 Replica of the Little Brown Jug on display in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2007. The real jug is kept in storage. | |
| First meeting | October 17, 1892 Minnesota, 14–6 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | September 28, 2024 Michigan, 27–24 |
| Next meeting | 2026 |
| Trophy | Little Brown Jug |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 106 |
| All-time series | Michigan leads, 78–25–3 (.750)[1] |
| Trophy series | Michigan leads, 73–23–2 (.755) |
| Largest victory | Michigan, 58–0 (2011) |
| Longest win streak | Michigan, 16 (1987–2004) |
| Current win streak | Michigan, 5 (2015–present) |
TheLittle Brown Jug is a trophy contested between theMichigan Wolverines football team of theUniversity of Michigan and theMinnesota Golden Gophers football team of theUniversity of Minnesota. TheLittle Brown Jug is an earthenware jug that serves as atrophy awarded to the winner of the game.[2] It is one of theoldest and most played rivalries in American college football, dating to 1892. The Little Brown Jug is the most regularly exchanged rivalry trophy in college football, the oldest trophy game inFBS college football, and the second oldest rivalry trophy overall, next to the 1899Territorial Cup (which did not become a travelling/exchange trophy until 2001), contested between Arizona and Arizona State (which did not become a four-year college until 1925).[3]
Both universities are founding members of theBig Ten Conference. As a result of the Big Ten not playing a completeround-robin schedule, Michigan and Minnesota occasionally did not play. In 2011, with the conference's initiation of divisional play, Michigan and Minnesota were both placed in the Big Ten's Legends division under the new two-division alignment. However, when the conference expanded again three years later, the teams were split into opposite divisions (Michigan in the East, Minnesota in the West). The conference stated there will be only one protected crossover matchup under the new alignment (Indiana vs. Purdue for theOld Oaken Bucket), meaning the rivalry will not be contested every year.[4]
With the addition ofUCLA,USC,Oregon andWashington to the Big Ten Conference in 2024, the fate of this continued rivalry is up in the air, as Michigan and Minnesota were not classified as Protected Opponents, and are currently scheduled for both a home and away game against each other in 2024 and 2025.
Michigan is the current holder of the jug with a 27–24 victory on September 28, 2024.[5][6] Through the end of the 2024 season, Michigan leads the series, 78–25–3.[7]
The teams met for the first time in 1892 in Minneapolis, with Minnesota prevailing 14–6. Michigan and Minnesota played five more games over the next decade, Michigan winning four of those five.
Theearthenwarejug, originally used by Michigan coachFielding H. Yost, is painted with the victories of each team. The name most likely originates in the 1869 song of thesame name byJoseph Winner.
After Yost took over coaching the Wolverines in 1901,[9][10] the team went on to win 28 straight games.[11] In the meantime, Minnesota had been assembling teams themselves, and Gopher fans were excited about possibly ending the Wolverines' streak.
When Yost and the team came into Minneapolis for the1903 game, student manager Thomas B. Roberts was told to purchase something to carry water. Yost was somewhat concerned that Gopher fans might contaminate his water supply.[12] Roberts purchased a five-gallon jug for 30¢ from a local variety store inDinkytown.[13][14] The jug itself is known as aRed Wing Pottery "five gallon beehive jug", and was made inRed Wing, Minnesota.[15][2]
Twenty thousand fans watched the matchup between the two teams in an overflowingNorthrop Field. Minnesota held the "point-a-minute" squad to just onetouchdown, but hadn't yet managed to score themselves. Finally, late in the second half, the Gophers reached theendzone to tie the game at 6. As clouds from an impending storm hung overhead, Minnesota fans stormed the field in celebration. Order could not be restored and the game had to be called with two minutes remaining. The Wolverines walked off the field, leaving the jug behind in the locker room of theUniversity of Minnesota Armory.[16]
The next day custodian Oscar Munson brought the jug toL. J. Cooke, head of the Minnesota athletics department,[12] and declared in a thickScandinavian accent:[citation needed] "Yost left his jug."[citation needed] Exactly how Munson came to possess the jug is a mystery. Some accounts say that Munson purposely stole the jug in the chaos that ended the game, although most[who?] believe it was accidentally left behind. Thomas Roberts, writing in 1956, stated that the jug had served its purpose, so he intentionally left it sitting on the field.
