Some argue the Iowa Hawkeyes don't have the history to be Nebraska's rival.
Others dislike the east side of the Missouri River enough to overcome that.
Iowa fans surely hold some animosity, too.
But nobody took the game as seriously as the 1891 Omaha World-Herald sports department.
While we don't have a recap of the game — a 22-0 Iowa victory — there was a story previewing the matchup. And it was intense.
"A game of football will be played at the base ball park at 3 p.m. Thanksgiving day. The contesting teams will be the State University of Nebraska eleven and the state university of Iowa eleven," The World-Herald wrote.
"They play here on neutral ground and the contest will be for blood."
The Hawkeyes were the first team Nebraska played not named Doane or Omaha YMCA, and a large fan turnout was expected.
"All other games for the day have been declared off, so that this game will be the great attraction for the afternoon," the article continued. "It is expected there will be a large delegation from the Bluffs to back the Iowa champions, and Omaha promises to give the Nebraska boys a good turnout."
Of course, Nebraska was in just its second year as a program. The sport looked nearly nothing like it does today, and fan interest seemed bizarre.
"Football is attracting unusual interest in the east this fall, and those who know (say) the western universities are giving a good exhibition of the game."
You can see every Nebraska football game, from 1890 to today, in The World-Herald’s extensive Husker History database. Also included? When NU last appeared at every spot in the AP Top 25, an overview of every coach, data on the sellout streak and so much more.
Photos: Huskers and Hawkeyes have faced off for over a century
Nebraska's Mohamed Barry leaps over the Iowa offensive line as he tries to block a kick by Iowa's Miguel Recinos in the final seconds of the game. The kick was good and Iowa defeated Nebraska 31-28 in 2018.
Iowa's Akrum Wadley breaks past Nebraska defenders. The Hawkeyes ran for 313 yards in a 56-14 win over the Huskers in Memorial Stadium in 2017.
Iowa's George Kittle carries the Heroes Game trophy beside teammates Tyler Kluver, left, and Amani Jones, right, after defeating Nebraska 40-10 in 2016.
Nebraska players leave the field after 2015's 28-20 loss to Iowa.
Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah catches a second-quarter touchdown pass against Iowa in 2014's 37-34 overtime win.
Nebraska quarterback Ron Kellogg is sacked by Iowa linebacker Anthony Hitchens in 2013's 38-17 Hawkeye victory.
Nebraska offensive lineman Andrew Rodriguez carries the Heroes Trophy after the Huskers defeated Iowa in 2012.
On one of his school-record 38 carries against Iowa in 2011, Nebraska’s Rex Burkhead leaps over Hawkeye tacklers, including Shaun Prater from Omaha Central. The Huskers won 20-7.
Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch passed only 13 times against Iowa in 2000, but came away with 10 completions, 159 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns in a 42-13 victory.
Nebraska defender Tony Ortiz scoops up an Iowa fumble during the Huskers' 42-7 win in 1999.
NU's Turner Gill escapes Iowa's Bobby Stoops in the Huskers' 42-7 win over Iowa in 1982.
Love learning about Nebraska football? Follow Husker History on Twitter for blasts from the past.
Roger Craig, from Davenport, Iowa, is tackled by Hawkeye defender Brad Webb in a 10-7 upset win for Iowa.
Jimmy Williams nails Iowa quarterback Pete Gales as another Blackshirt helps from below. Nebraska pummeled the Hawks 57-0.
As Nebraska came from behind, so did NU linebacker Brent Williams in his pursuit of Iowa's Dennis Mosley, but look closely and you'll see the arm of another Husker grasping at Mosley's jersey by the chest number. That arm belongs to back Mark LeRoy, and it held Mosley to a 5-yard gain and forced Iowa to punt in a 24-21 NU victory in 1979.
Tom Novak scores the Nebraska touchdown in 1946's 21-7 loss to Iowa.
Cletus Fischer runs 42 yards for a touchdown in Nebraska's 13-6 win over Iowa in 1945.
