Who should be Iowa's regular season finale (and/or Black Friday game)?

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Wanted to pose this question just to kind of gauge this section of the fanbase on their thoughts about our regular season finale matchup.

Do you guys like this recent "tradition" of playing Nebraska on Black Friday?
Or would you rather go back to us playing Wisconsin or Minnesota to close the season?

Or would you like to see us go the route of say the SEC and ACC and face our biggest OOC rival to end the season, and battle the Cyclones, like we ended up having to do in the 2001 season?

Also, would you like Iowa to continue to play on Black Friday annually? Go back to the Saturday after? Or would you like them to mix it up?

 

[BigAssTurkeyLeg]

I like beating Nebraska to wrap up the holiday. It’s an American tradition for Iowa to beat them on Black Friday at this point.

 

[rfgiowa]

Good question. I voted for the goofs. I miss the fight for Floyd to end the season. Cheers 🍻

 

[Hawk_4shur]

I voted for Nebraska, because it's going to be Nebraska for the foreseeable future. So - I win!

 

[uihawk82]

Wanted to pose this question just to kind of gauge this section of the fanbase on their thoughts about our regular season finale matchup.

Do you guys like this recent "tradition" of playing Nebraska on Black Friday?
Or would you rather go back to us playing Wisconsin or Minnesota to close the season?

Or would you like to see us go the route of say the SEC and ACC and face our biggest OOC rival to end the season, and battle the Cyclones, like we ended up having to do in the 2001 season?

Also, would you like Iowa to continue to play on Black Friday annually? Go back to the Saturday after? Or would you like them to mix it up?

I am fine with Nebby as they are a close geographical conference rival. I dont like SEC type non-conf games late in the season where a team like Bama can rest their starters.

But I voted for Minny as it has been the big rivalry going back to the 1930's. Either way we have been dominating NEbby, Minny, and even Wisky lately.

I also dont like Friday games, Thursday games. The players need to get that extra recuperation time for their bodies.

 

[Easthawk1062]

For years we’ve watched Iowa/Wisconsin/Minnesota fist fight and usually it seems like both teams have respect after the game ends. Not once so far has the Nebraska game felt that way. And it’s getting worse every year that’s why I voted Nebraska

 

[BonzoFury]

Very unlikely to be Wisconsin or Minnesota. The Minne/WIsconsin rivalry for the axe is a classic. Looks like we're stuck with Nebbie.

 

[Iron Doc]

ISTC

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

I liked ending the season with Minnesota for all those years, but going back to that would be anticlimactic compared to the nasty rivalry that Iowa-Neb have developed. I love it (especially since we win most of the time).

 

[ICWestfan]

I may be mistaken, but isn't this the last year of Iowa v Nebby guaranteed for Black Friday?

 

[hawkeyeskin]

It should be and needs to be Nebraska

 

[Hawkfan_08]

Good question. I voted for the goofs. I miss the fight for Floyd to end the season. Cheers 🍻

It's the only time I've really cared about Minnesota. I kind of want to go back to how it used to be.

 

[hahkize]

Nebraska b/c Wisconsin and Alvarez wanted the nebbers to be their season ending rivalry game and leave us w/ Minny.
Like it or not, UNL still has a national name and draws viewers, so Iowa benefits. Play ISU or whoever, who's going to watch especially if the Clones or whoever have a dismal record?

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Playing on Black Friday is always great PR, you never know when it might catch a recruit's eye. Well, not so much with an elite WR, so maybe a HS recruit who loves a salty D. Probably also makes sense to just leave the opponent as Nebbie.

 

[intrepodor]

Wanted to pose this question just to kind of gauge this section of the fanbase on their thoughts about our regular season finale matchup.

Do you guys like this recent "tradition" of playing Nebraska on Black Friday?
Or would you rather go back to us playing Wisconsin or Minnesota to close the season?

Or would you like to see us go the route of say the SEC and ACC and face our biggest OOC rival to end the season, and battle the Cyclones, like we ended up having to do in the 2001 season?

Also, would you like Iowa to continue to play on Black Friday annually? Go back to the Saturday after? Or would you like them to mix it up?

Continue to play Nebraska and ruin their season.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I may be mistaken, but isn't this the last year of Iowa v Nebby guaranteed for Black Friday?

I couldn't find anything official after a quick search, but the prevailing word amongst fans is that the game can still be played on Black Friday, it just might not be scheduled as an annual thing anymore.

 

[ICWestfan]

I couldn't find anything official after a quick search, but the prevailing word amongst fans is that the game can still be played on Black Friday, it just might not be scheduled as an annual thing anymore.

I was probably thinking of 2020 and 2021 when they played Wisconsin. Who knows.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Honestly, the best compromise would be to play the Iowa-Iowa State game at the end of the season rather than its usual very awkward spot in the 2nd game of the year.

Wisconsin-Minnesota would still get their end of year matchup and Nebraska could go back to playing either Colorado or Oklahoma as an OOC game.

With that said, Iowa's all about creating new traditions, and what better traditional contest in CFB is there right now than the annual ass-kicking of Nebraska on Black Friday............

