Copy shortlink: This might be Mike Sanford Jr.'s first time coaching in a Gophers-Wisconsin showdown, but it's certainly not his introduction to the rivalry. "I think I was in middle school, high school, where I saw highlights of a classic Minnesota-Wisconsin border battle game," the Gophers offensive coordinator said. " … I'll never forget seeing that Axe, and I was like, 'Wow, that's an incredible trophy.' " … It's a really unique rivalry in the sense that between these two states, it's humongous." The Gophers will meet the Badgers for the 130th time Saturday, a rescheduled matchup after the Gophers' COVID-19 outbreak knocked out the original Nov. 28 game and threatened to make 2020 just the second time since 1890 the annual rivalry didn't happen. And even a non-Midwest native like Sanford understands implicitly what taking Paul Bunyan's Axe means.