Iowa and Nebraska Clash in a Snowy Black Friday Battle
Alright, let’s break down what’s shaping up to be one of the more compelling Black Friday matchups in college football — a classic Big Ten showdown between Iowa and Nebraska. This rivalry has really evolved into something heated over the last decade, and even though it doesn’t have the century-old history some matchups boast, the intensity absolutely feels real. Fans on both sides will tell you this one means a whole lot more than just another late-season game.
Both teams come in at 7–4, and the push for that eighth win is a powerful motivator. In college football, the difference between 7–5 and 8–4 can feel enormous. It’s about bowl positioning, bragging rights, and sending your seniors out on a high note. And honestly, when rivalry week rolls around, records tend to get tossed aside anyway.
The conditions in Lincoln are rough — low temperatures, biting wind, and snow beginning to fall harder as the game gets underway. But that only adds to the atmosphere. Memorial Stadium feels like the perfect stage for this kind of grit-heavy fight.
Also Read:- Major M25 Disruptions After Multiple Crashes Near Upminster and Dartford
- Bruins Brace for a Shorthanded Black Friday Battle with the Rangers
Nebraska struck first thanks to Emmett Johnson, who has been their offensive spark all season. His early 70-yard burst set up a goal-line touchdown, and he continued piling up yardage through the first quarter. But Iowa responded quickly. A big kick return from Kaden Wetjen — who has made a career out of flipping field position — helped the Hawkeyes put up their first points. Shortly after, Iowa capitalized again when Mark Gronowski hit DJ Vonnahme for a 35-yard score, giving the Hawkeyes their first lead of the day.
The first quarter ended at 10-10, which is wild considering the last two meetings finished 13-10. It genuinely felt like both offenses came ready to break that trend, even with defenses tightening up near the goal line. Special teams miscues added a layer of chaos too — including a strange bouncing kickoff that Nebraska managed to recover and turn into points.
Just before halftime, Iowa reclaimed the lead again on a determined 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by Kamari Moulton’s short touchdown run. Snow swirling, crowd roaring, momentum swinging — everything you want from a Big Ten rivalry game was happening at once.
And beneath all of this, there’s the bigger storyline: Iowa has dominated this matchup since Nebraska joined the Big Ten, especially in Lincoln. Nebraska, meanwhile, is desperately pushing to break old patterns, reach eight wins for the first time since 2016, and finally take back a game that has slipped away from them far too often.
No matter how this ends, both teams are fighting like everything is on the line — because in a rivalry, it always is.
Read More:
0 Comments