Battle for the Axe: Gophers-Badgers to clash Saturday

We will witness a battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe in 2020 after all.

The Minnesota Gophers will line up against the Wisconsin Badgers at 3 p.m. Saturday as part of Champions Week, the Big Ten announced Sunday.

The initial matchup between the two rival programs this season was scheduled for Nov. 28 but was canceled due to a coronavirus outbreak at Minnesota.

It will mark the 130th meeting between the Gophers and Badgers. Wisconsin leads the all-time series 61-60-8.

“The Minnesota and Wisconsin rivalry is one of the best in sports,” Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said in a statement. “This game means a tremendous amount to the student-athletes, coaches and fans of both schools. We are excited to play and extend this rivalry. In a year of constant change, we appreciate the Big Ten, both administrations and each conference member institution for preserving this rivalry.”

The Badgers won last year’s meeting 38-17 at TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers upset Wisconsin 37-15 on the road in 2018, which snapped a 14-game losing streak in the rivalry.