What is the Gophers' biggest football rivalry?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

The primary and most historic football rivalry for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers is their annual battle against the University of Wisconsin Badgers. Competing annually for the coveted Paul Bunyan's Axe, this historic border-state showdown stands as the most played rivalry in the entire history of NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play. Pitting the two neighboring institutions against each other since the late nineteenth century, the game embodies intense regional pride, fierce competitive spirit, and deep historical tradition that captures the absolute attention of fans, alumni, and players alike every single season.

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