When it comes to college football, there's not much better than rivalry games. In matchups that feature historic traditions, bragging rights, and unique trophies, the passion runs deeper, the emotions run higher, and the memories live on for generations.
The Big Ten owns some of the biggest and most historic rivalries in college football history. The rivalry between Indiana and Purdue is contentious, but where does the Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket stack up among the Big Ten's best rivalries?
Top-5 rivalries in Big Ten football
5. Iowa vs. Minnesota - Floyd of Rosedale
Iowa and Minnesota first squared off on the gridiron in 1891, but the rivalry's most famous tradition began decades later. In 1935, Minnesota Governor Floyd Olson and Iowa Governor Clyde L. Herring wagered a live pig on the outcome of the game. Minnesota won by a score of 13-6, and the tradition evolved into the Floyd of Rosedale. The bronze pig-shaped trophy remains one of the most distinctive and recognizable rivalry trophies in college football.
4. Indiana vs. Purdue - Old Oaken Bucket
The Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket between Indiana and Purdue is among the most underrated rivalries in the country. However, it is not near the top of the list when it comes to Big Ten football rivalries. The Big Ten is simply too stacked when it comes to historic and prestigious rivalries to put the IU-Purdue rivalry any higher on this list. But that doesn't mean the Indiana-Purdue rivalry lacks prestige or intensity.
Fernando Mendoza reveals the one trait that defines Curt Cignetti's leadership
The two schools first played back in 1891 and have met each other on the gridiron 127 times since then. The Old Oaken Bucket was debuted in 1925, and there have been countless memorable moments along the way. Purdue owns the all-time series edge, but Curt Cignetti has ushered in a new era of Old Oaken Bucket dominance for Indiana. Cignetti is 2-0 with a scoring total of 122-3 over Purdue in his two seasons in Bloomington. Hoosier fans are hoping that success continues in 2026 and beyond.
3. Wisconsin vs. Minnesota - Paul Bunyan's Axe
The Wisconsin-Minnesota football rivalry is among the most heated in the country. First played in 1890, this is the oldest rivalry in the Big Ten and the most-played rivalry in all of college football at the FBS level. In that longevity, the results have been almost exactly even. In 135 meetings between the Badgers and Golden Gophers, Minnesota leads the all-time series 64–63–8.
The winner of the game receives Paul Bunyan's Axe, which is among the most iconic trophies in the sport. The Axe tradition started in 1948 after the first trophy, the Slab of Bacon, disappeared in 1943 when the Badgers were supposed to return it to the Golden Gophers. Needless to say, there are decades worth of hate built into this Big Ten rivalry.
2. Michigan vs. Michigan State - Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy
The in-state rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans is one of the fiercest in the country. In a battle between the state's two flagship programs, Michigan and Michigan State first met in 1898 and have played each other every year since 1945. There have been no shortage of fireworks throughout its history, and like many of the best rivalries, a unique trophy is on the line. The winner of each year's game receives the Paul Bunyan - governor of Michigan Trophy, which is a four-foot wooden statues of the famous lumberjack.Â
1. Ohio State vs. Michigan - The Game
There's no denying that the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is the top rivalry in the Big Ten –– and possibly even in all of sports. Known as "The Game," this iconic rivalry between two of the most prominent programs in college football history usually has plenty on the line. The Buckeyes and Wolverines typically play with Big Ten titles, Rose Bowl trips, and now, College Football Playoff implications on the line. With so much hatred and so much storied tradition, the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is without a doubt the top rivalry in the Big Ten.
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