The Floyd of Rosedale fight was decided last season by a guy’s hand signal. The rematch on Saturday will be decided by muscle flexing.

Iowa vs. Gophers 2024 is all about the trenches.

The winner of the bronze pig will be the team that has the upper hand in the mud.

Forget about historical records and all the more exciting stories that grab attention in rivalry games. Comparing quarterbacks and arguing about invalid fair-catch signals is entertaining, but this matchup comes down to the bigs.

It could be said that every football game depends on the play of the offensive and defensive lines. This is especially true when two similarly structured teams are involved, each knowing that their strength is the strength of the other and that it will be very difficult to win the game if they do not win the offensive line first.

“In my opinion, this game is always won in the trenches,” said Gophers coach PJ Fleck. “Always.”

There’s no secret to it. The Gophers know that every time they face Iowa, they’re going to be in for a tough, physical battle. Their matchups will be unforgettable.

Both teams have rosters filled with veterans and some future NFL players.