Nebraska Football: Why Beating Iowa This Season Means More Than Just a Win

The Nebraska Cornhuskers discover themselves in an intriguing place following their 15-14 defeat by Wisconsin. Everybody protecting or debating who the Massive Pink’s new head coach will become has lengthy been prepared for an announcement.

With followers desperate to see a brand new chapter at school historical past penned, Mickey Joseph’s crew has yet one more problem to face in 2022: the dreaded Iowa Hawkeyes. Kirk Ferentz has his group at 7-4 and hasn’t been on the shedding finish of those venomous tilts since 2014. Historical past says Iowa’s already penciled in to fulfill the winner of Michigan-Ohio State within the Massive Ten Championship Sport in Indianapolis on Dec. 3.

However for Nebraska, in the event you’re already going to get booed on the highway, it’s possible you’ll as effectively earn the loudest ones.

A loss knocks the Hawkeyes into an Indiana watch occasion. They’d want a Hoosier victory over the Boilermakers on Saturday to win the Massive Ten West. Sure, the Hawkeyes will go bowling as soon as once more, however there’s a substantial distinction between a possible New Yr’s Six berth and the Pinstripe Bowl.

The Huskers gained’t see a postseason themselves, however Black Friday all of the sudden turns into their Tremendous Bowl. Positive, The Heroes Trophy isn’t any Lombardi, but it surely’s been a sizzling minute since Nebraska held any {hardware} excessive after a sport.

Mark Whipple’s play-calling in opposition to Wisconsin was perplexingly conservative at occasions. With the return of Casey Thompson, it’s time for the 65-year-old offensive coordinator to have some enjoyable.

Name all of the gadget performs. Flea glints, receiver passes, have an offensive lineman be eligible for a catch, or fill in as a goal-line again. Go full Sickos Mode.

For all of the lumps he’s taken in pursuit of a possible main function, Joseph deserves the win right here. And it’s protected to say that if nothing else, the Huskers wish to ship the man out on prime to cap off 2022.

Gutting out a victory in Iowa Metropolis wouldn’t put all-too-familiar errors like these seen in opposition to the Badgers to mattress, however each little bit helps. A portion of the roster will return subsequent yr and an ingrained expectation of shedding beats you earlier than kickoff.

It’s exhausting to suppose a majority gained’t decide Ferentz to chalk up his eighth straight collection victory. However school soccer’s bizarre like that. In a world the place Vanderbilt has an SEC successful streak, there’s room for Nebraska protecting Kinnick Stadium in salt.

— Written by Brandon Cavanaugh, a part of the Athlon Contributor Community. Make sure you comply with him on Twitter (@Bcav402). To contact him, click on right here.