The Minnesota vs. Wisconsin football rivalry is the heartbeat of college football tradition, an enduring clash that has stood the test of time. With an unbroken streak of 117 meetings through the 2023 season, it is the longest continuously played rivalry in Division I FBS.
At its core lies Paul Bunyan’s Axe, a prize that has symbolized victory since 1948. Yet, this iconic trophy wasn’t the rivalry’s first treasure. These two teams have written chapters of grit and glory for over a century, each carving their place in history with every swing of the Axe.
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin: What Is Paul Bunyan’s Axe?
A slab of bacon. It sounds improbable, even whimsical, but that’s where the story of college football’s oldest and most-played rivalry begins. In 1930, a black walnut trophy, lovingly dubbed the “Slab of Bacon,” was introduced to honor the victor of the annual clash between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Wisconsin Badgers.
The rivalry itself dates back to 1890 when Minnesota trounced Wisconsin 63–0 on a Minneapolis afternoon. Wisconsin claimed its first victory in 1894 under Theron Lyman, and by 1896, the rivalry had joined the newly formed Western Conference, now the Big Ten.
Over its storied history, the rivalry paused just once—in 1906—when President Theodore Roosevelt suspended college football rivalry games due to growing safety concerns. This solitary interruption paved the way for what is now the longest uninterrupted rivalry in FBS history.
The Slab of Bacon vanished in 1943 after Minnesota fans stormed the field following a victory. Wisconsin student Peg Watrous, tasked with delivering the trophy to a Minnesota representative, couldn’t locate anyone amid the chaos. The bacon disappeared, seemingly lost forever. Decades later, in 1994, the mysterious slab resurfaced in a Wisconsin storage closet.
Maintained through 1970, its scores were still etched onto its surface. Today, it resides in Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium offices.
With the bacon gone, a new tradition emerged. In 1948, Paul Bunyan’s Axe was introduced, created by Wisconsin’s Letterwinners’ Club. Towering at six feet, the Axe bears the scores of every matchup on its handle.
Over time, even the Axe evolved. In 2000, the original was replaced to accommodate decades of scores, with the retired version donated to the College Football Hall of Fame.
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The rivalry remains fiery and deeply personal. Until 2014, victorious teams ceremonially “chop down” goalposts. That tradition was paused following a tense 2013 encounter, only to be restored in 2015. Through 2023, Wisconsin holds the upper hand, leading the Axe era 46–27–3.
Wisconsin currently has Paul Bunyan’s Axe following a 28-14 victory last season. For Minnesota, bringing the Axe back home is more than a goal—it’s a matter of pride.
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