Ranking the Top 25 Rivalries in College Football History (#22. MN/wi)

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BleedGopher

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22. Minnesota-wisconsin (Tied, 60-60-8)

The winner of the Gophers vs. Badgers showdown takes home the prized Paul Bunyan Axe. It's the most played rivalry in FBS football, dating back to 1890, so it's only fitting that the series is tied headed into Saturday's matchup in Minneapolis.

athlonsports.com

Ranking the Top 25 Rivalries in College Football History

Rivalries are a huge part of college football and matter for bragging rights among the teams and on the recruiting trail. Rivalries are often built on
athlonsports.com athlonsports.com

Go Gophers!!
 

22nd? That's some BS right there.

Anything less than top 10 is a joke.
 

The longest running rivalry at 128 games, a top 3 trophy, goal posts are chopped down, the series is tied, and it's rated as only the 22nd best rivalry? I guess Minneota and Wisconsin fans don't buy enough Athlon Magazines.
 


Many solid rivalries on the list. Some of them, or perhaps many of them have the same impact as the Gopher/Badger game. Hard to rank them except that I agree that the Navy-Army Game is number 1.
 


They have owned us. That's why it's that low.
 


I think both Minn-Wisc and Clemson-South Carolina are too low.

Pitt-WV and Texas-A&M too high since neither school plays each other routinely anymore. Same with Ok State-Oklahoma.. most Oklahoma fans don't see this as much of a rivalry.
 

bonin21 said:
They have owned us. That's why it's that low.
Click to expand...

Minnesota has won more axes since 2001 than Michigan has won "the game". It's all about brand and name recognition. I predict the brand/recognition piece starts changing starting this year.
 



I question whether the author knows Big Ten football. The Axe game should be no lower than 11 (above Pitt/W Va) based on its history. USC/UCLA probably low too.
 


fansided.com

College football rivalries: Ranking the 10 best rivalry trophies

College football is great in part because of all the great rivalries, but which college football rivalry has the best rivalry trophy?
fansided.com fansided.com

1. Minnesota vs. Wisconsin – Paul Bunyan’s Axe
Do I even have to explain why Paul Bunyan’s Axe, given to the winner of Minnesota versus Wisconsin, is the best rivalry trophy in college football? I mean look at it. It’s Paul Bunyan’s Axe! It replaced the original trophy, the Slab of Bacon, in 1948 after the Badgers failed to turn it over to the Gophers after losing. Without that hiccup, we likely wouldn’t have Paul Bunyan’s Axe, though, so I’m grateful.


The first meeting between these two took place in 1890, and the all-time series is a dead-even tie at 60-60-8. Minnesota won the battle last season after the Badgers ripped off 14 in a row, setting up this season’s matchup as one to take the series’ lead.
It’ll be each team’s final regular season game on Nov. 30, and then it’s on to the Big Ten Championship if either is in such a fruitful position. The Gophers have the edge in that department, having won 18 conference championships to the Badgers’ 14.
Conference championships are nice, but in the context of a rivalry, winning Paul Bunyan’s Axe is a huge deal. That’s where Wisconsin holds the advantage, having a 43-25-3 record since the axe’s incorporation.

PS - Floyd is ranked #5
 

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