Two of the Wisconsin Badgers’ biggest rivalry games made CBS Sports’ rankings of the top 10 football rivalries on Friday.
These inclusions: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota (No. 2) and Wisconsin vs. Iowa (No. 7).
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The list was, unsurprisingly, topped by Ohio State vs. Michigan – arguably the biggest rivalry in sports. Iowa vs. Minnesota was third, followed by UCLA vs. USC in 4th place, Michigan vs. State of Michigan in nº 5, Oregon vs. washington in 6th place, Indiana vs. Purdue at No. 8, Iowa vs. Nebraska in 9th place and Illinois vs Purdue in 10th place.
Wisconsin leads each of its two all-time ranked rivalries (48-46-2 vs. Iowa and 63-60-8 vs. Minnesota), although the records are nearly equal. Critically, each matchup perfectly represents what a great college football rivalry should include: close geographic distance, great history, balanced programs and a good rivalry trophy.
Wisconsin’s battle for Paul Bunyan’s Ax and the Heartland Trophy meets all the criteria.
The Badgers’ lopsided ‘rivalry’ against the Nebraska Cornhuskers also made the list at #18. This is more of a one-sided rivalry than anything, especially given the youth of the rivalry and the fact that the Badgers haven’t lost to the Cornhuskers in nearly 12 years.
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