The Big Ten loves a good rivalry. If there’s a trophy involved, it’s all the better.

Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst talked about growing up in America’s Dairyland and how much it means to beat Minnesota and take home the spoils, Paul Bunyan’s Axe.

And it’ll be a special occasion when Northwestern and Illinois meet for the Land of Lincoln Trophy, if only because the game will be played at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Wisconsin and Minnesota have been playing for Paul Bunyan’s Axe since 1948, and the Badgers have won the last 11. Chryst watched the rivalry as a youngster and participated in it as a quarterback for the Badgers in the mid-1980s.

“It’s a real rivalry, and the rivalries and traditions make college football special,” he said. “Wisconsin and Minnesota can be proud of the game and the Battle for the Axe. It means a ton to the people involved and I know it means everything to our team.”

Beating Wisconsin would be doubly sweet for Minnesota this year. The Gophers would not only take back the axe, they also would become bowl eligible. Perhaps they can draw inspiration from Jerry Kill, who retired for health reasons last month but will be in attendance.

“We’ve been here five years and we haven’t won it yet,” new coach Tracy Claeys said. “It’s the one trophy game here at the University of Minnesota that we haven’t been able to get in Coach’s career. With him being at the game, it would be a huge event and very exciting for everybody involved.”