Still, Cooke and Munson were excited to have this bit of memorabilia, proceeding to paint itbrown (it had originally beenputty-colored and currently is painted half blue, which is Michigan's color) and commemorate the day by writing "Michigan Jug –; Captured by Oscar, October 31, 1903" on the side along with the score "Michigan 6, Minnesota 6".[17] Minnesota's score was written many times larger than that of Michigan.
When the two schools met in football again in 1909, Cooke and the Minnesota team captain decided that playing for the jug "might be material to build up a fine tradition between the two institutions." When presented with this idea, Yost and Michigan's captain agreed, and has been a travelling trophy since.[12][18] Michigan took home the jug in 1909 and 1910. Minnesota and Michigan met up again in 1919 after Michigan rejoined theBig Ten Conference, marking the first year that Minnesota won the jug outright.
"The Battle of Giants" occurred in 1940, with undefeated Minnesota facing undefeated Michigan on November 9, 1940. Minnesota won 7–6. Minnesota went on to go 8–0 and win thenational championship.
In 1977, Minnesota stunned #1 Michigan 16–0;[20] it was the only loss of the regular season for the Wolverines as they advanced to (and lost) the1978 Rose Bowl to the Washington Huskies 27-20.[21][22]
In 1986, Minnesota was regarded as an easy victory for #2 Michigan as a 25-point underdog.[23] With two minutes to go and the game tied at 17, Minnesota quarterbackRickey Foggie scrambled to putChip Lohmiller in position to kick the winning field goal.[23] The Gophers took home the Little Brown Jug from Michigan for the first time since 1977. Similarly, it was Michigan's only loss in the regular season on their way to losing the1987 Rose Bowl.
The 2003 game was one of the most highly anticipated Michigan–Minnesota matchups in years.[24] This was the 100th Anniversary of the 1903 game. The Little Brown Jug was featured on the cover of the Michigan Football Media Guide.[25] Minnesota was ranked #17 and Michigan was ranked #20 with the game atHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Down 28–7, Michigan put together a comeback in the fourth quarter to win 38–35.[19][26][27] Michigan advanced to (and lost) the2004 Rose Bowl. The next season, in another highly anticipated game, #14 Michigan came back again in the fourth quarter to defeat #13 Minnesota 27–24. Michigan advanced to (and lost) the2005 Rose Bowl. In 2013, the 2003 game was singled out as one of the biggest setbacks to the Gopher football team rebuilding since their last Big Ten Championship in 1967.[28][29][30]
Michigan has dominated the series since 1968, during which Minnesota has held the jug only four times. On October 8, 2005, Minnesota claimed the jug for the first time since 1986, defeating Michigan 23–20 on a last second field goal inAnn Arbor, Michigan.[31] The Wolverines grabbed the trophy right back the next year on September 30, with a 28–14 victory inMinneapolis.
Michigan won all 12 meetings with Minnesota at theHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which the Gophers shared with theMinnesota Twins andMinnesota Vikings from 1982 through 2008. To date, Michigan has not lost a road game against the Gophers since 1977 and have won the last 17 games between the teams in Minnesota.[citation needed] The Gophers last defeated Michigan 30–14 in 2014, ending a six-game win streak by Michigan.[32]
 | This sectionhas an unclearcitation style. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style ofcitation andfootnoting.(September 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
[when?]
| Team | Michigan[33] | Minnesota[34] |
|---|---|---|
| National titles[35][36] | 12 | 7 |
| CFP appearances | 3 | 0 |
| Bowl appearances[37][38] | 51 | 20 |
| Postseason bowl record | 21–28 | 8–12 |
| Rose Bowl Game appearances | 20 | 2 |
| Rose Bowl Game wins | 9 | 1 |
| Big Ten divisional titles[39] | 3 | 0 |
| Big Ten titles | 45 | 18 |
| Consensus All-Americans[40][41] | 87 | 33 |
| Heisman Trophies[42] | 3 | 1 |
| All-time program record | 1004–353–36 | 710–533–44 |
| All-time win percentage | .729 | .569 |
| Michigan victories | Minnesota victories | Tie games |
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Note: Michigan and Minnesota played twice in 1926 (on October 16 in Ann Arbor and on November 20 in Minneapolis) due to conference scheduling issues for Minnesota.
