Iowa Dominates Nebraska, 40-16

LINCOLN—Black Friday doesn't come with a division title, College Football Playoff, or even just bowl eligibility on the line. But it does mean bragging rights in the Nebraska-Iowa rivalry.

Both teams enter the matchup 7-4. Iowa has won 9-of-10 against Nebraska, with the Huskers not finishing a season with a better record since 2016. CBS is broadcasting the battle of Big Ten Conference foes. Follow along for updates.

Most recent updates at the top.

Final: Iowa 40, Nebraska 16

Nebraska Athletics Postgame Notes

With the Iowa victory, Nebraska’s lead in the all-time series is now 30-23-3, including 15-9-1 in Lincoln. Iowa holds an 11-4 edge since NU joined the Big Ten, including a 7-1 advantage in Lincoln. Today’s game ended a streak of seven straight games in the series decided by seven or fewer points.
Nebraska first-team All-America candidate Emmett Johnson rushed 29 times for a career-high 217 yards and one touchdown. His 217 yards bettered his previous high of 176 yards at Maryland earlier this year. Johnson’s 29 carries tied his career high, as he also had 29 carries against USC on Nov. 1.
This is the first 200-yard rushing game by a Husker since Ameer Abdullah rushed for 225 yards against Rutgers on Oct. 25, 2014.
Johnson’s 217 rushing yards were the most against Iowa this season, bettering a 145-yard effort by Penn State’s Kaytron Allen. Johnson is just the fourth player to have a 200-yard rushing game against Iowa since 2015, joining Penn State’s Saquon Barkley (211 yards in 2017), Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor (250 yards in 2019), and Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim (263 yards in 2022).
Today’s game marked Johnson’s fifth straight 100-yard rushing game, a first at Nebraska since Ameer Abdullah in 2013. Johnson’s eight 100-yard rushing games this season are also the most for a Husker since 2013. His six 100-yard rushing games in Big Ten play are the most by any Power Four conference player in league games.
Johnson’s 70-yard first-quarter run was the longest of his career, bettering a 52-yard run last week at Penn State.
The 70-yard run was also the longest rush against Iowa in 2025, bettering the previous long of 49 yards. It was the longest run allowed by Iowa since 2014.
With his 217 rushing yards, Johnson increased his season rushing total to 1,451, moving him into eighth place on the NU single-season rushing chart. In nine Big Ten games, Johnson rushed for 1,125 yards, marking the second time a Husker player has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in Big Ten Conference play (Ameer Abdullah, 1,103, 2013).
Johnson caught two passes for 22 yards to give him a career-high 239 yards from scrimmage, marking his fourth straight game with more than 150 yards from scrimmage.
Johnson now has 46 catches for 370 yards this season. He increased his career receiving total to 702, moving him into fourth place on the all-time receiving yards list for NU running backs. He passed Ameer Abdullah (690) in today’s game.
Place-kicker Kyle Cunanan connected on a season-high three field goals, bettering four field goals on four previous occasions. His three field goals tied his career high, as he kicked three field goals three times while at Charlotte.
Redshirt freshman cornerback Donovan Jones had nine tackles to increase his season total to 51. He is the fifth freshman with 50 tackles in a season since freshmen regained eligibility in 1972.
Redshirt freshman safety Rex Guthrie had three tackles to increase his season total to 60 tackles. He is five tackles from Michael Rose-Ivey’s freshman record of 65 tackles in 2013.
Marques Watson-Trent had five tackles to give him 400 career tackles. He is just the second active FBS player with 400 career tackles.

End 4Q Iowa runs out the clock.

4Q 6:38 FUMBLE

Nebraska drives to the Iowa goal line but Heinrich Haarberg fumbles the ball back to the Hawkeyes.

Iowa 40, Nebraska 16

4Q 13:40 TOUCHDOWN IOWA

Kamari Moulton caps off the drive with a short touchdown run.

End 3Q Iowa has a 2nd and 2 from the NU26 upcoming.

3Q 3:14 Nebraska goes three-and-out for the fourth time on the day. Archie Wilson's 34-yard punt is fair caught at the Iowa 37.

Iowa 33, Nebraska 16

3Q 4:47 TOUCHDOWN IOWA

A third-down pass from Mark Gronowski to DJ Vonnahme moves the ball 43 yards down the field. Grownowski punches in the six-yard score to cap off the drive.

3Q 8:38 Nebraska goes three-and-out. Archie Wilson's 30 yard punt goes out at the Iowa 29.

3Q 9:27 Iowa goes three-and-out with the extra possession. catches the punt inside the NU15 and takes it back to the 50. After the play, a personal foul moves the all back to the NU35.

Iowa 26, Nebraska 16

3Q 11:16 SAFETY

Iowa picks up just one first down before having to punt. Jacory Barney Jr. catches the 53-yard punt but gets blown up and the ball rolls into the end zone. Nebraska recovers the ball for a safety, giving Iowa two points.

