Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Ranking the top 10 best Big Ten football rivalries

By Shane Lunnen

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: The Wisconsin Badgers hoist Paul Bunyan's Axe after winning the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on November 25, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Badgers defeated the Golden Gophers 31-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: The Wisconsin Badgers hoist Paul Bunyan's Axe after winning the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on November 25, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Badgers defeated the Golden Gophers 31-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 11
Next
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

7. Iowa vs. Minnesota

The Big Ten loves its rivalry trophies. The Floyd of Rosedale is one of the coolest trophies in not only the conference but all of college football.

The trophy has a long history. During the 1934 game, Gopher players allegedly targeted and injured Hawkeye star running back Ozzie Simmons, who was one of the few African American football players in the country at the time. For the 1935 game, the governors of the two states decided to lighten the mood and provide goodwill by wagering a Minnesota pig versus one from Iowa.

The Gophers beat the Hawkeyes, on their way to a national championship that season. The pig from Rosedale Farms was named Floyd, after Minnesota governor Floyd Olson. The pig lived on a barn on Minnesota’s campus until it was won as a prize in a statewide essay contest. Floyd later died of cholera, but would be memorialized in a near 100 pound bronze statue that has gone to the winner of the Iowa-Minnesota game every year since.

One of the most notable games in the series history came during the 1960 season. Both teams entered the contest undefeated with Minnesota ranked third and Iowa holding the top spot in the polls. Minnesota would prevail 27-10 and later win the national championship. In recent years, Iowa has won six out of the last seven games although Minnesota still leads the series 62-48-2.

Home/Big Ten