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Honestly, the best compromise would be to play the Iowa-Iowa State game at the end of the season rather than its usual very awkward spot in the 2nd game of the year.

Wisconsin-Minnesota would still get their end of year matchup and Nebraska could go back to playing either Colorado or Oklahoma as an OOC game.

With that said, Iowa's all about creating new traditions, and what better traditional contest in CFB is there right now than the annual ass-kicking of Nebraska on Black Friday............

I had that same thought (playing ISU), but the TV ratings would be horrible....although maybe Pluto or the like would pick up the game.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I had that same thought (playing ISU), but the TV ratings would be horrible....although maybe Pluto or the like would pick up the game.

On the contrary, our game in September does reasonable enough ratings. And then you have the build-up of an entire season leading to the game in a time where people are at their thirstiest for football, and it could do more than reasonable ratings............unless they put it on Pluto TV or the like.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

On the contrary, our game in September does reasonable enough ratings. And then you have the build-up of an entire season leading to the game in a time where people are at their thirstiest for football, and it could do more than reasonable ratings............unless they put it on Pluto TV or the like.

I guess if viewership outside the state lines have no other options, then maybe....

 

[BubsFinn]

Call me a old timer, but I liked beating Minnesota on the final game of the season to keep Floyd where he belongs. That Heroes Trophy/Game means nothing to me.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

On the contrary, our game in September does reasonable enough ratings. And then you have the build-up of an entire season leading to the game in a time where people are at their thirstiest for football, and it could do more than reasonable ratings............unless they put it on Pluto TV or the like.

C’mon! Ur nuts if you think IA-ISU would get any eyeballs outside of the State if it were played rivalry week. Week 2-3 most games are horrible and there are usually just a handful of marquee games to compete with. Too many great games rivalry week already. September is also when both fan bases have hope.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

C’mon! Ur nuts if you think IA-ISU would get any eyeballs outside of the State if it were played rivalry week. Week 2-3 most games are horrible and there are usually just a handful of marquee games to compete with. Too many great games rivalry week already. September is also when both fan bases have hope.

Then the game needs to permanently be our third game. Not the second one.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

Then the game needs to permanently be our third game. Not the second one.

I prefer that game be played the 4th Saturday of never.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I prefer that game be played the 4th Saturday of never.

Well good thing that day doesn't exist......

 

[iowamike21]

UNI. Or maybe Albany. Perhaps Mercer if they're not busying playing Alabama.

 

[swihawk]

Little Debby for eternity. The guaranteed win is a nice way to enter the bowl season.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

How 'bout K State? Two programs that have been pretty solid the past couple decades - would def. draw viewers. Since Mizzou seems to be coming on of late, they'd be my #2. So after thinking it over, I'd slot little Debbie as my third option.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

With 120 votes in, the poll went about as expected.

 

[Tailgater371]

I couldn't find anything official after a quick search, but the prevailing word amongst fans is that the game can still be played on Black Friday, it just might not be scheduled as an annual thing anymore.

I have been trying to confirm this for several weeks now. I swear I heard it mentioned on a podcast, but can't find anything on it. I would imagine since Nebby was the one with the Black Friday tradition that if any of the two move it would be Iowa with someone else playing Nebby. I guess we will know Wednesday.

 

[HawksRule73]

Even though we lost the game, I loved having the ISU game as the last one in 2001.

 

[Dauminator]

I'm fine with Nebraska, but I rather miss Minnesota being the finale.

I mostly just want the BF game to be midday.

 

[hexumhawk]

Like the Nebraska game where it is.

 

[HawksRule73]

I'm fine with Nebraska, but I rather miss Minnesota being the finale.

I mostly just want the BF game to be midday.

No way. That night game atmosphere was sweet! I'm all for having that game as a permanent night game going forward.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

No way. That night game atmosphere was sweet! I'm all for having that game as a permanent night game going forward.

2:30 kick ends in the dark as well.............

 

[squeezebox]

Really like the idea of Minnesota being the last game of the season, It should be played in Vikings stadium when up north. Nebraska should be booted from the BIG.

 

[Yentle]

Would be happy to never play Nebraska.
Win or lose, the fans just don't stop. They are relentless.
Really wish they had something else to fixate on all year but it is what it is.

 

[Orion52245]

For those rooting for Minnesota, and I might be one of "those", Minnesota vs. Iowa had been the closing game for only about 20 years, roughly 1983-2002. Minnesota vs. Wisconsin is the most played AND longest continuous rivalry in FBS football. Big picture, a Minny vs. Wisky rivalry week matchup makes the most sense.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

For those rooting for Minnesota, and I might be one of "those", Minnesota vs. Iowa had been the closing game for only about 20 years, roughly 1983-2002. Minnesota vs. Wisconsin is the most played AND longest continuous rivalry in FBS football. Big picture, a Minny vs. Wisky rivalry week matchup makes the most sense.

Well, I'd have to look to see how often Wisconsin and Minnesota played each other to end the season.