Even though the Iowa Hawkeyes didn’t put on their best performance of the year, they left the field last weekend with what they had been hoping for for months: a close break that finally went their way. Not only was their walk-off field goal to defeat Michigan State spectacular, but it was also cathartic. The football gods finally turned things around for Iowa after they had spent a large portion of the season stuck on the losing end of close games, and it was made even more memorable by the fact that it happened on Senior Day.
The victory moved the Hawkeyes to 7-4 going into rivalry week and prepared them for a pivotal regular-season finale against Nebraska on Black Friday. However, the victory’s style had little effect on the country’s perception. Voters did not reward the program for barely escaping a struggling Spartans team, and Iowa’s resume stayed mostly unchanged. Similar to the most recent US LBM Coaches Poll, Iowa remained outside of the top 25 in the weekly USA TODAY Re-Rank. The Hawkeyes came in at number 26, which is not quite inside the door but close enough to sniff the rankings.
Iowa still has a good chance to finish the season on a high note. The Hawkeyes would have an eight-win regular season if they defeated Nebraska, and nine if they won the bowl. Reaching nine victories would be considered a quietly successful campaign in a year when many programs across the nation have struggled with inconsistency, instability, or outright chaos. It wouldn’t be spectacular, but it would be a strong season that stabilized the program and laid the groundwork for future endeavors.
Nebraska, their next opponent, has a similar record but is moving in the opposite direction. The Cornhuskers, who are likewise 7-4, dropped eight spots to No. 44 in this week’s re-rank following a difficult trip to Penn State. Not only did Nebraska lose, but it was overpowered, losing 37–10 in a game that left more questions than answers. With both teams still vying for postseason spots and bragging rights, the setback has increased pressure going into the rivalry game.
This isn’t just another late-season game, as any Hawkeyes or Huskers supporter will attest. One of the most fascinating November rivalries in the Big Ten is now Iowa vs. Nebraska. Documents are important. Momentum is important. However, pride is also important, and both teams have a lot on the line this season. Iowa’s strategy is still the same: rely on its defense, make the most of big opportunities, and grind out possessions.
Although style-point wins haven’t always resulted from that strategy, Iowa has remained competitive week after week. The victory over Michigan State served as an excellent illustration. It wasn’t dominant or attractive, but it was sufficient, and sometimes, particularly in November, that’s all that counts.
Nebraska, on the other hand, will be trying to move past the disappointment of losing to Penn State and demonstrate that the progress it has made this season is genuine. The Huskers have made real progress at 7-4, but a strong finish would confirm that progress. What had been beginning to look like a promising year would be ruined if the regular season ended with back-to-back losses.
Nebraska should have plenty of motivation when you consider that the game will take place in Lincoln. The rivalry is scheduled to air on CBS on Friday, November 28 at 11 a.m. CT, drawing a national audience to Memorial Stadium. It’s a holiday-week custom that has made a name for itself on the college football schedule, full of tense moments, painful memories, and emotional endings.
This game gives both teams an opportunity to rewrite the last chapter of their regular seasons, even though Iowa may still be slightly outside of the national rankings and Nebraska may be recovering from a difficult road loss. Furthermore, the last chapter is frequently the most important in rivalry games, particularly this one.