Halftime: Iowa 24, Nebraska 16

Nebraska Athletics Halftime Notes

Nebraska first-team All-America candidate Emmett Johnson rushed 19 times for a career-high 177 yards and a touchdown in the first half. This marks Johnson’s fifth straight 100-yard rushing game, a first at Nebraska since Ameer Abdullah in 2013. It is Johnson’s eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season, the most at Nebraska since 2013. His six 100-yard rushing games in Big Ten play are the most by any Power Four conference player in league games.
Johnson’s 70-yard first-quarter run was the longest of his career, bettering a 52-yard run last week at Penn State. Johnson’s 70-yard rush was his third run of at least 50 yards in the past seven games and is the longest play from scrimmage by Nebraska this season. The previous long was a 64-yard TD reception by Nyziah Hunter at Maryland.
The 70-yard run was also the longest rush against Iowa in 2025, bettering the previous long of 49 yards.
Johnson’s 177 rushing yards in the first half are already the most against Iowa this season, bettering a 145-yard effort by Penn State’s Kaytron Allen. Johnson is just the second running back to rush for more than 150 yards against Iowa since 2020.
With his 177 first-half rushing yards, Johnson increased his season rushing total to 1,411 yards, moving him into ninth place on the NU single-season rushing chart. In nine Big Ten games, Johnson has rushed for 1,085 yards, marking the second time a Husker player has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in Big Ten Conference play (Ameer Abdullah, 1,103, 2013).
Johnson has 190 yards from scrimmage in the first half, his fourth straight game with at least 150 yards from scrimmage.
Place-kicker Kyle Cunanan connected on a season-high three field goals in the first half, bettering four field goals on four previous occasions. His three field goals tie his career high, as he kicked three field goals three times while at Charlotte.

End 2Q Nebraska runs out the clock.

Iowa 24, Nebraska 16

2Q 0:37 TOUCHDOWN IOWA

Mark Gronowski scores on the 1-yard tush push.

TWO MINUTE TIMEOUT

2Q 2:00 Iowa has a 1st and 10 at the NU40 upcoming.

Iowa 17, Nebraska 16

2Q 2:53 FIELD GOAL NEBRASKA

Nebraska gets inside the Iowa 20 again and the drive stalls. After a timeout, the Huskers elect to have Kyle Cunanan kick a 35-yard field goal that sails true.

Iowa 17, Nebraska 13

2Q 8:13 TOUCHDOWN IOWA

Mark Gronowski extends the drive with a 29-yard run on third down to the NU14. Five plays later, Kamari Moulton capped off the drive with a three-yard score.

Nebraska 13, Iowa 10

2Q 13:53 FIELD GOAL NEBRASKA

Nebraska's drive stalls inside the Iowa 15. Kyle Cunanan's 29-yard field goal is good.

End 1Q Nebraska has a 1st and 10 at the Iowa 14 upcoming.

1Q 1:13 Nebraska kicks the ball short and Iowa lets it fall. The Huskers jump on it to get the ball back at the Iowa 26.

Nebraska 10, Iowa 10

1Q 1:13 FIELD GOAL NEBRASKA

Nebraska marches to just outside of the Iowa 10 before coming up short of the first down. The 31-yard field goal from Kyle Cunanan is good.

Iowa 10, Nebraska 7

1Q 5:35 TOUCHDOWN IOWA

Mark Gronowski throws a 35-yard touchdown pass to DJ Vonnahme.

Gronowski 🎯 Vonnahme@HawkeyeFootball takes the lead 🐥

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/tYYPvUMfxk
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 28, 2025

1Q 7:12 Nebraska goes three-and-out for a second time in the game. Archie Wilson's punt goes 29 yards and out of bounds at the Iowa 49.

Nebraska 7, Iowa 3

1Q 8:49 FIELD GOAL IOWA

Iowa opens in Nebraska territory with a return past the 50 and a 15-yard facemask penalty. Despite the three-and-out, the 41-yard field goal is good.

Nebraska 7, Iowa 0

1Q 11:06 TOUCHDOWN NEBRASKA

Emmett Johnson takes the ball 71 yards to put the Big Red inside the Iowa 1. He punches it in on the next play.

EMMETT JOHNSON -- WHAT A RUN!

(down inside the one) pic.twitter.com/FHzGS7z3Sj
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 28, 2025

1Q 12:27 Iowa goes three-and-out. The punt is fair caught by Jacory Barney Jr. at the NU10.

1Q 13:47 Nebraska goes three-and-out. Archie Wilson's punt goes 35 yards to the Iowa 38.

Iowa calls heads and loses the toss. Nebraska takes the ball.

Availability reports for Nebraska and Iowa. | Big Ten Conference

Nebraska Football 2025 Schedule

Aug. 28 Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
Sep. 6 Nebraska 68, Akron 0
Sep. 13 Nebraska 59, Houston Christian 7
Sep. 20 Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
Oct. 4 Nebraska 38, Michigan State 27
Oct. 11 Nebraska 34, Maryland 31
Oct. 17 Minnesota 24, Nebraska 6
Oct. 25 Nebraska 28, Northwestern 21
Nov. 1 USC 21, Nebraska 17
Nov. 8 Nebraska 28, UCLA 21
Nov. 22 at Penn State 37, Nebraska 10
Nov. 28 (Black Friday) Iowa 40, Nebraska 16

Home games are bolded. All times central.

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