Hermie Rohrig split the Iowa line for the first of Nebraska's two scores in 1938's 14-0 win.
The top photo shows Nebraska's Boswell downed after an eight-yard gain, while the bottom photo shows NU's Miller running into a pair of Hawkeye defenders during the Huskers' 14-13 win in 1932.
The 1914 Nebraska football team defeated Iowa 16-7. Rutherford, pictured next to coach Ewald O. "Jumbo" Stiehm, played with a broken shoulder.
The 1913 Nebraska squad shutout Iowa 12-0. Captain Purdy, in his final game, scored NU's second touchdown on a dive over the goal line.
The Hawkeyes took advantage of a fumble punt to leave Lincoln with a 6-6 tie.
The Huskers left Iowa City with an 11-8 victory.
The Huskers got their second 17-6 win over the Hawkeyes in as many seasons.
Husker History: Nebraska football's 25 most common opponents
Who are the Huskers' biggest gridiron rivals? Check out a photo collection featuring Nebraska's 25 most-faced opponents, and be sure to follow Husker History on Twitter for more tidbits about NU's storied football history.
25 (tie), Texas Tech, 11 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 7-4
Last result: Texas Tech 31, No. 15 Nebraska 10 (2009)
25 (tie), Oregon State, 11 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 9-2
Last result: No. 8 Nebraska 31, Oregon State 7 (1990)
22 (tie), Baylor, 12 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 11-1
Last result: Nebraska 20, Baylor 10 (2009)
22 (tie), Syracuse, 12 games
All-time record: Syracuse leads 7-5
Last result: Syracuse 17, No. 1 Nebraska 9 (1984)
19 (tie), Northwestern, 13 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 8-5
Last result: Nebraska 13, Northwestern 10 (2019)
19 (tie), Wisconsin, 13 games
All-time record: Wisconsin leads 9-4
Last result: No. 16 Wisconsin 41, Nebraska 24
17 (tie), Texas A&M, 14 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 10-4
Last result: No. 18 Texas A&M 9, No. 9 Nebraska 6
17 (tie), Texas, 14 games
All-time record: Texas leads 10-4
Last result: Texas 20, No. 5 Nebraska 13 (2010)
15 (tie), Illinois, 16 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 12-3-1
Last result: Nebraska 54, Illinois 35 (2018)
15 (tie), Notre Dame, 16 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 8-7-1
Last result: No. 5 Nebraska 27, No. 17 Notre Dame 10 (2001)
13 (tie), Penn State, 17 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads series 9-8
Last result: No. 13 Penn State 56, Nebraska 44
13 (tie), South Dakota, 17 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 14-1-2
Last result: Nebraska 56, South Dakota 0 (1964)
11, Indiana, 20 games
All-time record: Indiana leads 9-8-3
Last result: No. 10 Nebraska 27, Indiana 22 (2016)
10, Pittsburgh, 24 games
All-time record: Pittsburgh leads 15-6-3
Last result: Nebraska 7, Pittsburgh 6 (2005)
9, Oklahoma State, 43 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 37-5-1
Last result: No. 14 Nebraska 51, No. 17 Oklahoma State 41 (2010)
6, Colorado, 71 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 49-20-2
Last result: Colorado 34, No. 25 Nebraska 31, OT (2019)
5, Oklahoma, 86 games
All-time record: Oklahoma leads 45-38-3
Last result: No. 9 Oklahoma 23, No. 13 Nebraska 20 (2010)
4, Kansas State, 95 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 78-15-2
Last result: No. 7 Nebraska 48, Kansas State 13 (2010)
3, Missouri, 104 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 65-36-3
Last result: No. 14 Nebraska 31, No. 7 Missouri 17 (2010)
2, Iowa State, 105 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 86-17-2
Last result: No. 9 Nebraska 31, Iowa State 30, OT (2010)
1, Kansas, 117 games
All-time record: Nebraska leads 91-23-3
Last result: No. 9 Nebraska 20, Kansas 3 (2010)
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