University of Minnesota Athletics
This annual battle for border supremacy between the Athletic Departments at the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin began in 2004-05 with the Badgers holding an 11-10 advantage.
The two institutions made an adjustment to the scoring system prior to the 2005-06 season by awarding points to the school which finishes higher at the Big Ten championship in 11 sports in which the Badgers and Golden Gophers don't have a head-to-head competition.
In the first year of the award, points were awarded only in the 11 sports in which UW and UM met in a head-to-head competition.
Officials changed the scoring so that more student-athletes, coaches and fans could be involved in the program. Schools will now earn points for finishing higher at the conference championship event in the additional 11 sports where the schools don't face each other directly.
In the initial year of the battle, each of the 11 sports originally included in the competition had 40 points at stake. If the teams meet just once annually (football as an example), then the winner gets 40 points and the loser gets zero. If the teams meet twice (women's basketball, for example), the winner of each game gets 20 points and the losers get zero. If the teams meet four times (men's hockey for example), then the winner of each game gets 10 points and the loser gets zero. If a game ends in a tie, the points are split (20 to each school).
The new scoring configuration maintains the original scoring structure and adds 40 points to the higher finishing school at the Big Ten championship in the sports of men's and women's cross country, golf, indoor track and outdoor track, swimming and diving and women's rowing.
| 2025-26 Border Battle Point Totals | ||||
|
Sport (Possible Pts) |
Date |
Site |
UM Pts | UW Pts |
| Soccer (40) | Oct. 4, 2025 | Minneapolis | ||
| Men's Hockey (10) | Oct. 30, 2025 | Madison | ||
| Men's Cross Country (40) | Oct. 31, 2025 | Big Ten | ||
| Women's Cross Country (40) | Oct. 31, 2025 | Big Ten | ||
| Women's Hockey (10) | Oct. 31, 2025 | Madison | ||
| Men's Hockey (10) | Nov. 1, 2025 | Madison | ||
| Women's Hockey (10) | Nov. 1, 2025 | Madison | ||
| Volleyball (20) | Nov. 5, 2025 | Madison | ||
| Volleyball (20) | Nov. 28, 2025 | Minneapolis | ||
| Football (40) | Nov. 29, 2025 | Minneapolis | ||
| Men's Basketball (20) | Jan. 13, 2026 | Minneapolis | ||
| Women's Basketball (40) | Jan. 28, 2026 | Minneapolis | ||
| Men's Basketball (20) | Jan. 28, 2026 | Madison | ||
| Women's Hockey (10) | Jan. 30, 2026 | Minneapolis | ||
| Men's Hockey (10) | Jan. 30, 2026 | Minneapolis | ||
| Women's Hockey (10) | Jan. 31, 2026 | Minneapolis | ||
| Men's Hockey (10) | Jan. 31, 2026 | Minneapolis | ||
| Women's Basketball (40) | Feb. 15, 2026 | Madison | ||
| Women's Swimming & Diving (40) | Feb. 21, 2026 | Big Ten | ||
| Men's Swimming & Diving (40) | Feb. 28, 2026 | Big Ten | ||
| Women's Indoor Track & Field (40) | Feb. 28, 2026 | Big Ten | ||
| Women's Golf (40) | April 26, 2026 | Big Ten | ||
| Men's Golf (40) | May 3, 2026 | Big Ten | ||
| Women's Outdoor Track & Field (40) | May 17, 2026 | Big Ten | ||
| Men's Outdoor Track & Field (40) | May 17, 2026 | Big Ten | ||
| Rowing (40) | May 17, 2026 | Big Ten | ||
| Wrestling (40) | TBA | TBA | ||
| Tennis (40) | TBA | TBA | ||
| Softball (40) | TBA | TBA | ||
| Point Totals | 0 | 0 | ||
Previous Results:
2024-25: Wisconsin 440-360
2023-24: Wisconsin 595-205
2022-23: Wisconsin 540-260
2021-22: Wisconsin 535-265
2020-21: Wisconsin 445-335
2019-20: Wisconsin led 350-290 before Covid-19 global pandemic canceled remaining events
2018-19: Minnesota 500-380
2017-18: Minnesota 470-410
2016-17: Wisconsin 480-400
2015-16: Minnesota 530-350
2014-15: Minnesota 465-415
2013-14: Minnesota 560-320
2012-13: Minnesota 565-315
2011-12: Wisconsin 455-425
2010-11: Minnesota 455-425
2009-10: Minnesota 550-330
2008-09: Minnesota 535-345
2007-08: Wisconsin 465-415
2006-07: Wisconsin 445-435
2005-06: Minnesota 530-350
2004-05: Wisconsin 215-205