The rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines football team and the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team began in 1892 with its first-ever match. Both universities are given credit for being the founding members of the Big Ten Conference. The two sides fight for a coveted trophy called The Little Brown Jug, which has been in competition since the 1890s of one of the most-played rivalries.
Additionally, the trophy is considered the oldest trophy game in FBS college football. It is also the second oldest rivalry trophy overall while the first one is still the Territorial Cup. Meanwhile, as of November 29, 2024, the Michigan team is the holder of the Little Jug trophy following their 27–24 victory on September 28, 2024.
Michigan vs Minnesota Football Rivalry History
The two teams, Michigan and Minnesota were placed against each other in opposite divisions when the league was expanded in 2014. Meanwhile, The Little Brown Jug is a trophy that is contested between Michigan and Minnesota and is awarded to the winner of the contest. The Wolverines have been in possession of the trophy since 2015.
The teams first faced off each other in 1892 in Minneapolis. Minnesota bagged the win with a score of 14–6. During the Pre-Brown Jug era, the two sides played five more matches after their first meeting, and Michigan prevailed in four of those fixtures. One of the notable games between the two universities to remember is the 1903 game, which was reportedly watched by around twenty thousand fans. The 1903 team compiled a record of 11–0–1. Yost’s side outscored the opponents 565 to 6. In 1901, the team went on to win 28 straight games.
The Battle of Giants took place in 1940. An undefeated Minnesota faced an undefeated Michigan on November 9 when Minnesota won the game 7-6 to win the championship with a record of 8-0.
However, in 1977, Minnesota was the winner of a major upset, as they defeated the No. 1 Michigan, 16-0, which turned out to be the only defeat for the Wolverines in that regular season.
Michigan vs Minnesota Football Rivalry Head-to-Head Stats
Michigan holds a commanding 77-25-3 head-to-head record in the all-time series. The team has also won their last four meetings. They also were able to snatch their first meeting since the Jug’s inception in 1903 and the schools met next in 1909.
Their next meeting will be their 106th meeting between them and 98 of those matchups have been contested for the Little Brown Jug. A look at the important stats below:
| Stats | Michigan | Minnesota |
| First Meeting | October 17, 1892 Minnesota, 14–6 | |
| Total Meetings | 105 | |
| All-Time Wins | 77 | 25 |
| Largest victory | Michigan, 58–0 (2011) | - |
| Longest Win Streak | Michigan, 16 (1987–2004) | - |
| Little Brown Jug Trophy | 73 | 23 |
Michigan vs Minnesota Rivalry Winner Year-by-Year
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 1 | October 17, 1892 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 14–6 |
| 2 | October 28, 1893 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 34–20 |
| 3 | November 23, 1895 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 20–0 |
| 4 | November 7, 1896 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 6–4 |
| 5 | November 13, 1897 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 14–0 |
| 6 | November 27, 1902 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 23–6 |
| 7 | October 31, 1903 | Minneapolis, MN | Tie | 6–6 |
| 8 | November 20, 1909 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 15–6 |
| 9 | November 19, 1910 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 6–0 |
| 10 | November 22, 1919 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 34–7 |
| 11 | November 20, 1920 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 3–0 |
| 12 | November 19, 1921 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 38–0 |
| 13 | November 25, 1922 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 16–7 |
| 14 | November 24, 1923 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 10–0 |
| 15 | November 1, 1924 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 13–0 |
| 16 | November 21, 1925 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 35–0 |
| 17 | October 16, 1926 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 20–0 |
| 18 | November 20, 1926 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 7–6 |
| 19 | November 19, 1927 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 13–7 |
| 20 | November 16, 1929 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 7–6 |
| 21 | November 15, 1930 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 7–0 |
| 22 | November 21, 1931 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 6–0 |
| 23 | November 19, 1932 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 3–0 |
| 24 | November 18, 1933 | Ann Arbor, MI | Tie | 0–0 |
| 25 | November 3, 1934 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 34–0 |
| 26 | November 16, 1935 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 40–0 |
| 27 | October 17, 1936 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 26–0 |
| 28 | October 16, 1937 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 39–6 |
| 29 | October 15, 1938 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 7–6 |
| 30 | November 11, 1939 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 20–7 |
| 31 | November 9, 1940 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 2 Minnesota | 7–6 |
| 32 | October 25, 1941 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 1 Minnesota | 7–0 |
| 33 | October 24, 1942 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 13 Minnesota | 16–14 |
| 34 | October 23, 1943 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 10 Michigan | 49–6 |
| 35 | October 7, 1944 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 28–13 |
| 36 | November 3, 1945 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 10 Michigan | 26–0 |
| 37 | November 2, 1946 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 13 Michigan | 21–0 |
| 38 | October 25, 1947 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 1 Michigan | 13–6 |
| 39 | October 23, 1948 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 1 Michigan | 27–14 |
| 40 | October 22, 1949 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 12 Michigan | 14–7 |
| 41 | October 28, 1950 | Minneapolis, MN | Tie | 7–7 |
| 42 | October 27, 1951 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 54–27 |
