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University of Minnesota Athletics
Axe Battle Set for 11 a.m. Kickoff
9/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
The kick-off time for Minnesota's first trophy game of the 2009 football season has been set.
Big Ten Conference officials announced Monday that the annual battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe between the Golden Gophers and Wisconsin on Oct. 3 will start at 11 a.m. (CT) and air live from TCF Bank Stadium on either ESPN or ESPN2. A final determination on the broadcast will be made by the network following this week's slate of games of Sept. 26.
The game will mark the fourth 11 a.m. (CT) start of the young season and the third appearance in five games for Minnesota on the ESPN family of networks. The Gophers' season opener at Syracuse aired on ESPN2, while last week's battle with California was broadcast on ESPN.
The nation's most-played rivalry in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division IA), Minnesota and Wisconsin will be meeting for the 119th time when the Badgers visit TCF Bank Stadium on Oct. 3.
Minnesota leads the all-time series 59-51-8. However, Wisconsin holds a 34-24-3 edge since the two teams began playing for Paul Bunyan's Axe in 1948. The Gophers will be looking to capture the Axe for the first time since 2003.
Big Ten Football - Oct. 3 Television Schedule
11 a.m. CT
Arkansas State @ Iowa, ESPN Classic (*-or ESPN2)
Michigan @ Michigan State, BTN
Northwestern @ Purdue, BTN
Wisconsin @ Minnesota, ESPN or ESPN2
2:30 p.m. CT
Penn State @ Illinois, ABC Regional (ESPN Mirror)
6 p.m. CT
Ohio State @ Indiana, BTN
*- ESPN has indicated it may move Arkansas State at Iowa game from ESPN Classic to ESPN2 depending on the outcome of other non-Big Ten games this weekend.
