The Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe might become a Black Friday tradition like the doorbuster sales at your nearby big-box store.

The Gophers-Badgers rivalry football game this year is being played the day after Thanksgiving for the first time in its 134-game history.

While the Big Ten has not yet finalized and shared its schedule for the 2025 season, this rivalry could find a home here for years to come.

Here are some things to consider:

— Leaders within the Gophers and Badgers needed to agree for this game to be played on Friday. Their willingness now would indicate they would approve in the future, too. They each lose a day of preparations, so no competitive advantage gained, and the 4-1/2-hour bus ride makes for an easier trip.

“I don’t have a preference whether it’s Friday or Saturday. I just love playing it,” Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said Monday.

— The Iowa-Nebraska game moved to Black Friday in 2011 and hasn’t shifted in the past 13 seasons, and that includes amid the pandemic in 2020. The 2024 iteration of that game will be played in prime time on NBC.

— It’s hard to stand out in an expanded, 18-team Big Ten Conference, and a Black Friday game can be seen as an opportunity to fill a network TV slot when fans are at home over the holiday. Despite both programs being around .500, the Axe game will be seen on CBS.

“There’s other things that are way above my pay grade of why things are done and the schedules are made and the TV deals,” Fleck said. “We’re really grateful. 11 a.m. kickoff and we’ll be there in Madison. Look forward to a great game.”

Coordination

Fleck assessed how the first seasons have gone with new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman and new special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky.

On Hetherman, Fleck was straightforward. “Fantastic,” he said. “(Hetherman) has exceeded my expectations.”

After a one-year dip in the last year with Joe Rossi, Hetherman has returned the Gophers to one of the top statistical defenses in the country. Minnesota is allowing only 18.5 points (15th in the nation) and 302 yards (12th).

Fleck worked with Ligashesky on the 2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “He always allowed the players to play fast,” Fleck said. “That is what I’ve seen from our special teams.”

The Gophers special teams units have mostly been average this season, but Fleck said he has seen improvement as the year progressed.

Special teams played a huge role in the 26-25 loss to Penn State last Saturday. They blocked a punt and an extra point, which was returned for a two-point conversion, but they gave up a fake punt on fourth and one that propelled the Nittany Lions to a win.

Famous assistant

Mo Ibrahim, the Gophers all-time leading rusher, has become an assistant running back coach this season. After a playing stint with the Vikings in August, he has returned to his alma mater and has been helping out with his former position.

The lax rules on the amount of assistant coaches makes this possible.

“Really learning the ins and outs of the coaching profession, which he is finding out is very different than playing,” Fleck said.

Ibrahim, who rushed for 4,668 yards from 2018 to 2022, spoke to the team before the Penn State game. He chipped in 33 yards in the upset of the No. 4 Nittany Lions in 2019.

Two teammates from that 2019 team are also on staff: Winston DeLattiboudere (defensive line) and Mariano Sori-Marin (nicklebacks).

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