I just can't get into a "rivalry" with Iowa. It's different for the folks who live on the Iowa/Nebraska border, probably, or for those fans of either team living in the other state. For me, and (I presume) for most of us who don't have constant contact with Iowegians, there's no extra interest in the game. It's just another game, like Colorado was to me.
Like CU, I see nothing about Iowa that I am envious of. I see nothing they've done, ever, that makes me wish Nebraska was like them, or that would in any way make me compare Nebraska to them, any more than I would compare Nebraska to CU, or to KU, or to Minnesota, or to Northwestern. None of those teams are Nebraska's peers. None of them have programs like ours, none of them have the national impact like ours, none of them are part of the national consciousness like ours.
There was once a billboard on I-180 heading into downtown, right next to the stadium, that said, "Every program has history. Few have Tradition." That's where Nebraska is separated from Iowa, Colorado, Minnesota, and the rest – their tradition of excellence. Nebraska's natural peers in the Big 10 are Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. All three rank in the top ten wins all-time. All three have Heisman Trophy winners. All three have national championships. All three have thirty or more bowl victories. All three are, along with Nebraska, pillars of college football.
Where is Iowa on those lists? One claimed national championship (to which LSU holds the rightful claim), one deserving Heisman Trophy winner, more than 200 fewer wins, a smattering of conference championships, and little sustained success. That is NOT to say that Iowa in any way is a bad college football team – they most certainly are not. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Iowa football, and as a member of the Big 10 they have every right to hold their heads high, to be proud of their well-earned place in their conference, and to be viewed as valued, respected members. But in no way is Iowa football comparable to the sustained excellence of Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan or Nebraska.
The games which will mean the most to me in the Big 10 are always going to be the matchups against Ohio State, against Michigan, and against Penn State. Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State – I expect these to be tough, well-fought games, sure. But they won't be any different, to me, than playing Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Colorado, or Texas Tech. Iowa will beat us once in a while. I expect the norm to be Nebraska wins with here and there a few Hawkeye victories. But over the next 30 years, it won't be Iowa who we're vying with for the conference title, it won't be Iowa on whom the season hinges. It'll be the traditional powers that have built programs of continued excellence, and it always will be.