In late November, Nebraska never seems to be a welcoming place for rival secondaries, and Friday night served as a reminder of why rivalry football is so different. The stakes were high, the pace was unrelenting, and the outcome was clear for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The 2025 regular season concluded with a 40–16 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, demonstrating once more that Iowa Football rules November. However, it also served as a reminder that blowouts almost always result in bruises.
With tremendous momentum against Nebraska, Kirk Ferentz’s team went into the game at 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten Conference. The series has historically belonged to Iowa. Friday merely reinforced a pattern that is starting to resemble dominance rather than competition. As if that weren’t enough, the Hawkeyes have now won 10 of the previous 11 encounters and have won seven straight at Memorial Stadium, turning it into a nightmare for the home team. Those figures practically cease to seem plausible to fans who have followed this matchup for over ten years. But in a rivalry, the feeling at the time is more important than the past. Additionally, Iowa seemed to be in control for the majority of the evening, both emotionally and on the scoreboard.
Early on, they were particularly perceptive. The offense quickly found rhythm, the defense set the tone, and special teams never faltered. Iowa’s favorite custom is finishing the regular season strong. Even so, the absence of starting cornerback TJ Hall, who was out but on the verge of returning, hurt the secondary before the game even started. Another blow came halfway through the first quarter. After a collision that caused immediate concern on Iowa’s sidelines, strong safety Koen Entringer left the field.
The coaching staff sent the junior defender inside for evaluation right away, even though he wasn’t out for very long. After spending the remainder of the quarter in the locker room, he went back to the sidelines to watch the action with his helmet off. It served as a reminder that when the Heroes Heroes Trophy Game is at stake, players hardly ever consider their own safety. Almost every week, Entringer plays with his eyes forward, focused on making an impact, and daring offenses to find the middle of the field.
His absence led to a flurry of conjecture. A concussion? Shoulder? Something worse? The courteous tendency might have been to allay concerns after Iowa’s easy victory. Fans, however, don’t worry. They worry loudly, compulsively, and frequently irrationally. This season, there were comparisons to other secondary injuries throughout the conference, armchair diagnoses, and social media threads. After the competition, however, Ferentz ended the guessing games with a sigh of relief-inducing clarity. “Yes, he will be alright,” Ferentz replied. “We lost a few guys today who were unable to attend, but hopefully everyone will be here in a few days, prepared to go. It ought to be good. TJ Hall will also be a member of that group. He’s there.
It was given in the traditional Ferentz cadence, which is steady, calm, and perhaps 5% weary of being asked the same question over and over. However, the message was unambiguous. Entringer and Hall should both return to the field soon, according to Iowa. For a defense getting ready for bowl season, where practice reps are nearly as important as game snaps, that is significant. Ferentz’s words promised availability rather than perfection. At this time of year, that was all Iowa supporters needed to relax about.
In addition to providing an update on injuries, the victory added a line to the November thesis that Iowa continues to submit for peer review. After 27 games in November, they are currently 23-4. That’s not only excellent. That is ridiculous. October stamina is a dream for most programs. November resolve is the lifeblood of Iowa. Iowa peaks and contenders crack during this month. Iowa appears to be beginning a new season while others struggle to qualify for the bowl. Its durability isn’t aesthetically pleasing. It’s structural, based on growth, perseverance, and a culture that genuinely feels that physicality is more effective than flashy quarterback play in the cold.
In terms of offense, Iowa’s 40 points are the highest they have scored against Nebraska since their 56–14 victory in 2017. That 2017 game was the last time Iowa-Nebraska wasn’t decided by one possession. For the first time in almost eight years, there was no single-score result between the schools on Friday. Not just a streak was broken. It broke a formula. This rivalry has long been characterized by fourth-quarter nail biting, slow-burn stress, and field position. This time? Nebraska was never given a chance to breathe because Iowa lit the fuse early.
Although the scoreboard conveys the story, the subtext is more important. TJ Lateef, a freshman quarterback for Nebraska, was gifted and occasionally unfazed, but Iowa made him work hard for every opportunity. There is always a “welcome to the league” moment for young quarterbacks entering rivalries. Lateef received a handful from Iowa. And to be honest, that will likely benefit him in the future. These days, difficult lessons give better stories space to develop.
The legendary George Kittle of Iowa responded to Nebraska’s pregame taunts earlier in the week as part of the postgame chatter. The back-and-forth only made things more interesting. A little disrespect never hurts anyone, but rivalries don’t require any additional seasoning. It provides a story for the outside world to cling to. The story inside the locker rooms was more straightforward: play for your name only, trust your growth, and win your battles. Iowa is waiting now. On December 7, the bowl’s destination will be revealed. Tension is not the same as suspense. It’s patience wrapped in excitement. The right matchup can feel like dessert for teams that know how to finish a year strong, but bowl season rewards aren’t guaranteed. And Iowa is deserving of dessert.
Ferentz didn’t have to smile when he gave the injury update, but he didn’t. In any case, you could practically hear the whole Iowa fan base reacting on his behalf. relief. optimism. Ready to go. secondary health. Bowl reps coming. Drama was the only thing lacking from the evening. Perhaps a little less drama isn’t such a bad thing, given what the sport has produced in recent seasons. Wins on the rivalry road in November are expected to hurt. Friday night only hurt in one area for Iowa—briefly, medically, and now, comfortingly, momentarily. A clear message was conveyed to the rest of the sport: Iowa’s November is not a trend. It’s a takeover.
