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The Paul Bunyan's Axe

vs.

Minnesota vs. Wisconsin. First played in 1890; the results here start in 1892.

Wisconsin leads 63–62–8 in the Paul Bunyan's Axe through 2025. Minnesota won the last meeting, 17–7, in 2025.

All-time63–62–8Wisconsin's record, 133 meetings since 1892
Last 105–5Wisconsin's record
Since 200019–7Wisconsin's record
Current streak2Minnesota wins in a row
First meeting1890per the schools

What's the Paul Bunyan's Axe trophy?

Paul Bunyan's Axe: an axe with a 6-foot handle that carries the score of every game, created by Wisconsin's National W Club and played for since 1948.

How did the Paul Bunyan's Axe start?

Minnesota beat Wisconsin 63-0 in Minneapolis on November 15, 1890, and the teams have met more often than any other pair in FBS, with an unbroken run of games through 2025. From 1930 to 1943 they played for a Slab of Bacon, which went missing after Minnesota's 1943 win and wasn't found until 1994. The Axe took its place in 1948, and the winners traditionally run it to the goalposts and pretend to chop them down. In 2018 Minnesota won 37-15 to end Wisconsin's 14-game winning streak.

What are the most famous Paul Bunyan's Axe games?

  • 2014: West title gameWisconsin won 34-24 to clinch the Big Ten West.Final: Wisconsin 34–24
  • 2018: Streak endsMinnesota won 37-15 to end Wisconsin's 14-game winning streak.Final: Minnesota 37–15
  • 2019: West title againWisconsin won 38-17 to win the Big Ten West.Final: Wisconsin 38–17

How has the Paul Bunyan's Axe series swung?

