UPDATE: Huskers vs Hawkeyes: Is the rivalry real?

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The votes are in! Thirty-seven fans weighed in, 57% saying the rivalry isn’t real, or at least hasn’t been for a while. On the flip side, 43% still said it absolutely exists.

So, where did this rivalry come from?

According to the Daily Nebraskan, these teams first went head-to-head in 1891, Nebraska football’s second year of existence. It was on Thanksgiving Day and the first time Iowa played outside their state.

Iowa reportedly won 22-0, partially because Nebraska didn’t have a coach at the time.

But, it wasn’t so much the competitive nature of the teams that fanned the flames of a rivalry. According to an 1893 Omaha Daily Bee article, the conflict stems from trains.

At the time, trains ran exclusively between Iowa City and Lincoln to shuttle fans to and from the match-ups. This led to bigger crowds at away games and more fan interactions.

After the rivalry was first born, Nebraska and Iowa would play against each other nine more times before a 33-year hiatus following 1946.

Although the teams would meet a few times during the early 1980s, the midwest powerhouses would not clash again until 2011 with fans more impassioned than ever.

At this time, the Huskers joined the Big Ten Conference and played the first Heroes Game. The Heroes Game is a sponsored matchup that recognizes each state for acts of heroism.

Huskers took home a ‘W’ two years in a row.

In 2013, Iowa came back to dominate the Huskers for the first time since 1981.

The annual rival game would continue until it almost didn’t in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thankfully, with added precautions, the Big Ten Conference decided to move forward with the season.

Now on Black Friday, we get to watch history unfold as this decades-long rivalry rages on.

Original story posted Nov. 24 at 4:57 p.m.

As a casual football fan, friends have given me two pieces of advice on surviving the Husker season: Wear red and don’t root for the Hawkeyes.

Our football team faces a number of midwest rivals, but none seem to garner the hype that Iowa does.

However, I’ve often wondered whether the rivalry real or is it all media fanfare?

Help me out by voting below!