Black Friday football is back, and Iowa gets a chance to make it four straight over Nebraska in the Heroes Trophy game.
Bush’s Picks
NEBIOWA
NEBIOWA
OverUnder
Best BetIowa
Iowa is the more stable program walking into this one, backed by a defense and offensive line that don't need to be reinvented every year. Nebraska is asking a transfer quarterback to be an upgrade on the fly behind a retooled line, and that kind of turnover usually shows up in November more than September. Until Rhule beats Iowa, backing the home team in this series is still the safer read.
Nebraska
+Added Mountain West POY Colandrea at QB
+Returns leading receivers Hunter and Barney Jr.
+Retooled O-line under new assistant Geep Wade
−Rhule just 19-19, 10-17 in Big Ten play
−Lost 40-16 in last meeting with Iowa
−Brutal schedule spots against Ohio State, Oregon
Iowa
+Won 3 straight vs Nebraska, 10-4 in trophy era
+9-4 finish in 2025 with a ranked bowl win
+O-line returns Lauck and Pieper as anchors
−Replacing all-time winningest starting QB
−Only 6 returning starters overall
−Offensive ceiling questions remain unresolved
Iowa has owned this series lately, and the Hawkeyes bring a 3-game win streak into the 2026 rematch after last year's 40-16 beatdown in Lincoln. Kirk Ferentz is entering his 28th season in Iowa City off a 9-4 finish and a bowl win over Vanderbilt, Iowa's first win over a ranked team since 2021. Nebraska, meanwhile, is still trying to get Matt Rhule's rebuild off the ground. He's 19-19 through three seasons and 10-17 in Big Ten play, which is why this year's biggest offseason move was going out and grabbing a new starting quarterback.
Both sides are replacing serious production under center. Nebraska brought in Anthony Colandrea, the reigning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, from UNLV to run an offense that returns receivers Nyziah Hunter and Jacory Barney Jr. Iowa has the tougher chair to fill: it has to replace the winningest quarterback in college football history and 2,000 total yards of offense, with Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown dueling for the job into fall camp. Neither program has settled that battle as of this preview, so whoever wins each job will still be finding their footing by the time the Heroes Trophy is on the line.
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NEB Nebraska
IOWA Iowa
Iowa's floor has always been its offensive line and defense, and that shows up again with Trevor Lauck and Kade Pieper anchoring a retooled front. Nebraska countered by bringing in Georgia Tech assistant Geep Wade to rebuild its own line around Colandrea's mobility. Both programs are betting the trenches carry them while a new quarterback grows into the job, which is exactly the kind of matchup that can turn into a rock fight by the time Thanksgiving weekend rolls around.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nov 20?vs Ohio State—
Nov 13?@ Rutgers—
Nov 6?@ Illinois—
Oct 30?vs Washington—
Oct 16?@ Oregon—
Oct 9?vs Indiana—
Oct 2?vs Maryland—
Sep 25?@ Michigan State—
Sep 19?vs North Dakota—
Sep 12?vs Bowling Green—
Sep 5?vs Ohio—
Iowa Hawkeyes
Nov 20?@ Illinois—
Nov 13?vs Purdue—
Nov 6?@ Northwestern—
Oct 30?vs Wisconsin—
Oct 9?@ Washington—
Oct 2?vs Ohio State—
Sep 25?@ Michigan—
Sep 19?vs Northern Iowa—
Sep 12?vs Iowa State—
Sep 5?vs Northern Illinois—
Recent form.
Special teams could matter more than usual too. Nebraska's group made a real leap in 2025, and while coordinator Mike Ekeler left for USC, Brett Maher steps in with placekicker Kyle Cunanan (16-of-19 last season) and punter Archie Wilson both back. Iowa, as always, plays a field-position game that leans on those exact margins, so this could easily come down to who wins the special-teams battle rather than who has the flashier skill talent.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Iowa Hawkeyes
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
This is still Black Friday in the Big Ten, a tradition dating back to 2011 when Nebraska joined the league, and Iowa still leads the trophy series 10-4 with Nebraska holding a 30-23-3 edge in the full all-time history. Rhule needs a signature road win to change the conversation in Lincoln, and Iowa just wants to keep doing what's worked: control the clock, lean on the defense, and let a new quarterback grow up slowly. Whichever team's rookie starter looks more comfortable in late November will probably decide who's hoisting the trophy again.
