Rivalry game between Gophers, Badgers canceled due to COVID-19 outbreak

For the first time since 1906, Minnesota and Wisconsin will not meet on the gridiron to battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe.

Saturday’s annual rivalry game between the Gophers and Badgers has been canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak at Minnesota. It will not be rescheduled.

According to a statement from the University of Minnesota, nine players and six staff members tested positive for the coronavirus with more presumptive positive tests arriving Tuesday.

The Gophers will put all team-related activities on hold.

“The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff has always been our main priority,” Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle said in a statement. “We have experienced an increase in positive cases recently and have made the responsible decision to pause team activities. We will continue to rely on the guidance of our medical experts as we navigate the next several days.”

It will be the third game on Wisconsin’s schedule to be canceled. The Badgers had to pause football activities and sit out games against Nebraska (Oct. 31) and Purdue (Nov. 7) after a COVID-19 outbreak in the program.

The Badgers are no longer eligible to qualify for the Big Ten championship game.

Wisconsin, which beat the Gophers 38-17 last season, will hang on to Paul Bunyan’s Axe for another year. The Badgers have a 61-60-8 advantage in the all-time series and have won 15 of the last 16 matchups.

Minnesota’s next game on the schedule is Dec. 5 against Northwestern. The Badgers are scheduled to return to the field Dec. 5 against Indiana.