545427271892: Minnesota 32–41893: Minnesota 40–01894: Wisconsin 6–01895: Minnesota 14–101896: Wisconsin 6–01897: Wisconsin 39–01898: Wisconsin 29–01899: Wisconsin 19–01900: Minnesota 6–51901: Wisconsin 18–01902: Minnesota 11–01903: Minnesota 17–01904: Minnesota 28–01905: Wisconsin 16–121907: tie, 17–171908: Wisconsin 5–01909: Minnesota 34–61910: Minnesota 28–01911: tie, 6–61912: Wisconsin 14–01913: Minnesota 21–31914: Minnesota 14–31915: Minnesota 20–31916: Minnesota 54–01917: Wisconsin 10–71918: Minnesota 6–01919: Minnesota 19–71920: Wisconsin 3–01921: Wisconsin 35–01922: Wisconsin 14–01923: tie, 0–01924: tie, 7–71925: tie, 12–121926: Minnesota 16–101927: Minnesota 13–71928: Minnesota 6–01929: Minnesota 13–121930: Wisconsin 14–01931: Minnesota 14–01932: Wisconsin 20–131933: Minnesota 6–31934: Minnesota 34–01935: Minnesota 33–71936: Minnesota 24–01937: Minnesota 13–61938: Minnesota 21–01939: Minnesota 23–61940: Minnesota 22–131941: Minnesota 41–61942: Wisconsin 20–61943: Minnesota 25–131944: Minnesota 28–261945: Wisconsin 26–121946: Minnesota 6–01947: Minnesota 21–01948: Minnesota 16–01949: Minnesota 14–61950: Wisconsin 14–01951: Wisconsin 30–61952: tie, 21–211953: tie, 21–211954: Wisconsin 27–01955: Minnesota 21–61956: tie, 13–131957: Wisconsin 14–61958: Wisconsin 27–121959: Wisconsin 11–71960: Minnesota 26–71961: Wisconsin 23–211962: Wisconsin 14–91963: Minnesota 14–01964: Wisconsin 14–71965: Minnesota 42–71966: Wisconsin 7–61967: Minnesota 21–141968: Minnesota 23–151969: Minnesota 35–101970: Wisconsin 39–141971: Minnesota 23–211972: Minnesota 14–61973: Minnesota 19–171974: Wisconsin 49–141975: Minnesota 24–31976: Wisconsin 26–171977: Minnesota 13–71978: Wisconsin 48–101979: Wisconsin 42–371980: Wisconsin 25–71981: Wisconsin 26–211982: Wisconsin 24–01983: Wisconsin 56–171984: Minnesota 17–141985: Minnesota 27–181986: Minnesota 27–201987: Minnesota 22–191988: Wisconsin 14–71989: Minnesota 24–221990: Minnesota 21–31991: Wisconsin 19–161992: Wisconsin 34–61993: Minnesota 28–211994: Minnesota 17–141995: Wisconsin 34–271996: Wisconsin 45–281997: Wisconsin 22–211998: Wisconsin 26–71999: Wisconsin 20–172000: Wisconsin 41–202001: Minnesota 42–312002: Wisconsin 49–312003: Minnesota 37–342004: Wisconsin 38–142005: Wisconsin 38–342006: Wisconsin 48–122007: Wisconsin 41–342008: Wisconsin 35–322009: Wisconsin 31–282010: Wisconsin 41–232011: Wisconsin 42–132012: Wisconsin 38–132013: Wisconsin 20–72014: Wisconsin 34–242015: Wisconsin 31–212016: Wisconsin 31–172017: Wisconsin 31–02018: Minnesota 37–152019: Wisconsin 38–172020: Wisconsin 20–172021: Minnesota 23–132022: Minnesota 23–162023: Wisconsin 28–142024: Minnesota 24–72025: Minnesota 17–71900192019401960198020002020 Minnesota won ↑Wisconsin