Minnesota played their 119th game against the University of Iowa on Saturday, 95 seasons in a row, ever since 1931. After the Gophers Friday night performance, Minnesota still leads the series 63-54-2.
The rivalry between the Gophers and the Hawkeyes started in 1935 when the governors of two states made a bet about the possession of the Floyd of Rosedale, the hog that would later be modeled into the well-known Bronze Hog statue.
In 1935, the tensions between the two teams were high after a rough game the year before. The all-white Gophers team targeted Hawkeyes Black star player Ozzie Simmons until the point of injury, where he had to leave the game.
The next year, Iowa Gov. Clyde Herring played into the tensions between the two states when he said, “If the officials stand for any rough tactics like Minnesota used last year, I’m sure the crowd won’t.”
In an attempt to ease the tensions, Minnesota Gov. Floyd Olson made a bet to trade a prize hog to whichever team won the game. Herring personally walked the hog into Olson’s office after a 13-6 Minnesota victory.
When the hog died, Gov. Olson commissioned a 15.5-inch by 21-inch bronze statue. Ever since then, the Hawkeyes and Gophers have traded the statue back and forth.
Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck spoke on this long-term rivalry. He said while his team may be a small piece of a great tradition, they still have a chance to make their mark.
“There was 118 before you, and there will be 119 after you, but you have the chance to have that small piece,” Fleck said to CBS Sports.
In 2023, the Gophers brought Floyd back to Minnesota for the first time since 2015. The Hawkeyes fought back and took the hog home in 2024.
The Hawkeyes will get to keep the Floyd of Rosedale after beating the Gophers 41-3. The loss marks Minnesota’s third away game loss in a row and their third loss of the season.
Fleck said he told his team the three hours they played was not good football.
“We did not play our best when we needed to play our absolute best,” Fleck said in a postgame press conference. “Things are going to happen like this, especially when playing a young quarterback, and it’s not all on him, it starts with me.”
The Gophers had a total of 24 rushing yards compared to Iowa’s 133.
Fleck made sure to give Iowa credit for their performance during the game.
“They absolutely won the football game, took the football game, earned the football game,” Fleck said. “Before I talk about us, I want to make sure that I give credit where credit’s due.”
Gophers redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey threw a total of 109 passing yards and three interceptions, one of which resulted in a pick-six.
Fleck said Lindsey is only going to grow from this game.
“His response mechanisms and his resolve is really, really inspiring,” Fleck said. “There are going to be some really, really dark tough times, and then there are going to be some really good times, that is just part of the development process.”
The Gophers prepare to host Michigan State on Nov. 1 for their second-to-last home game of the season.
Minnesota played their 119th game against the University of Iowa on Saturday, 95 seasons in a row, ever since 1931. After the Gophers Friday night performance, Minnesota still leads the series 63-54-2.
The rivalry between the Gophers and the Hawkeyes started in 1935 when the governors of two states made a bet about the possession of the Floyd of Rosedale, the hog that would later be modeled into the well-known Bronze Hog statue.
In 1935, the tensions between the two teams were high after a rough game the year before. The all-white Gophers team targeted Hawkeyes Black star player Ozzie Simmons until the point of injury, where he had to leave the game.
The next year, Iowa Gov. Clyde Herring played into the tensions between the two states when he said, “If the officials stand for any rough tactics like Minnesota used last year, I’m sure the crowd won’t.”
In an attempt to ease the tensions, Minnesota Gov. Floyd Olson made a bet to trade a prize hog to whichever team won the game. Herring personally walked the hog into Olson’s office after a 13-6 Minnesota victory.
When the hog died, Gov. Olson commissioned a 15.5-inch by 21-inch bronze statue. Ever since then, the Hawkeyes and Gophers have traded the statue back and forth.
Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck spoke on this long-term rivalry. He said while his team may be a small piece of a great tradition, they still have a chance to make their mark.
“There was 118 before you, and there will be 119 after you, but you have the chance to have that small piece,” Fleck said to CBS Sports.
In 2023, the Gophers brought Floyd back to Minnesota for the first time since 2015. The Hawkeyes fought back and took the hog home in 2024.
The Hawkeyes will get to keep the Floyd of Rosedale after beating the Gophers 41-3. The loss marks Minnesota’s third away game loss in a row and their third loss of the season.
Fleck said he told his team the three hours they played was not good football.
“We did not play our best when we needed to play our absolute best,” Fleck said in a postgame press conference. “Things are going to happen like this, especially when playing a young quarterback, and it’s not all on him, it starts with me.”
The Gophers had a total of 24 rushing yards compared to Iowa’s 133.
Fleck made sure to give Iowa credit for their performance during the game.
“They absolutely won the football game, took the football game, earned the football game,” Fleck said. “Before I talk about us, I want to make sure that I give credit where credit’s due.”
Gophers redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey threw a total of 109 passing yards and three interceptions, one of which resulted in a pick-six.
Fleck said Lindsey is only going to grow from this game.
“His response mechanisms and his resolve is really, really inspiring,” Fleck said. “There are going to be some really, really dark tough times, and then there are going to be some really good times, that is just part of the development process.”
The Gophers prepare to host Michigan State on Nov. 1 for their second-to-last home game of the season.
