Will Gophers-Badgers become a staple on Black Friday?

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…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/gophers-badgers-become-staple-black-212000242.html

Author : Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

Publish date : 2024-11-28 21:20:00

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