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Michigan vs. Minnesota: What is the Little Brown Jug?

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•09/27/24•

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NCAA Football: Michigan at Minnesota
Oct 7, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Michigan Wolverines fans celebrates with the little brown jug after the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

The Michigan Wolverines and Minnesota Golden Gophers meet on Saturday in the 99th battle for the Little Brown Jug, one of the most storied traveling trophies in the sport. But what are the origins of the weathered relic of days gone by?

That’s what several that are not in the know will ask ahead of Saturday’s game, set for a noon kickoff as part of FOX’s Big Noon Saturday slate of games. For this year’s edition, U-M is favored by 9.5 points with the over/under for total points scored set at 35.5.

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The origins of the Little Brown Jug date back to the matchup between the two squads in 1903. Michigan coach Fielding H. Yost asked a student manager to purchase a jug to carry water for the game, concerned that Minnesota fans might mess with the water supplied to them. The jug was purchased for 30 cents in Dinkytown and was made in Red Wing, Minnesota.

Tied 6-6 late in the game, a storm cloud overhead led to Minnesota fans rushing the field, which resulted in the game being called. Michigan left the jug behind in the locker room of the University of Minnesota Armory. The custodian brought it to L.J. Cooke, who ran the Minnesota athletic department, who then had it painted it brown and wrote “Michigan Jug –; Captured by Oscar, October 31, 1903” with the 6-6 score on it. When the two programs met again in 1909, Cooke suggested that the teams play for the jug as a trophy.

Michigan won the first two meetings with the jug as part of the bounty in 1909 and 1910. Minnesota won it back in 1919. The Wolverines lead the all-time series 77-25-3, and the series since the trophy has been involved 72-23-2. The longest win streak in the series was 16 games for U-M, which stretched from 1987-2004. Michigan currently has a four-game win streak in the series with wins in 2015 (29-26 W), 2017 (33-10 W), 2020 (49-24 W) and 2023 (52-10 W).

Minnesota has two wins in the series since 1986, a 23-20 win in Ann Arbor on Oct. 8, 2005 and another at the Big House on Sept. 27, 2014, a 30-14 decision.

The Golden Gophers have not won a home game in the series since 1977, a 16-0 victory.

The Little Brown Jug has a replica on display at Schembechler Hall. The real one, which will be on the sidelines on Saturday, is kept in storage.

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