The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Floyd of Rosedale

Minnesota63-54-2Iowa
National Program I#39 of 138–Power Program II#22 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Minnesota leads the all-time series 63-54-2. They've met 119 times since 1901. Minnesota once took 11 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Minnesota
Win total
5.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +7
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe Minnesota's team performance this season has been historically bad
This has to be the worst Wisconsin team in recent memory right? I mean even the O-Line is playing like ass, even when they've been not great the O-Line has worked.
Verified verbatim
Iowa
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+8
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +21
What fans are saying · program direction
fans believe Kirk Ferentz's team often wins by narrow margins
Iowa has had that 7-3 game and the infamous 6-4 victory with a fuck you safety. The years pass and times changes but Kirk Ferentz getting low scoring wins is inevitable.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1901–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeMinnesotaIowaevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Minnesota won, gray: Iowa won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Iowa has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Minnesota led 8 and Iowa led 15.

more passmore runMinnesotaIowa2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262024Minnesota 16.3 ptsIowa won 31-142014Iowa 16.2 ptsMinnesota won 51-142004Iowa 15.4 ptsIowa won 29-27
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Minnesota by 75 in 1903. The biggest crowd, 70,585, was in 2015.

The coaching duels

P.J. Fleck vs Kirk Ferentz2-8
Glen Mason vs Kirk Ferentz3-5
Bernie Bierman vs Edward Anderson5-2
Murray Warmath vs Forest Evashevski2-5
John Gutekunst vs Hayden Fry2-4
Murray Warmath vs Jerry Burns4-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
90-157
Iowa leads
1st-rounders
6-22
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
MinnesotaIowa
1960s7-2
1970s18-12
1980s10-22
1990s6-20
2000s18-33
2010s12-37
2020s19-31

Best picks, either side

2004Robert Gallery Offensive Tackle · Oakland RaidersRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2015Brandon Scherff Offensive Tackle · Washington RedskinsRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
2019T.J. Hockenson Tight End · Detroit LionsRd 1, pick 8#8 overall
1997Tommy Knight Defensive Back · Arizona CardinalsRd 1, pick 9#9 overall
1972Craig Clemons Defensive Back · Chicago BearsRd 1, pick 12#12 overall
1986Chuck Long Quarterback · Detroit LionsRd 1, pick 12#12 overall
2020Tristan Wirfs Offensive Tackle · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 13#13 overall
2023Lukas Van Ness Defensive End · Green Bay PackersRd 1, pick 13#13 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Iowa1.08×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2026Minnesota13-10
2025Iowa41-3
2024Iowa31-14
2023Minnesota12-10Iowa — decided by 2
2022Iowa13-10Minnesota — decided by 3
2021Iowa27-22
2020Iowa35-7
2019Iowa23-19Minnesota — both ranked
2018Iowa48-31
2017Iowa17-10
2016Iowa14-7
2015Iowa40-35
2014Minnesota51-14
2013Iowa23-7

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Minnesota’s chance to win through that meeting. Minnesota is 2-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2025: loud. Fans of both teams were loud at once in 2022. The bracket marks where.

2026Minnesota 13-10Minnesota won 13-10 vs Iowa. Chance to win started at 36%, low 25%, high better than 99%.Busy
2025Iowa 41-3Minnesota lost 3-41 at Iowa. Chance to win started at 22%, low under 1%, high 22%.Loud
2024Iowa 31-14Minnesota lost 14-31 vs Iowa. Chance to win started at 41%, low under 1%, high 61%.
2023Minnesota 12-10Minnesota won 12-10 at Iowa. Chance to win started at 35%, low 17%, high 84%.
2022Iowa 13-10Minnesota lost 10-13 vs Iowa. Chance to win started at 56%, low 10%, high 72%.Busy
2021Iowa 27-22Minnesota lost 22-27 at Iowa. Chance to win started at 40%, low under 1%, high 77%.
2020Iowa 35-7Minnesota lost 7-35 vs Iowa. Chance to win started at 40%, low under 1%, high 42%.
2019Iowa 23-19Minnesota lost 19-23 at Iowa. Chance to win started at 40%, low 3%, high 40%.
2018Iowa 48-31Minnesota lost 31-48 vs Iowa. Chance to win started at 31%, low 1%, high 31%.
“Passing TD Rushing TD Defensive TD Return TD Keep the pedal to the floor, Kirk”
An Iowa fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “Floyd ✅ Jug ✅ Axe ✅ Broken Chair ✅”
    A Minnesota fan
  • 2025
    “Passing TD Rushing TD Defensive TD Return TD Keep the pedal to the floor, Kirk”
    An Iowa fan

Share the loudest meeting

This season’s plays, Minnesota and Iowa

Official highlights with our numbers, from the 6 plays on film when they met.

  1. Q4, 3:46 · Iowa down 7, ties itIowa scores a touchdownIowa at Minnesota, week 8Q4, 3:46 · Iowa 10, Minnesota 103:46Game-tying touchdown for Iowa with 3:46 left3:46Game-tying touchdown for Iowa with 3:46 leftGame-tying touchdown for Iowa with 3:46 leftH.Brown pass complete deep middle to R.Vander Zee caught at MINN12, for 37 yards to the MINN00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN kick attempt good, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  2. Q2, 0:10 · Iowa tiedT.J. Bush intercepts Hank BrownIowa at Minnesota, week 8Q2, 0:10 · Iowa 3, Minnesota 3▼16%Iowa’s chance to win, 66% to 50%▼16%Iowa’s chance to win, 66% to 50%H.Brown pass intercepted by T.Bush Jr. at MINN37 QB hurried by K.Menz, End Of PlayWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  3. Q1, 5:42 · Iowa down 3Joey Gerlach intercepts Jeremy HecklinskiIowa at Minnesota, week 8Q1, 5:42 · Iowa 0, Minnesota 3Iowa turned it over in the red zoneIowa turned it over in the red zoneJ.Hecklinski pass intercepted by J.Gerlach at MINN02, End Of PlayWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  4. Q2, 8:30 · Minnesota up 3Minnesota turns it overIowa at Minnesota, week 8Q2, 8:30 · Minnesota 3, Iowa 03Minnesota’s turnover led to a field goal3Minnesota’s turnover led to a field goalMinnesota’s turnover led to a field goalD.Lindsey pass intercepted by D.Lee at MINN49 QB hurried by J.Wallace D.Lee return 28 yards to the MINN21 (J.Tracy), out of bounds penalty MINN Personal Foul (B.Warren) 10 yards from MINN21 to MINN11, 1ST DOWNWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  5. Q4, 6:40 · Iowa down 7Matt Kingsbury intercepts Hank BrownIowa at Minnesota, week 8Q4, 6:40 · Iowa 3, Minnesota 10Matt Kingsbury's first career interceptionMatt Kingsbury's first career interceptionH.Brown pass intercepted by M.Kingsbury at IOWA46, End Of PlayWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  6. Q4, 9:55 · Minnesota up 7Joseph Anderson sacks Drake Lindsey for a 1-yard lossIowa at Minnesota, week 8Q4, 9:55 · Minnesota 10, Iowa 3▼4%Minnesota’s chance to win, 81% to 77%▼4%Minnesota’s chance to win, 81% to 77%D.Lindsey sacked for loss of 1 yard to the MINN42 (J.Anderson)Watch from this playCFB ON FOX

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.