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Iowa football 2024 early opponent preview: Nebraska
Five-star QB recruit Dylan Raiola joins Huskers in second year of Matt Rhule’s rebuild
Editor’s note: 12th in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
IOWA CITY — The dichotomy between Iowa and Nebraska’s football programs over the last seven years could not be more stark.
Iowa has enjoyed seven winning seasons during that span. Nebraska? Zero.
Iowa’s record since 2017 is 61-27 overall and 40-23 in Big Ten play. Nebraska is 28-52 overall and 19-43 in Big Ten play.
Six of the last seven Heroes Trophy games have gone the Hawkeyes’ way, too. Nebraska has been competitive in many of those games, though, with the last six games each being decided by one possession.
This year’s Nebraska team could again be a competitive counterpart when it comes to Kinnick Stadium on Black Friday.
Five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola is expected to immediately lead Nebraska’s offense after choosing the Huskers over juggernauts such as Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and USC. He will have the benefit from an experienced offensive line in front of him and a receiving corps that includes Wake Forest transfer wideout Jahmal Banks.
Defensively, Nebraska returns several starters from a defense that ranked seventh last year with only 4.62 yards allowed per play. Key players include defensive lineman Ty Robinson and defensive back Isaac Gifford. Robinson generated a team-high 11 quarterback hurries in 2023, and Gifford had eight pass breakups and 6.5 tackles for loss.
Matt Rhule will be in his second season at the helm in Lincoln. In his two previous stints as an FBS head coach, his teams made significant strides in year No. 2. Temple went from 2-10 in 2013 to 6-6 in 2014. When he was at Baylor, the Bears went from 1-11 in 2017 to 7-6 in 2018.
Iowa vs. Nebraska: 3 things to watch
- Who wins the turnover battle? In each of the last four Iowa-Nebraska games, the team that won the turnover battle also won the game. That was especially apparent in 2023 as Cedar Rapids native Ethan Hurkett’s interception helped set up Iowa’s game-winning field goal.
- Dylan Raiola vs. Iowa’s defense. This will be a matchup of contrasts as the young, much-ballyhooed quarterback goes up against Iowa’s experienced secondary, which will have three sixth-year starters.
- How much of an advantage can Iowa’s special teams unit create? Whether it be Kyler Fisher’s touchdown on a blocked punt in 2021 or Marshall Meeder’s 38-yard game-winning field goal last year, an influential special teams play can often be the difference in this rivalry.
2024 prognosis
Iowa will likely be favored in this game, but Matt Rhule seems to have Nebraska on an upward trajectory.
Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com
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