won ↓ 545427271892: Minnesota 32–41893: Minnesota 40–01894: Wisconsin 6–01895: Minnesota 14–101896: Wisconsin 6–01897: Wisconsin 39–01898: Wisconsin 29–01899: Wisconsin 19–01900: Minnesota 6–51901: Wisconsin 18–01902: Minnesota 11–01903: Minnesota 17–01904: Minnesota 28–01905: Wisconsin 16–121907: tie, 17–171908: Wisconsin 5–01909: Minnesota 34–61910: Minnesota 28–01911: tie, 6–61912: Wisconsin 14–01913: Minnesota 21–31914: Minnesota 14–31915: Minnesota 20–31916: Minnesota 54–01917: Wisconsin 10–71918: Minnesota 6–01919: Minnesota 19–71920: Wisconsin 3–01921: Wisconsin 35–01922: Wisconsin 14–01923: tie, 0–01924: tie, 7–71925: tie, 12–121926: Minnesota 16–101927: Minnesota 13–71928: Minnesota 6–01929: Minnesota 13–121930: Wisconsin 14–01931: Minnesota 14–01932: Wisconsin 20–131933: Minnesota 6–31934: Minnesota 34–01935: Minnesota 33–71936: Minnesota 24–01937: Minnesota 13–61938: Minnesota 21–01939: Minnesota 23–61940: Minnesota 22–131941: Minnesota 41–61942: Wisconsin 20–61943: Minnesota 25–131944: Minnesota 28–261945: Wisconsin 26–121946: Minnesota 6–01947: Minnesota 21–01948: Minnesota 16–01949: Minnesota 14–61950: Wisconsin 14–01951: Wisconsin 30–61952: tie, 21–211953: tie, 21–211954: Wisconsin 27–01955: Minnesota 21–61956: tie, 13–131957: Wisconsin 14–61958: Wisconsin 27–121959: Wisconsin 11–71960: Minnesota 26–71961: Wisconsin 23–211962: Wisconsin 14–91963: Minnesota 14–01964: Wisconsin 14–71965: Minnesota 42–71966: Wisconsin 7–61967: Minnesota 21–141968: Minnesota 23–151969: Minnesota 35–101970: Wisconsin 39–141971: Minnesota 23–211972: Minnesota 14–61973: Minnesota 19–171974: Wisconsin 49–141975: Minnesota 24–31976: Wisconsin 26–171977: Minnesota 13–71978: Wisconsin 48–101979: Wisconsin 42–371980: Wisconsin 25–71981: Wisconsin 26–211982: Wisconsin 24–01983: Wisconsin 56–171984: Minnesota 17–141985: Minnesota 27–181986: Minnesota 27–201987: Minnesota 22–191988: Wisconsin 14–71989: Minnesota 24–221990: Minnesota 21–31991: Wisconsin 19–161992: Wisconsin 34–61993: Minnesota 28–211994: Minnesota 17–141995: Wisconsin 34–271996: Wisconsin 45–281997: Wisconsin 22–211998: Wisconsin 26–71999: Wisconsin 20–172000: Wisconsin 41–202001: Minnesota 42–312002: Wisconsin 49–312003: Minnesota 37–342004: Wisconsin 38–142005: Wisconsin 38–342006: Wisconsin 48–122007: Wisconsin 41–342008: Wisconsin 35–322009: Wisconsin 31–282010: Wisconsin 41–232011: Wisconsin 42–132012: Wisconsin 38–132013: Wisconsin 20–72014: Wisconsin 34–242015: Wisconsin 31–212016: Wisconsin 31–172017: Wisconsin 31–02018: Minnesota 37–152019: Wisconsin 38–172020: Wisconsin 20–172021: Minnesota 23–132022: Minnesota 23–162023: Wisconsin 28–142024: Minnesota 24–72025: Minnesota 17–7192019602000 Minnesota won ↑Wisconsin won ↓

