Michigan vs MinnesotaLittle Brown Jug
A 30-cent water jug Michigan left behind in Minneapolis in 1903, and the oldest trophy in major college football.
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Start a pick'em contestHow the Little Brown Jug came to be
In 1903, Fielding Yost's Michigan team came to Minneapolis on a long unbeaten run, and Yost, wary that the home side might tamper with his team's water, had student manager Tommy Roberts buy a jug to bring their own.
The October 31, 1903 game at Northrop Field ended in a 6-6 tie after Minnesota scored late and fans stormed the field, and the game was called with about two minutes left.
Michigan left the jug behind. The next morning Minnesota custodian Oscar Munson carried it to athletics chief L.J. Cooke's office, and the two painted it with 'Michigan Jug - Captured by Oscar, October 31, 1903' and the score, with Minnesota's number painted far larger than Michigan's.
When Yost asked for it back, Minnesota told him he would have to win it. The schools did not meet again until 1909, when both sides agreed to play for the jug; Michigan won 15-6 and took it home, and it has traveled between the schools ever since.
The trophy itself. A five-gallon earthenware water jug made by Red Wing Pottery of Red Wing, Minnesota, bought for about 30 cents in 1903. It was originally putty-colored; Minnesota painted it brown and lettered the 1903 result on it.
Little Brown Jug history
- 1892
First meeting, October 17, 1892 in Minneapolis: Minnesota wins 14-6.
- 1903
6-6 tie in Minneapolis on Halloween; Michigan leaves its water jug behind and Minnesota keeps it.
- 1909
First game played for the jug; Michigan wins 15-6.
- 1931
The jug disappears from Michigan's athletic administration building in September; the original turns up in a clump of bushes on campus in August 1933.
- 1977
Minnesota shuts out No. 1 Michigan 16-0 in Minneapolis, Michigan's last loss in the state of Minnesota.
- 1987
Michigan starts a series-record 16-game winning streak that runs through 2004.
- 2005
Minnesota wins 23-20 in Ann Arbor on a field goal as time expires, its first win over Michigan since 1986.
- 2024
Michigan beats Minnesota 27-24 in Ann Arbor on September 28 to keep the jug; the teams did not meet in 2025.
Recent results
| Season | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Michigan Wolverines 27, Minnesota Golden Gophers 24 | Michigan Stadium |
| 2023 | Michigan Wolverines 52, Minnesota Golden Gophers 10 | Huntington Bank Stadium |
Little Brown Jug facts worth knowing
It is the oldest trophy game in major (FBS) college football; Michigan and Minnesota's October 3, 2026 meeting is the 100th game played for the jug.
The jug cost about 30 cents at a Minneapolis variety store in 1903.
When Minnesota painted the 1903 result on the jug, it made its own score much bigger than Michigan's.
During the 1931-33 disappearance, a jug handed in at an Ann Arbor gas station was widely suspected to be a fake; the real one was found in bushes near a campus medical building in 1933.
Michigan has not lost a game in Minnesota since 1977.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Little Brown Jug?+
The Little Brown Jug is the trophy Michigan and Minnesota play for in college football, first awarded in 1909. A five-gallon earthenware water jug made by Red Wing Pottery of Red Wing, Minnesota, bought for about 30 cents in 1903. It was originally putty-colored; Minnesota painted it brown and lettered the 1903 result on it.
How did the Little Brown Jug come to be?+
In 1903, Fielding Yost's Michigan team came to Minneapolis on a long unbeaten run, and Yost, wary that the home side might tamper with his team's water, had student manager Tommy Roberts buy a jug to bring their own.
Who has the Little Brown Jug right now?+
Michigan holds the Little Brown Jug after winning the 2024 game, Michigan 27, Minnesota 24. The live block on this page updates as soon as the next meeting is played.
Who leads the Michigan-Minnesota series?+
Michigan leads the all-time series 78-25-3 as of the end of the 2025 season. In games played for the Little Brown Jug since 1909, Michigan leads 74-23-2.
When is the next Little Brown Jug game?+
Michigan Wolverines play at Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday, Oct 3, 2026 at Huntington Bank Stadium. Odds and the community lean post on the matchup page as the game approaches.
Where can I bet on the Little Brown Jug game?+
You can bet Michigan vs Minnesota on BettorEdge, a peer-to-peer marketplace where you trade with other bettors rather than a sportsbook, so the price carries no built-in house vig. You can also run a free pick'em contest for the game with your group.
More college football
Records and the current holder are as of the end of the 2025 season; the next-game block and recent results update from ESPN.Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, gophersports.com, gophersports.com.
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