The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Paul Bunyan's Axe

Minnesota62-63-8Wisconsin
National Program I#39 of 138–Power Program III#30 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Fri Nov 27 · 7:30 pm ET, 23 days away.

1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Wisconsin leads the all-time series 63-62-8. They've met 133 times since 1892. Wisconsin once took 14 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Minnesota
Win total
5.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +7
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe Minnesota's team performance this season has been historically bad
This has to be the worst Wisconsin team in recent memory right? I mean even the O-Line is playing like ass, even when they've been not great the O-Line has worked.
Verified verbatim
Wisconsin
Win total
8.0
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +34
What fans are saying · recruiting result
fans think the team lacks standout individual talent compared to past years
Chryst really shit the bed in recruiting down the stretch, and the roster was in really, really bad shape. No depth, and a lot of missing talent.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1892–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeMinnesotaWisconsinevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Minnesota won, gray: Wisconsin won)1900192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Minnesota has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Minnesota led 14 and Wisconsin led 9.

more passmore runMinnesotaWisconsin2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262007Minnesota 14.0 ptsWisconsin won 41-342010Minnesota 13.7 ptsWisconsin won 41-232023Wisconsin 12.6 ptsWisconsin won 28-14
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Minnesota by 54 in 1916. The biggest crowd, 82,010, was in 2006.

The coaching duels

Murray Warmath vs Milt Bruhn3-7-1
Bernie Bierman vs Harry Stuhldreher9-1
Glen Mason vs Barry Alvarez2-7
Cal Stoll vs John Jardine4-2
Joe Salem vs Dave McClain0-5
Jim Wacker vs Barry Alvarez2-3

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
90-150
Wisconsin leads
1st-rounders
6-22
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
MinnesotaWisconsin
1960s7-0
1970s18-8
1980s10-22
1990s6-20
2000s18-44
2010s12-37
2020s19-19

Best picks, either side

2007Joe Thomas Offensive Tackle · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
1992Troy Vincent Defensive Back · Miami DolphinsRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
1976Dennis Lick Offensive Tackle · Chicago BearsRd 1, pick 8#8 overall
1985Al Toon Wide Receiver · New York JetsRd 1, pick 10#10 overall
1985Richard Johnson Defensive Back · Houston OilersRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
2000Ron Dayne Running Back · New York GiantsRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
2011J.J. Watt Defensive End · Houston TexansRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
2002Wendell Bryant Defensive Tackle · Arizona CardinalsRd 1, pick 12#12 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Minnesota1.13×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2025Minnesota17-7Wisconsin — Wisconsin routed by 10
2024Minnesota24-7
2023Wisconsin28-14
2022Minnesota23-16
2021Minnesota23-13Wisconsin — Wisconsin routed by 10
2020Wisconsin20-17
2019Wisconsin38-17
2018Minnesota37-15Wisconsin — Wisconsin favored by 12.5
2017Wisconsin31-0
2016Wisconsin31-17
2015Wisconsin31-21
2014Wisconsin34-24
2013Wisconsin20-7
2012Wisconsin38-13

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Minnesota’s chance to win through that meeting. Minnesota is 2-0 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. Fans of both teams were loud at once in 2025. The bracket marks where.

2025Minnesota 17-7Minnesota won 17-7 vs Wisconsin. Chance to win started at 51%, low 45%, high better than 99%.Busy
2024Minnesota 24-7Minnesota won 24-7 at Wisconsin. Chance to win started at 58%, low 50%, high 99%.
2023Wisconsin 28-14Minnesota lost 14-28 vs Wisconsin. Chance to win started at 52%, low 2%, high 73%.Steady
2022Minnesota 23-16Minnesota won 23-16 at Wisconsin. Chance to win started at 40%, low 20%, high better than 99%.Busy
2021Minnesota 23-13Minnesota won 23-13 vs Wisconsin. Chance to win started at 41%, low 14%, high better than 99%.
2019Wisconsin 38-17Minnesota lost 17-38 vs Wisconsin. Chance to win started at 41%, low under 1%, high 71%.
2018Minnesota 37-15Minnesota won 37-15 at Wisconsin. Chance to win started at 26%, low 13%, high better than 99%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “2 INTs, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Insane”
    A Minnesota fan

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.