Wisconsin plays in two of CBS Sports' top 10 Big Ten football rivalry games

Two of the Wisconsin Badgers’ biggest rivalry games made CBS Sports’ ranking of the top 10 Big Ten football rivalries on Friday.

Those inclusions: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota (No. 2) and Wisconsin vs. Iowa (No. 7).

Related: Big Ten Football Power Index Rankings for 2024: Which teams are underrated, overrated?

The list was unsurprisingly led by Ohio State vs. Michigan — arguably the greatest rivalry in sports. Iowa vs. Minnesota then came in at No. 3, followed by UCLA vs. USC at No. 4, Michigan vs. Michigan State at No. 5, Oregon vs. Washington at No. 6, Indiana vs. Purdue at No. 8, Iowa vs. Nebraska at No. 9 and Illinois vs Purdue at No. 10.

Wisconsin leads each of its two ranked rivalries all-time (48-46-2 vs. Iowa and 63-60-8 vs. Minnesota), though the records are nearly even. Critically, each matchup perfectly represents what a great college football rivalry should include: a close geographical distance, great history, evenly-matched programs and a good rivalry trophy.

Wisconsin’s battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe and the Heartland Trophy both fit every criteria.

The Badgers’ lopsided ‘rivalry’ against the Nebraska Cornhuskers also made the list at No. 18. That’s more of a one-sided rivalry than anything, especially given the rivalry’s youth and the fact the Badgers haven’t lost to the Cornhuskers in nearly 12 years.

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