NU's biggest rival?

[Huskred01]

I think it's Sparty in the sense that we always play well against them. Usually a good game.

Iowa. Hands down, no doubt about it.

We want to beat them more than any other team.

The problem is we can’t anymore. I don’t think this is the year we break their streak either.

 

[redwine65]

I actually think the NW vs. NU game is developing into a rivalry, but their fan base probably won't ever make it ugly. The games are always entertaining.

out of all the game we play that one always seems to be the one that could go either way. and both teams have N on the side of their helmet. we should say in the years we play each other, winner gets to wear the N on both sides of their helmet, loser only one side.

everyone else seem to be kicking our ***, so not really rivalry inspiring.

 

[The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy]

I have said there are different definition of rival. We have nobody currently in the BIG that is an Oklahoma type rival. Mainly because we haven't been great to holdup our end. Iowa will never be good enough to come close to Oklahoma rival. Now they are are most definitely CU level of a rival. Wisconsin comes the closest in our division currently. I think all our hopes is that Ohio St will be our Oklahoma level rival.

This ^^

 

[yunginsNU2]

Campus police and our legal system

 

[Ewooc]

out of all the game we play that one always seems to be the one that could go either way. and both teams have N on the side of their helmet. we should say in the years we play each other, winner gets to wear the N on both sides of their helmet, loser only one side.

everyone else seem to be kicking our ***, so not really rivalry inspiring.

As far as being equal and games going back and forth yes they fit the bill. As far as a competitive level and competing for championships with them year in and year out, no. Maybe some year both school will take over the West, but right now neither school is good enough.

 

[ridge222]

Ed Cunningham

 

[NUAlum78]

I thought NW would say Illinois is their biggest rival.

Nebraska native, Northwestern graduate here. NU fans hate Illinois (sort of) but I never felt there was any natural rivalry - more of a manufactured thing. Maybe a bit like Nebraska and Iowa where the conference pits NU-Ill and NU-IA as the last game of the season. I think many at Northwestern would prefer to see a NU-NU rivalry develop over time, especially since the games are usually close. But time is a factor as noted above.

 

[Hardslider33]

Yo don't chose rivalries, but the realistic candidates are:

Penn St., Iowa, NW, Wisconsin. I lean towards Penn St. as we are pretty similar in a lot of ways. Haven't always been in the Big 10, have a lot of history and no real defined rival currently inside the Big 10.

Well as 82 PS alumnus & season tickets holder for 35 years now. Having a close friend and business partner who is a 79 alumnus of N.
We have discussed this before. Unfortunately with being in different divisions and playing only 1x/4year span that isn’t really possible.
PS drew Iowa as the team from the west we played yearly. I think it’s Illinois they got this next 5/6 years.
N played OSU every year, not sure who N got this time, without looking it up.
If the conference ever decided to do realignment and GBR/PS could be in the same division. #WeAre all for it!

 

[BleedRed78]

Well as 82 PS alumnus & season tickets holder for 35 years now. Having a close friend and business partner who is a 79 alumnus of N.
We have discussed this before. Unfortunately with being in different divisions and playing only 1x/4year span that isn’t really possible.
PS drew Iowa as the team from the west we played yearly. I think it’s Illinois they got this next 5/6 years.
N played OSU every year, not sure who N got this time, without looking it up.
If the conference ever decided to do realignment and GBR/PS could be in the same division. #WeAre all for it!

It would be cool to see the old, short lived NU/PS rivalry get resurrected. We've played close as recent as what, that 2017 game where we played at PS? If only divisional realignment would allow for the possibility... I'd love to see it. The two teams have a lot more in common as far as history together and apart, standards, fan support, etc. And recent additions to the B1G (PS relative compared to the oldies).

 

[MRBOB52]

Don't sell NU short with NW as a rival, the Cornhuskers deserve better than that. Maybe recent games have been close but historically NW is an embarrassment to the B1G and should be no one's rival. The history of the 2 programs would say NU should never consider NW a rival.

In terms of the west the only two that should be considered are Iowa and Wisconsin. Historically Iowa is probably closest to NU in terms of success, particularly over the last 30 years or so and the border state generates a little more tension to the game. Wisconsin has been the better program since NU joined the B1G but still does not match up historically and the head to head match ups have been fairly one sided.

If (when?) NU gets back to where they should be NW is not who you want as a rival in the B1G. You might want to look up total wins by Iowa & Nebraska. Also focus on last 30 years. Similar success?

 

[73 Red I]

While I do agree with us still finding our way in the Big 10, I do think it starts with Iowa due to close proximity and being on Black Friday. Lately the series has tilted in their favor.

If you talk with Iowa fans, they are much more concerned about Wisconsin and Minnesota than Nebraska. They just laugh at Husker fans and do it to pi.. us off!

 

[The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy]

If you talk with Iowa fans, they are much more concerned about Wisconsin and Minnesota than Nebraska. They just laugh at Husker fans and do it to pi.. us off!

I was just thinking the proximity and the day that we play would make it a natural rivalry. They’re not concerned because we’re not good right now. While they are better than us right now, they’re not great either.

As one previous poster has stated, the rivalry we hope will materialize would be us and Ohio State. It could be one similar to Nebraska vs Oklahoma.

 

[NikkiSixx_rivals269993]

given how most Nebraska fans just cannot let it go..

Texas


it is still the number 1 most hated team, that we don't even play anymore

 

[cecilB]

Idk, I guess I dont view things like that. I respect NW and the disciplined style of football they play there. They make due with much lower recruiting classes than most of the B1G, yet compete nearly year in and year out. When they lose, its often by very little to powerhouses.

Plus, the fact that they're one of the very original B1G teams ever, could actually help lend some credence to legitimize NU place in the conference.

I will say though, Iowa is much more the natural rival, being border states and all. We'll see if(when!) we start beating them in order to spawn even more competition between the two. Iowa owning us the past few years makes for very little of a rivalry unfortunately. Even though we're historically the more dominant team and recognized brand, Iowa has been stout most of the years NU's been struggling. Iowa looks to Wisconsin to make a rival, because you set your aims high to beat the top dog to become it. We did just that with Oklahoma, and Colorado did that with us. If we can get good again, put Iowa down a few games in the series, them maybe we can see the juices of a rivalry begin to flow (beyond mere fans talking crap to each other at work and whatnot).

Add to it Iowa and Wisconsin are 3 hours apart, what would be Nebraska’s 3rd largest city by a long shot( Dubuque) is a 50-50 town, and over 100 years of games it’s essentially a tied series... that might be the reason Iowa and Wis are rivals vs very recent results you referenced

 

[Hawkman34_rivals142954]

Hi guys,

I love this thread! As a Hawk fan, I know many Hawk fans here on the east side of the state will point to Minny, Wisc and even the Illini as our most hated rivals. Now, while that holds a lot of truth.....I can, without a doubt tell you that a LOT of Hawk fans want the Huskers to be the game we point to. Look, I am one of the realist Hawk fans. I can acknowledge the great tradition that the Huskers have and that we simply don't. The only way for us to develop that kind of tradition is to beat the teams that have national prominence and historical respect...such as Nebraska. I really do hope for a day where the last game on Black Friday (I know we will be taking a short break from this) is for the West Championship. I freaking hate to lose...but that would be epic to have that game mean something powerful. I also know that we will never be an Oklahoma...but for cripes sake, they play in the BIG 12 and most years now that conference is really only 2-3 teams. I also know the Frost will have you back very soon....and it will suck for the rest of us!

 

[HuskerDubs]

Our biggest rival is ourself at this point...good thing is we’re really good at winning that matchup.