 | Madison, WI | Tie | 0–0 |
| 34 | October 18, 1924 | Madison, WI | Tie | 7–7 |
| 35 | October 31, 1925 | Minneapolis, MN | Tie | 12–12 |
| 36 | October 30, 1926 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 16–10 |
| 37 | October 29, 1927 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 13–7 |
| 38 | November 24, 1928 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 6–0 |
| 39 | November 23, 1929 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 13–12 |
| 40 | November 22, 1930 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 14–0 |
| 41 | October 31, 1931 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 14–0 |
| 42 | November 12, 1932 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 20–13 |
| 43 | November 25, 1933 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 6–3 |
| 44 | November 24, 1934 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 34–0 |
| 45 | November 23, 1935 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 33–7 |
| 46 | November 21, 1936 | Madison, WI | #2 Minnesota | 24–0 |
| 47 | November 20, 1937 | Minneapolis, MN | #7 Minnesota | 13–6 |
| 48 | November 19, 1938 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 21–0 |
| 49 | November 25, 1939 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 23–6 |
| 50 | November 23, 1940 | Madison, WI | #1 Minnesota | 22–13 |
| 51 | November 22, 1941 | Minneapolis, MN | #1 Minnesota | 41–6 |
| 52 | November 21, 1942 | Madison, WI | #7 Wisconsin | 20–6 |
| 53 | November 20, 1943 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 25–13 |
| 54 | November 25, 1944 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 28–26 |
| 55 | November 24, 1945 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 26–12 |
| 56 | November 23, 1946 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 6–0 |
| 57 | November 22, 1947 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 21–0 |
| 58 | November 20, 1948 | Madison, WI | #15 Minnesota | 16–0 |
| 59 | November 19, 1949 | Minneapolis, MN | #8 Minnesota | 14–6 |
| 60 | November 25, 1950 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 14–0 |
| 61 | November 24, 1951 | Minneapolis, MN | #8 Wisconsin | 30–6 |
| 62 | November 22, 1952 | Madison, WI | Tie | 21–21 |
| 63 | November 21, 1953 | Minneapolis, MN | Tie | 21–21 |
| 64 | November 20, 1954 | Madison, WI | #17 Wisconsin | 27–0 |
| 65 | November 19, 1955 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 21–6 |
| 66 | November 24, 1956 | Madison, WI | Tie | 13–13 |
| 67 | November 23, 1957 | Minneapolis, MN | #18 Wisconsin | 14–6 |
| 68 | November 22, 1958 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 27–12 |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 69 | November 21, 1959 | Minneapolis, MN | #9 Wisconsin | 11–7 |
| 70 | November 19, 1960 | Madison, WI | #4 Minnesota | 26–7 |
| 71 | November 25, 1961 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 23–21 |
| 72 | November 24, 1962 | Madison, WI | #3 Wisconsin | 14–9 |
| 73 | November 28, 1963 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 14–0 |
| 74 | November 21, 1964 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 14–7 |
| 75 | November 20, 1965 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 42–7 |
| 76 | November 19, 1966 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 7–6 |
| 77 | November 25, 1967 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 21–14 |
| 78 | November 23, 1968 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 23–15 |
| 79 | November 22, 1969 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 35–10 |
| 80 | November 21, 1970 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 39–14 |
| 81 | November 20, 1971 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 23–21 |
| 82 | November 25, 1972 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 14–6 |
| 83 | November 24, 1973 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 19–17 |
| 84 | November 23, 1974 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 49–14 |
| 85 | November 22, 1975 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 24–3 |
| 86 | November 20, 1976 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 26–17 |
| 87 | November 19, 1977 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 13–7 |
| 88 | November 25, 1978 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 48–10 |
| 89 | November 17, 1979 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 42–37 |
| 90 | November 22, 1980 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 25–7 |
| 91 | November 21, 1981 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 26–21 |
| 92 | November 20, 1982 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 24–0 |
| 93 | October 15, 1983 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 56–17 |
| 94 | October 13, 1984 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 17–14 |
| 95 | November 9, 1985 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 27–18 |
| 96 | November 8, 1986 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 27–20 |
| 97 | November 14, 1987 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 22–19 |
| 98 | November 12, 1988 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 14–7 |
| 99 | November 4, 1989 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 24–22 |
| 100 | November 3, 1990 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 21–3 |
| 101 | November 16, 1991 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 19–16 |
| 102 | November 14, 1992 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 34–6 |
| 103 | October 23, 1993 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 28–21 |
| 104 | October 22, 1994 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 17–14 |
| 105 | November 11, 1995 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 34–27 |
| 106 | November 9, 1996 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 45–28 |
| 107 | October 25, 1997 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 22–21 |
| 108 | November 7, 1998 | Madison, WI | #8 Wisconsin | 26–7 |
| 109 | October 9, 1999 | Minneapolis, MN | #20 Wisconsin | 20–17 |
| 110 | November 4, 2000 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 41–20 |
| 111 | November 24, 2001 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 42–31 |
| 112 | November 23, 2002 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 49–31 |
| 113 | November 8, 2003 | Minneapolis, MN | #24 Minnesota | 37–34 |
| 114 | November 6, 2004 | Madison, WI | #5 Wisconsin | 38–14 |
| 115 | October 15, 2005 | Minneapolis, MN | #23 Wisconsin | 38–34 |
| 116 | October 14, 2006 | Madison, WI | #25 Wisconsin | 48–12 |
| 117 | November 17, 2007 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 41–34 |
| 118 | November 15, 2008 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 35–32 |
| 119 | October 3, 2009 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 31–28 |
| 120 | October 9, 2010 | Madison, WI | #19 Wisconsin | 41–23 |
| 121 | November 23, 2011 | Minneapolis, MN | #16 Wisconsin | 42–13 |
| 122 | October 20, 2012 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 38–13 |
| 123 | November 23, 2013 | Minneapolis, MN | #17 Wisconsin | 20–7 |
| 124 | November 29, 2014 | Madison, WI | #14 Wisconsin | 34–24 |
| 125 | November 28, 2015 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 31–21 |
| 126 | November 26, 2016 | Madison, WI | #5 Wisconsin | 31–17 |
| 127 | November 25, 2017 | Minneapolis, MN | #5 Wisconsin | 31–0 |
| 128 | November 24, 2018 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 37–15 |
| 129 | November 30, 2019 | Minneapolis, MN | #12 Wisconsin | 38–17 |
| 130 | December 19, 2020 | Madison, WI | Wisconsin | 20–17OT |
| 131 | November 27, 2021 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 23–13 |
| 132 | November 26, 2022 | Madison, WI | Minnesota | 23–16 |
| 133 | November 25, 2023 | Minneapolis, MN | Wisconsin | 28–14 |
FAQ's on Wisconsin vs Minnesota Football Rivalry
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A. In their 133 meetings so far, Wisconsin leads their head-to-head record with 63-8-62.
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A. Wisconsin is Minnesota’s biggest rival.
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A. Minnesota and Wisconsin play for Paul Bunyan's Axe trophy.
