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Iowa’s Nate Stanley, Chauncey Gholston talk rivalry vs. Nebraska, keeping Heroes Trophy
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The rivalry game between Iowa and Nebraska may be one of the newer ones in the B1G, but it certainly doesn’t make it any less important. Headed into the final weekend of the season, it’s a game both sides desperately want to win.
On Tuesday, Iowa’s players talked about the significance of the rivalry game with Nebraska and the importance of keeping the coveted Heroes Trophy in Iowa City this weekend. The two teams go head to head on Black Friday.
Matching Nebraska’s intensity and being well prepared for the contest are both top priorities for the Hawkeyes.
“We know whenever we play these guys there’s an added intensity for the Heroes Trophy,” said quarterback Nate Stanley, according to IowaFBLive. “We have to match and exceed (their) intensity.”
Iowa has won four straight games in the head to head series. Since the Huskers joined the B1G, the two teams have met eight times, with the Hawkeyes leading the series 5-3.
Defensive lineman Chauncey Gholston reiterated just how important winning this game is to Iowa.
“It’s a rivalry. We’re trying to keep the trophy here,” Gholston said. “We don’t want to look past anybody.”
There are some implications on the line on Friday, as well as the Heroes Trophy. If Nebraska finds a way to pull off the upset, it will improve to 6-6 on the season, securing a bowl berth for the first time since 2016. Iowa can keep its hopes of a 10-win season alive with a victory, and would improve to 9-3 on the year.
Last year, the Hawkeyes won on a game-winning field goal by Miguel Recinos, lifting Iowa to a 31-28.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB