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The Iowa Hawkeyes secured a decisive 40-16 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday (November 28) at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. This win allowed Iowa to retain the Heroes Trophy and marked their 10th victory in the last 11 meetings with Nebraska.
Iowa's quarterback, Mark Gronowski, led the charge by rushing for two touchdowns and passing for another. Running back Kamari Moulton contributed significantly with 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Hawkeyes, who improved their record to 8-4, broke open a close game late in the second quarter with three touchdowns and a safety, ultimately shutting out Nebraska in the second half.
Nebraska's Emmett Johnson had a standout performance, rushing for a career-high 217 yards, including a 70-yard run. However, the Cornhuskers struggled after halftime, managing only 69 yards in the second half. Nebraska's freshman quarterback, TJ Lateef, played with a hamstring injury and completed just nine of 24 passes for 69 yards.
Iowa's defense tightened up in the second half, limiting Nebraska's opportunities and securing the team's most lopsided win in the series since 2017. The Hawkeyes' defense was led by Rashad Godfrey Jr. and Jayden Montgomery, who combined for 16 tackles.
Both teams now await their bowl game destinations, which will be announced on December 7.