Border battle between Gophers and Badgers gets new life

Posted December 13, 2020 6:00 am

The Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The football game between rivals Minnesota and Wisconsin will be played after all, Big Ten officials announced Sunday.

The game that was called off last month due to concern over COVID-19 cases within the Gophers program is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.

It would be the 130th meeting between the teams, which is the longest-running uninterrupted series in Football Bowl Subdivision history and is the most-played rivalry in FBS history. Wisconsin and Minnesota have played every year since 1907.

'œThe Minnesota and Wisconsin rivalry is one of the best in sports,'ť said Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck. 'œThis game means a tremendous amount to the student-athletes, coaches and fans of both schools..'ť

Wisconsin leads the all-time series 61-60-8 and the teams have traded road wins in the last two matchups. The Gophers won 37-15 in 2018 at Wisconsin and the Badgers prevailed 38-17 in Minneapolis last season.

Minnesota's 2018 win was its first in the series since 2003 and first in Madison since 1994. The winner of the game takes home Paul Bunyan's Axe.

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