Nebraska vs Iowa Football: Preview, Breakdown, and How to Watch

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Black Friday’s almost here, and you know what that means—Nebraska vs. Iowa. This is one of those college football rivalries that just feels bigger every year. The 56th meeting kicks off Friday morning at Memorial Stadium. Both teams are sitting on seven wins, so there’s a lot riding on this one—think bowl game implications and bragging rights. Nebraska’s coming off a rough loss to Penn State, and now they’re up against a tough Iowa squad led by a freshman quarterback. Let’s take a closer look at what might go down.

Table of Contents

Rivalry Week: Nebraska vs. Iowa

Black Friday and college football just go together, right? Nebraska and Iowa always bring the heat, and this year, both sides are itching to finish the regular season with a win. The stakes feel high—maybe higher than usual.

Head Coaches and Team Records

Kirk Ferentz is basically an institution at Iowa by now—27 seasons, 223 wins. Under him, Iowa’s locked up plenty of Big Ten and division titles. Nebraska’s Matt Rhule is still building his program, but you can see the improvement in his third year, even with a few bumps.

Kirk Ferentz: 27th season at Iowa, 223-149 career record
Matt Rhule: Third year at Nebraska, showing clear progress

Season Performances

Iowa comes in at 7-4, with wins over Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan State. They’ve stumbled against some tough teams like Iowa State, Indiana, Oregon, and USC. Nebraska, meanwhile, is trying to shake off that blowout loss to Penn State and finish strong.

Key Returners and Departures

Lots of roster shakeups for both sides this year. Iowa’s defense, run by Phil Parker, is still a force. Nebraska’s special teams have gotten a boost under Mike Ekeler. Keep an eye on Emmett Johnson for Nebraska and Kaden Wetjen for Iowa—they’re both difference-makers.

Emmett Johnson: Nebraska’s standout running back
Kaden Wetjen: Iowa’s top return man with six career return touchdowns

Three Things to Watch

This one’s probably going to swing on a few key matchups. Nebraska has to handle Iowa’s relentless defense. Special teams could totally flip the script. And then there’s Nebraska’s freshman QB, TJ Lateef—he’s got a lot on his plate.

1. Do the Iowa Fronts Expose Nebraska?

Nebraska’s line had a rough time against Penn State, and Iowa’s lines are no joke either. The Hawkeyes are top 15 nationally in just about every defensive stat—rushing, passing, total, scoring, you name it. TJ Lateef, Nebraska’s freshman quarterback, is really going to be tested here.

2. Special Teams Showdown

Special teams might actually decide this one. Nebraska’s been solid in punt and kick returns, plus kick return defense. But Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen? He’s got four return touchdowns this season and can change a game in a flash. Nebraska’s Kenneth Williams—if he’s healthy—could be a big factor too.

3. TJ Lateef vs. Phil Parker’s Defense

TJ Lateef is still pretty green and now he’s up against one of the best defenses in the country. Last week, he went 21-for-37 for 187 yards and ran one in against Penn State. Nebraska’s offensive line has to step up and give him time. Otherwise, Emmett Johnson might end up carrying most of the load, but honestly, that might not be enough against Iowa’s defense.

Want more details? Check out the full preview and breakdown.

Conclusion

The Nebraska vs. Iowa rivalry is shaping up to be a real nail-biter. Both teams have a lot riding on this one.

Nebraska wants to bounce back after a tough loss. Iowa, on the other hand, is hoping to keep its momentum going this season.

There are a few matchups that could swing things either way. Special teams might end up being the difference, honestly.

All eyes are on Nebraska’s freshman quarterback. Can he handle the pressure? Guess we’ll find out on Black Friday.

If you’re following the Huskers, go ahead and bookmark Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI. You might want to subscribe to HuskerMax on YouTube, too, or just check HuskerMax.com whenever you get the urge.

Joe Hughes is the founder of CollegeNetWorth.com, a comprehensive resource on college athletes' earnings potential in the NIL era. Combining his passion for sports with expertise in collegiate athletics, Joe provides valuable insights for athletes, fans, and institutions navigating this new landscape.

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