| 43 | October 25, 1952 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 19 Michigan | 21–0 |
| 44 | October 24, 1953 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 22–0 |
| 45 | October 23, 1954 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 34–0 |
| 46 | October 22, 1955 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 1 Michigan | 14–13 |
| 47 | October 27, 1956 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 20–7 |
| 48 | October 26, 1957 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 20 Michigan | 24–7 |
| 49 | October 25, 1958 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 20–19 |
| 50 | October 24, 1959 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 14–6 |
| 51 | October 22, 1960 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 6 Minnesota | 10–0 |
| 52 | October 28, 1961 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 23–20 |
| 53 | October 27, 1962 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 17–0 |
| 54 | October 26, 1963 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 6–0 |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 55 | October 24, 1964 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 19–12 |
| 56 | October 23, 1965 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 14–13 |
| 57 | October 22, 1966 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 49–0 |
| 58 | October 28, 1967 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 20–15 |
| 59 | October 26, 1968 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 12 Michigan | 33–20 |
| 60 | October 25, 1969 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 35–9 |
| 61 | October 24, 1970 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 5 Michigan | 39–13 |
| 62 | October 23, 1971 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 3 Michigan | 35–7 |
| 63 | October 28, 1972 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 5 Michigan | 42–0 |
| 64 | October 27, 1973 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 4 Michigan | 34–7 |
| 65 | October 26, 1974 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 3 Michigan | 49–0 |
| 66 | November 1, 1975 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 7 Michigan | 28–21 |
| 67 | October 30, 1976 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 1 Michigan | 45–0 |
| 68 | October 22, 1977 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 16–0 |
| 69 | October 28, 1978 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 8 Michigan | 42–10 |
| 70 | October 13, 1979 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 11 Michigan | 31–21 |
| 71 | October 18, 1980 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 37–14 |
| 72 | October 31, 1981 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 15 Michigan | 34–13 |
| 73 | October 30, 1982 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 20 Michigan | 52–14 |
| 74 | November 12, 1983 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 9 Michigan | 58–10 |
| 75 | November 10, 1984 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 31–7 |
| 76 | November 16, 1985 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 8 Michigan | 48–7 |
| 77 | November 15, 1986 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 20–17 |
| 78 | November 7, 1987 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 30–20 |
| 79 | November 5, 1988 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 14 Michigan | 22–7 |
| 80 | November 18, 1989 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 3 Michigan | 49–15 |
| 81 | November 17, 1990 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 16 Michigan | 35–18 |
| 82 | October 25, 1991 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 4 Michigan | 52–6 |
| 83 | October 24, 1992 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 3 Michigan | 63–13 |
| 84 | November 13, 1993 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 58–7 |
| 85 | November 12, 1994 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 19 Michigan | 38–22 |
| 86 | October 28, 1995 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 9 Michigan | 52–17 |
| 87 | October 26, 1996 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 10 Michigan | 44–10 |
| 88 | November 1, 1997 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 4 Michigan | 24–3 |
| 89 | October 31, 1998 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 22 Michigan | 15–10 |
| 90 | November 10, 2001 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 12 Michigan | 31–10 |
| 91 | November 9, 2002 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 13 Michigan | 41–24 |
| 92 | October 10, 2003 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 20 Michigan | 38–35 |
| 93 | October 9, 2004 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 14 Michigan | 27–24 |
| 94 | October 8, 2005 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 23–20 |
| 95 | September 30, 2006 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 6 Michigan | 28–14 |
| 96 | October 27, 2007 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 19 Michigan | 34–10 |
| 97 | November 8, 2008 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 29–6 |
| 98 | October 1, 2011 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 19 Michigan | 58–0 |
| 99 | November 3, 2012 | Minneapolis, MN | Michigan | 35–13 |
| 100 | October 5, 2013 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 19 Michigan | 42–13 |
| 101 | September 27, 2014 | Ann Arbor, MI | Minnesota | 30–14 |
| 102 | October 31, 2015 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 15 Michigan | 29–26 |
| 103 | November 4, 2017 | Ann Arbor, MI | Michigan | 33–10 |
| 104 | October 24, 2020 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 18 Michigan | 49–24 |
| 105 | October 7, 2023 | Minneapolis, MN | No. 2 Michigan | 52–10 |
| 106 | September 28, 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI | No. 12 Michigan | 27–24 |
FAQ's on Michigan vs Minnesota Football Rivalry
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A. Yes. Michigan-Minnesota is one of the oldest and most played rivalries in college football.
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A. Michigan concluded the 1948 season undefeated 9-0 and won another national championship.
A. The Territorial Cup has officially been recognized by the NCAA as the oldest rivalry trophy in college football.
