Ranking the top 10 best Big Ten football rivalries
By Shane Lunnen
4. Minnesota vs. Wisconsin
It seems Minnesota is involved with the best trophy rivalry games in the sport. Their rivalry with Wisconsin tops the list.
The rivalry between the Badgers and Golden Gophers dates back to 1890 and is the most played rivalry in Division I FBS history with 128 meetings to date. They have played continuously since 1890 outside of not meeting in 1906.
The original trophy in the series was the Slab of Bacon, which sounds awesome in this humble writer’s opinion. The trophy, created in 1930, is a piece of wood with a football at the center with a carved “M” or “W” depending on which way it is displayed. Wisconsin was supposed to present the Slab of Bacon to Minnesota after the Gophers won the 1943 game, but the trophy mysteriously disappeared.
To replace the Slab of Bacon, Paul Bunyan’s Axe was created in 1948 and has gone to the winner ever since. However in 1994, the Slab of Bacon was found in an old storage closet in Camp Randall Stadium. It had also been maintained for a time after it was supposedly lost as it had series’ scores until 1970 written on it. The Slab of Bacon is currently displayed in the Badgers’ offices at the stadium.
As for the actual rivalry on the field, it has been an even series throughout the years now tied 60-60-8. The rivalry determined the Big Ten champion in 1963 when the third ranked Badgers defeated the fifth ranked Gophers. The 2014 meeting determined the Big Ten West champion, with Wisconsin winning.
Wisconsin’s remarkable 14 year winning streak came to an end last season with a Gophers victory. Perhaps Gopher coach PJ Fleck can “Row the Boat” to more victories, but the Badgers will be looking to start a new winning streak soon.