Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore fires up the student section during warm up ahead of the New Mexico game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Fresh off its first bye week of the season, Michigan football returns home for its Big Ten home opener against one of its most-played opponents.

The 20th-ranked Wolverines welcome in Luke Fickell's struggling Wisconsin Badgers to Michigan Stadium for a noon ET kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Ann Arbor, Michigan — a game that will be featured as Fox's "Big Noon Saturday" game of the week.

The Oct. 4 game is not only the first trip to Ann Arbor for Wisconsin since 2020, when the Badgers upset the Wolverines 49-11, but also the 71st all-time meeting between both longtime Big Ten programs. It also marks the return of Michigan coach Sherrone Moore after he served a two-game self-imposed suspension by the program.

A win on Oct. 4 for Michigan would mark the 11th win in the last 18 meetings against the Badgers. Meanwhile, a win for Wisconsin would be its first against a ranked opponent under Fickell, and would likely cool down his rather warm hot seat in Madison.

For as often as the Wolverines and Badgers have met, however, their series isn't one of several Big Ten games to put a trophy up for grabs. Here's what to know:

Do Michigan, Wisconsin football play for a trophy?

No, Michigan and Wisconsin do not play in a Big Ten trophy game, despite the Badgers being the sixth-most common opponent for the Wolverines, according to Michigan's game notes for this week.

Saturday's meeting between Michigan and Wisconsin will be the 71st in program history. The Wolverines lead the all-time series against the Badgers 52-17-1, and are 24-7 against Wisconsin when the game is played in Ann Arbor.

Michigan football trophy games

Michigan competes for three trophies against its Big Ten rivals, which ironically does not include the annual edition of "The Game" against Ohio State. The three trophies for which the Wolverines compete include the Paul Bunyan Trophy (vs. Michigan State), the Little Brown Jug (Minnesota) and George Jewett Trophy (Northwestern).

In 2025, Michigan has just two trophy games on its Big Ten schedule with the Paul Bunyan Trophy in Week 9 and the George Jewett Trophy in Week 12. The Wolverines will look to win the Little Brown Jug for the sixth consecutive time next season, when Michigan takes on Minnesota on the road.

Wisconsin football trophy games

Wisconsin also competes for three trophies in the Big Ten: the Heartland Trophy (vs. Iowa), the Freedom Trophy (vs. Nebraska) and Paul Bunyan's Axe (vs. Minnesota).

The Badgers will compete for the Heartland Trophy vs. Iowa and Paul Bunyan's Axe vs. Minnesota on Oct. 11 and Nov. 29, respectively.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do Michigan, Wisconsin football play for a trophy? What to know

Reporting by John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

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