Fear not, fans of a recently-minted tradition; the Iowa-Nebraska game will be back on Black Friday.
Following lobbying from both schools over the past month, the Big Ten Tuesday approved moving this year’s game back to Friday, Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving. When the conference released its future schedules, the game had been scheduled for Sat., Nov. 30.
Not only was this year’s game moved to Black Friday, the 2014 game was as well. The release went on to state that the game, officially dubbed the “Hy-Vee Heroes Game,” will continue to be played the day after Thanksgiving beyond 2014.
“We’re excited about playing our annual football game with Nebraska on the Friday after Thanksgiving for a number of reasons,” said Gary Barta, Iowa’s athletic director. “This provides the student-athletes who have already lost the opportunity to spend the holiday at home with their families two days away from football. In addition, the Friday television window provides great exposure for our program. We greatly appreciate the adjustments in schedules that our fans, and those who help us stage the game in Iowa City every other year, will have to make.”
The two schools have played on Black Friday each of the past two seasons, coinciding with Nebraska’s move from the Big 12 to the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers have won both games against the Hawkeyes.
The 2012 game, a 13-7 NU win, was the 23rd consecutive year the ‘Huskers had played on Black Friday.
“Playing on the day after Thanksgiving is a great Nebraska football tradition that we look forward to continuing,” Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst said.