Each bar is one meeting. Bars above the line are Minnesota wins and bars below it are Wisconsin wins; the taller the bar, the bigger the margin. Over the last 10 meetings the two have split, 5–5. The widest margins are Minnesota 54–0 in 1916 and Wisconsin 56–17 in 1983.

What are the records in the Paul Bunyan's Axe?

Biggest Minnesota win
1916, 54–0
Biggest Wisconsin win
1983, 56–17
Longest streaks
Minnesota, 9 straight (1933–1941); Wisconsin, 14 straight (2004–2017)
Most points
Wisconsin, 56 in 1983
Ties
8

Every Paul Bunyan's Axe result

YearWinnerScoreHome
2025Minnesota17–7Minnesota
2024Minnesota24–7Wisconsin
2023Wisconsin28–14Minnesota
2022Minnesota23–16Wisconsin
2021Minnesota23–13Minnesota
2020Wisconsin20–17Wisconsin
2019Wisconsin38–17Minnesota
2018Minnesota37–15Wisconsin
2017Wisconsin31–0Minnesota
2016Wisconsin31–17Wisconsin
2015Wisconsin31–21Minnesota
2014Wisconsin34–24Wisconsin
2013Wisconsin20–7Minnesota
2012Wisconsin38–13Wisconsin
2011Wisconsin42–13Minnesota
2010Wisconsin41–23Wisconsin
2009Wisconsin31–28Minnesota
2008Wisconsin35–32Wisconsin
2007Wisconsin41–34Minnesota
2006Wisconsin48–12Wisconsin
2005Wisconsin38–34Minnesota
2004Wisconsin38–14Wisconsin
2003Minnesota37–34Minnesota
2002Wisconsin49–31Wisconsin
2001Minnesota42–31Minnesota
2000Wisconsin41–20Wisconsin
1999Wisconsin20–17Minnesota
1998Wisconsin26–7Wisconsin
1997Wisconsin22–21Minnesota
1996Wisconsin45–28Wisconsin
1995Wisconsin34–27Minnesota
1994Minnesota17–14Wisconsin
1993Minnesota28–21Minnesota
1992Wisconsin34–6Wisconsin
1991Wisconsin19–16Minnesota
1990Minnesota21–3Wisconsin
1989Minnesota24–22Minnesota
1988Wisconsin14–7Wisconsin
1987Minnesota22–19Minnesota
1986Minnesota27–20Wisconsin
1985Minnesota27–18Minnesota
1984Minnesota17–14Wisconsin
1983Wisconsin56–17Minnesota
1982Wisconsin24–0Wisconsin
1981Wisconsin26–21Minnesota
1980Wisconsin25–7Wisconsin
1979Wisconsin42–37Minnesota
1978Wisconsin48–10Wisconsin
1977Minnesota13–7Minnesota
1976Wisconsin26–17Wisconsin
1975Minnesota24–3Minnesota
1974Wisconsin49–14Wisconsin
1973Minnesota19–17Minnesota
1972Minnesota14–6Wisconsin
1971Minnesota23–21Minnesota
1970Wisconsin39–14Wisconsin
1969Minnesota35–10Minnesota
1968Minnesota23–15Wisconsin
1967Minnesota21–14Minnesota
1966Wisconsin7–6Wisconsin
1965Minnesota42–7Minnesota
1964Wisconsin14–7Wisconsin
1963Minnesota14–0Minnesota
1962Wisconsin14–9Wisconsin
1961Wisconsin23–21Minnesota
1960Minnesota26–7Wisconsin
1959Wisconsin11–7Minnesota
1958Wisconsin27–12Wisconsin
1957Wisconsin14–6Minnesota
1956Tie13–13Minnesota
1955Minnesota21–6Minnesota
1954Wisconsin27–0Wisconsin
1953Tie21–21Wisconsin
1952Tie21–21Minnesota
1951Wisconsin30–6Minnesota
1950Wisconsin14–0Wisconsin
1949Minnesota14–6Minnesota
1948Minnesota16–0Wisconsin
1947Minnesota21–0Minnesota
1946Minnesota6–0Wisconsin
1945Wisconsin26–12Minnesota
1944Minnesota28–26Wisconsin
1943Minnesota25–13Minnesota
1942Wisconsin20–6Wisconsin
1941Minnesota41–6Minnesota
1940Minnesota22–13Wisconsin
1939Minnesota23–6Minnesota
1938Minnesota21–0Wisconsin
1937Minnesota13–6Minnesota
1936Minnesota24–0Wisconsin
1935Minnesota33–7Minnesota
1934Minnesota34–0Wisconsin
1933Minnesota6–3Minnesota
1932Wisconsin20–13Wisconsin
1931Minnesota14–0Minnesota
1930Wisconsin14–0Wisconsin
1929Minnesota13–12Minnesota
1928Minnesota6–0Wisconsin
1927Minnesota13–7Minnesota
1926Minnesota16–10Wisconsin
1925Tie12–12Wisconsin
1924Tie7–7Minnesota
1923Tie0–0Minnesota
1922Wisconsin14–0Minnesota
1921Wisconsin35–0Wisconsin
1920Wisconsin3–0Minnesota
1919Minnesota19–7Wisconsin
1918Minnesota6–0Minnesota
1917Wisconsin10–7Wisconsin
1916Minnesota54–0Minnesota
1915Minnesota20–3Wisconsin
1914Minnesota14–3Minnesota
1913Minnesota21–3Wisconsin
1912Wisconsin14–0Minnesota
1911Tie6–6Minnesota
1910Minnesota28–0Minnesota
1909Minnesota34–6Wisconsin
1908Wisconsin5–0Minnesota
1907Tie17–17Minnesota
1905Wisconsin16–12Minnesota
1904Minnesota28–0Minnesota
1903Minnesota17–0Minnesota
1902Minnesota11–0Minnesota
1901Wisconsin18–0Minnesota
1900Minnesota6–5Minnesota
1899Wisconsin19–0Minnesota
1898Wisconsin29–0Wisconsin
1897Wisconsin39–0Minnesota
1896Wisconsin6–0Wisconsin
1895Minnesota14–10Minnesota
1894Wisconsin6–0Wisconsin
1893Minnesota40–0Minnesota
1892Minnesota32–4Wisconsin

Results from CollegeFootballData.com. The schools' official series records can differ by a game or two (vacated wins, disputed early games).

Questions about the Paul Bunyan's Axe

Who leads the Paul Bunyan's Axe series?

Wisconsin leads 63–62–8 through the 2025 game, with 8 ties, in the 133 meetings on record since 1892.

Who won the last Paul Bunyan's Axe?

Minnesota beat Wisconsin 17–7 on Nov 29, 2025 at Huntington Bank Stadium.

When was the first Paul Bunyan's Axe?

1890, by the schools' count. Our game-by-game results start in 1892.

What's the trophy for the Paul Bunyan's Axe?

Paul Bunyan's Axe: an axe with a 6-foot handle that carries the score of every game, created by Wisconsin's National W Club and played for since 1948.

What's the biggest win in the Paul Bunyan's Axe?

Minnesota won by 54 in 1916, 54–0. Wisconsin won by 39 in 1983, 56–17.

What's the longest winning streak in the Paul Bunyan's Axe?

Wisconsin won 14 straight from 2004 to 2017. Minnesota won 9 straight from 1933 to 1941.

Related

History and trophy sources: en.wikipedia.org.

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