Redux
Donor
As we creep closer to our 4th year in our new home some things to ponder: Taylor Martinez is in the NFL, There will be no new NCAA game this year, and for the first time in history the highest plethora of college football will crown a champion via playoff. Times they are a changing. Also, we will be conference mates with Maryland so there's that. Three years is nowhere long enough to establish a rivalry but how are our potential bad blood series developing? Who are the contenders?
Penn State - Upon entering the league the Nittany Lions were paired with the Huskers as cross division foes for a yearly match-up. In 3 tries PSU has come up short in its efforts to knock off Nebraska, including twice in their own stadium. If a casual fan is channel surfing for a game I think its safe to say seeing these two teams on the field will get them to stop and take notice. This had some serious potential until division realignment placed Penn State in the newly crowned East division. With the series only resuming play every few years it takes a crushing blow to the potential rivalry.
Wisconsin - The fans choice. Similar traditions, style of play, color scheme, and even their heralded former coach Barry Alvarez played for Nebraska. All the pieces are in place for this to turn into something special. Now that both teams are in the same division the yearly matchup will have serious implications, to the winner go the spoils of a potential title game spot in Indianapolis. The only problem? The Huskers have yet to truly be competitive with the Badgers as conference foes. The series is tied 4-4 all time. However the Huskers 1-2 record against the Badgers as conference mates isn't what you would hope for. In Madison Nebraska was blown out. In Lincoln Nebraska needed a 17 point comeback to eek out a win. And the Title Game in Indy was all Wisconsin. Hopefully with the new division alignment a stronger showing from both sides will level the playing field and produce more unpredictable outcomes.
Iowa - The conferences choice. Iowa replaced Colorado on Black Friday, who replaced Oklahoma. For some fans Iowa is third generation don't give a crap. For others Iowa is a perfect fit. An actual border state with a similar geographical setting. Iowa has loathed Nebraska for ages for its success and it finally culminated in 2013's contest where the Hawkeyes earned a much needed win against Big Red. As conference foes Nebraska leads it 2-1 and has a chance to seek revenge in Kinnick and take back the Heroes trophy. After two straight unexciting Husker wins, the Hawkeyes breathed new life into the potential rivalry. I get the feeling the 2014 edition will take a big step forward in the rivalry department.
Northwestern - On paper nobody expected this to develop into much more as an inevitable W for Big Red. In the first meeting between the two as league brethren, Northwestern came into Lincoln and knocked off highly ranked Nebraska. The Huskers returned the favor in Evanston the following year with a comeback win where purple clad fans complained the traveling Husker faithful were too loud for even their QB resulting in a silent count on snaps. The third edition was nothing short of incredible. The Wildcats again came into Lincoln banged up but still managed to lead Nebraska late into the game almost sealing it away with an interception. It took a last second Hail Mary pass to give Nebraska the win. So far the battle to be the real NU has been decided by a total of 7 points NW 28 - NU 25, NW 28 - NU 29, NW 24 - NU 27. Personally I think its more of Northwestern playing up to Nebraska as opposed to Nebraska playing down to Northwestern. Every game has been a nail biter, there's no reason to believe that will change moving forward.
If I had to choose which team fits the bill as rival the best after only 3 years of Big Ten play, my vote easily goes to Northwestern. The close competitive games are exactly what rivalries should look like when both teams take the field. As added incentive the teams get to play every year for the right to call themselves NU. I hope to see this series get more attention in the future.
Penn State - Upon entering the league the Nittany Lions were paired with the Huskers as cross division foes for a yearly match-up. In 3 tries PSU has come up short in its efforts to knock off Nebraska, including twice in their own stadium. If a casual fan is channel surfing for a game I think its safe to say seeing these two teams on the field will get them to stop and take notice. This had some serious potential until division realignment placed Penn State in the newly crowned East division. With the series only resuming play every few years it takes a crushing blow to the potential rivalry.
Wisconsin - The fans choice. Similar traditions, style of play, color scheme, and even their heralded former coach Barry Alvarez played for Nebraska. All the pieces are in place for this to turn into something special. Now that both teams are in the same division the yearly matchup will have serious implications, to the winner go the spoils of a potential title game spot in Indianapolis. The only problem? The Huskers have yet to truly be competitive with the Badgers as conference foes. The series is tied 4-4 all time. However the Huskers 1-2 record against the Badgers as conference mates isn't what you would hope for. In Madison Nebraska was blown out. In Lincoln Nebraska needed a 17 point comeback to eek out a win. And the Title Game in Indy was all Wisconsin. Hopefully with the new division alignment a stronger showing from both sides will level the playing field and produce more unpredictable outcomes.
Iowa - The conferences choice. Iowa replaced Colorado on Black Friday, who replaced Oklahoma. For some fans Iowa is third generation don't give a crap. For others Iowa is a perfect fit. An actual border state with a similar geographical setting. Iowa has loathed Nebraska for ages for its success and it finally culminated in 2013's contest where the Hawkeyes earned a much needed win against Big Red. As conference foes Nebraska leads it 2-1 and has a chance to seek revenge in Kinnick and take back the Heroes trophy. After two straight unexciting Husker wins, the Hawkeyes breathed new life into the potential rivalry. I get the feeling the 2014 edition will take a big step forward in the rivalry department.
Northwestern - On paper nobody expected this to develop into much more as an inevitable W for Big Red. In the first meeting between the two as league brethren, Northwestern came into Lincoln and knocked off highly ranked Nebraska. The Huskers returned the favor in Evanston the following year with a comeback win where purple clad fans complained the traveling Husker faithful were too loud for even their QB resulting in a silent count on snaps. The third edition was nothing short of incredible. The Wildcats again came into Lincoln banged up but still managed to lead Nebraska late into the game almost sealing it away with an interception. It took a last second Hail Mary pass to give Nebraska the win. So far the battle to be the real NU has been decided by a total of 7 points NW 28 - NU 25, NW 28 - NU 29, NW 24 - NU 27. Personally I think its more of Northwestern playing up to Nebraska as opposed to Nebraska playing down to Northwestern. Every game has been a nail biter, there's no reason to believe that will change moving forward.
If I had to choose which team fits the bill as rival the best after only 3 years of Big Ten play, my vote easily goes to Northwestern. The close competitive games are exactly what rivalries should look like when both teams take the field. As added incentive the teams get to play every year for the right to call themselves NU. I hope to see this series get more attention in the future.
