Minnesota vs WisconsinPaul Bunyan's Axe
A six-foot axe with every score written on the handle, fought over in the most-played rivalry in major college football.
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Start a pick'em contestHow the Paul Bunyan's Axe came to be
The schools first played for a trophy in 1930: the Slab of Bacon, a black-walnut carving made by R.B. Fouch of Minneapolis with a football bearing an M or a W depending on which way it hung, so the winner could 'bring home the bacon.'
After Minnesota won in 1943, a Wisconsin student leader, Peg Watrous, was supposed to hand the slab to her Minnesota counterpart, but fans poured onto the field and the handoff never happened. The slab vanished.
With no trophy to play for, Wisconsin's lettermen's club, the National W Club, introduced Paul Bunyan's Axe as the new prize in 1948.
The missing Slab of Bacon was found in a Camp Randall Stadium storage room in 1994 and stayed in Wisconsin's possession.
The trophy itself. A large wooden-handled axe with a six-foot handle on which the score of every game in the series is written. The original 1948 axe was retired and donated to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003, and a replacement is used today.
Paul Bunyan's Axe history
- 1890
First meeting, November 15, 1890: Minnesota wins 63-0, still the widest margin in the series.
- 1906
The only year since 1890 the teams did not play, after President Theodore Roosevelt pushed schools to cool heated rivalries.
- 1930
The Slab of Bacon becomes the first trophy in the series.
- 1948
Paul Bunyan's Axe, a gift of Wisconsin's National W Club, replaces the lost Slab of Bacon.
- 2003
The original axe is retired and donated to the College Football Hall of Fame.
- 2004
Wisconsin begins a series-record 14-game winning streak that lasts through 2017.
- 2013
Minnesota players and coaches block Wisconsin from carrying the axe to the second goal post after a 20-7 Badgers win, leading to shoving and heated words.
- 2025
Minnesota beats Wisconsin 17-7 in the snow on November 29, its fourth axe win in five years.
Recent results
| Season | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Minnesota Golden Gophers 17, Wisconsin Badgers 7 | Huntington Bank Stadium |
| 2024 | Minnesota Golden Gophers 24, Wisconsin Badgers 7 | Camp Randall Stadium |
| 2023 | Wisconsin Badgers 28, Minnesota Golden Gophers 14 | Huntington Bank Stadium |
| 2022 | Minnesota Golden Gophers 23, Wisconsin Badgers 16 | Camp Randall Stadium |
| 2021 | Minnesota Golden Gophers 23, Wisconsin Badgers 13 | Huntington Bank Stadium |
Paul Bunyan's Axe facts worth knowing
At 135 meetings through 2025, this is the most-played rivalry in major (FBS) college football.
The all-time series is nearly even: Minnesota leads 64-63-8.
Winning teams traditionally carry the axe to the goal posts and pretend to chop them down.
The lost Slab of Bacon turned up more than 50 years later, with scores through 1970 painted on its back.
Apart from 1906, the teams have played every year since 1890, and without a break since 1907.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Paul Bunyan's Axe?+
The Paul Bunyan's Axe is the trophy Minnesota and Wisconsin play for in college football, first awarded in 1948. A large wooden-handled axe with a six-foot handle on which the score of every game in the series is written. The original 1948 axe was retired and donated to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003, and a replacement is used today.
How did the Paul Bunyan's Axe come to be?+
The schools first played for a trophy in 1930: the Slab of Bacon, a black-walnut carving made by R.B. Fouch of Minneapolis with a football bearing an M or a W depending on which way it hung, so the winner could 'bring home the bacon.'
Who has the Paul Bunyan's Axe right now?+
Minnesota holds the Paul Bunyan's Axe after winning the 2025 game, Minnesota 17, Wisconsin 7. The live block on this page updates as soon as the next meeting is played.
Who leads the Minnesota-Wisconsin series?+
Minnesota leads the all-time series 64-63-8 as of the end of the 2025 season. In games played for the Paul Bunyan's Axe since 1948, Wisconsin leads 46-29-3.
When is the next Paul Bunyan's Axe game?+
Minnesota Golden Gophers play at Wisconsin Badgers on Friday, Nov 27, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium. Odds and the community lean post on the matchup page as the game approaches.
Where can I bet on the Paul Bunyan's Axe game?+
You can bet Minnesota vs Wisconsin 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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