Battle for the Axe set to kick off at 2:30 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. – The most-played rivalry in the FBS continues Saturday when Wisconsin travels to Minneapolis to face Minnesota for the 121^st time. The Big Ten announced on Sunday that the game will start at 2:30 p.m. and be televised by BTN. The Badger-Gopher series  has been contested on the gridiron every year since 1890, with the exception of 1906. Since 1948 the two  teams have  annually battled for Paul Bunyan’s Axe, one of the most recognizable trophies in college football.

Minnesota leads the all-time series between the teams 59-53-8 but UW has won seven-straight games, and  14 of the last  16, against the Gophers. Wisconsin’s current seven-game winning streak is its longest in the  series. Minnesota holds the  longest win streak in the series, having beaten the Badgers nine consecutive  times from 1933-1941. The last four  meetings in Minneapolis have all been decided by a touchdown or less,  including Wisconsin’s 31-28 win over the  Gophers in 2009. Last year UW defeated Minnesota, 41-23, at  Camp Randall Stadium.