The border battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe is moving to Black Friday. The Big Ten announced Thursday that the Gophers-Badgers football game this November is moving forward a day, to Friday, Nov. 29, with kickoff set for 11 a.m. That game has long been played on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.
Gophers-Badgers football game moves to Black Friday
The fate of Paul Bunyan’s Axe will be decided on a Friday afternoon this year. Some other 2024 schedule information was also released Thursday.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
May 30, 2024 at 7:56PM
Other schedule changes or updates on Thursday include:
* The Gophers’ second game of the season, vs. Rhode Island, will be available on stream only: Peacock.
* Maryland was chosen as the homecoming opponent. That game is Oct. 26, with kickoff coming at 11 a.m. or 2:30 or 3 p.m., depending on a future decision on broadcasting the game.
* The season opener will be on Fox this year. North Carolina visits Minnesota on that Thursday (Aug. 29) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The biggest change, though, for Gophers fans — and their neighbors — will be moving the rivalry game to Black Friday. Nebraska and Iowa have traditionally played on Black Friday — and now they’ll have company. The Cornhuskers-Hawkeyes game that day is moving to a primetime TV slot.
2024 Gophers football schedule
Aug. 29 (Thu), 7 p.m.: vs. North Carolina
Sept. 7, 11 a.m.: vs. Rhode Island
Sept. 14, 2:30 p.m.: vs. Nevada
Sept. 21, time tbd: vs. Iowa
Sept. 28, time tbd: at Michigan
Oct. 5, time tbd: vs. USC
Oct. 12, time tbd: at UCLA
Oct. 19: First bye week
Oct. 26, time tbd: vs Maryland (Homecoming)
Nov. 2, time tbd: at Illinois
Nov. 9, time tbd: at Rutgers
Nov. 16: Second bye week
Nov. 23: vs. Penn State
Nov. 29 (Fri), 11 a.m.: at Wisconsin
Minnesota built a 21-0 lead and held off a brief surge by the Badgers to finish the regular season at 7-5. Wisconsin fell to 5-7, ending its 22-year streak of gaining bowl eligibility.
