NEBRASKA vs IOWA
NOV. 29, 2019 | MEMORIAL STADIUM
LINCOLN, NEB. | 1:30 P.M. (CT)

BROADCAST INFO
TV - BTN (Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen, Lisa Byington)
RADIO - Husker Sports Network (Greg Sharpe, Matt Davison, Ben McLaughlin), including 103.1 FM in Nebraska City
INTERNET RADIO - newschannelnebraska.com

HUSKERS
2019 Record: 5-6, 3-5 Big Ten
Last Game: Maryland (W, 54-7)
Rankings: NR
Coach: Scott Frost
Career/NU Record: 28-21 (4th Year)/9-14 (2nd Year) 
vs. Iowa: 0-1

HAWKEYES
2019 Record: 8-3, 5-3 Big Ten
Last Game: Illinois (W, 19-10)
Rankings: AP-19; Coaches-20
Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Career/Iowa Record: 172-125 (24th Year)/160-104 (21st Year)
vs. Nebraska: 5-5

The Matchup
Nebraska completes its 2019 regular season on Friday afternoon with its traditional Thanksgiving Friday matchup with Big Ten West rival Iowa. Game time from Memorial Stadiium is set for 1:30 p.m. CT with television coverage provided by BTN. The game can be heard on the Husker Sports Network from Learfield-IMG. 

Nebraska will enter the game witih a 5-6 record, following a 54-7 victory over Maryland on Saturday in College Park. The 47-point margin of victory was Nebraska's largest against a Big Ten opponent in its nine seasons in the conference. The Husker offense continued to find a late-season stride, rolling up more than 500 yards, including more than 200 yards both rushing and passing for the third time in four games.

Nebraska needs a victory in the Heroes Game matchup in order to become bowl eligible for the first time since the 2016 season. The Huskers will also be looking for their first win over Iowa since a victory in Iowa City in 2014.   

Iowa will come to Lincoln with an 8-3 overall record and a 5-3 record in Big Ten Conference play. The Hawkeyes are ranked 19th in the Associated Press Poll and No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Iowa has won its past two games heading into the regular-season finale, including a 19-10 victory over Illinois on Saturday in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes boast one of the nation's top defenses, allowing just 306.1  yards and 12.2 points per game. Iowa has not allowed an opponent to score more than 24 points and has limited five teams to 10 points or fewer.

Series History
Nebraska and Iowa will meet for the ninth straight year in the regular-season finale on Friday at Memorial Stadium. 

• Before Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011, the teams met 41 times as non-conference opponents, including 14 games between 1930 and 1946. Nebraska and Iowa also met four straight years from 1979 to 1982, and the final matchups as non-conference opponents were in 1999 and 2000. 

• This year's meeting will mark the ninth straight year that Nebraska and Iowa will meet on the day after Thanksgiving. After a two-year break from the Black Friday matchup between the schools in 2020 and 2021, Nebraska and Iowa are scheduled to resume their post-Thanksgiving matchup in 2022.

• Nebraska had an eight-game win streak in the series and a pair of five-game win streaks. Iowa's current four-game win streak is its longest in the series.

Nebraska-Iowa to Compete for Heroes Trophy
Nebraska and Iowa will battle for the Heroes Trophy when they hit the field at Memorial Stadium on Friday. The Heroes Game is the annual trophy game between Nebraska and Iowa. 

While both teams aim to win the trophy on the field, both Nebraska and Iowa wished to make their annual meeting about more than just winning a football game. With that in mind, the schools partnered together to not only create a trophy, but to use a national stage to honor a citizen hero from each state. In addition to the trophy that will be claimed by the winner of the game, both an Iowa and Nebraska native will be honored for extraordinary acts. Those individuals will be announced later this week. 

Nebraska Continues Thanksgiving Friday Tradition
Nebraska will continue its long-standing tradition of playing on the day after Thanksgiving. This Friday's game with Iowa will mark the 30th consecutive season the Huskers have played on Thanksgiving Friday.

NU met Oklahoma in the final six seasons of the Big Eight Conference (1990 to 1995), then played Colorado in all 15 of the Huskers' Big 12 Conference years (1996 to 2010), before taking on Iowa each of the past nine seasons. 

Nebraska will close the 2020 and 2021 seasons against Minnesota on Black Friday, before Iowa returns as the opponet for the regular season finale beginning in 2022. 

•     Nebraska owns a 19-10 record since 1990 in games on the day after Thanksgiving, including a 5-1 record against Oklahoma, an 11-4 mark against Colorado and a 3-5 mark against Iowa.
 
•     Nebraska is 10-5 at home in Black Friday games since 1990, including 1-3 against the Hawkeyes. 

•     In addition to the past eight years, Nebraska and Iowa also closed the regular season against each other nine times from 1892 to 1916. ??????

Huskers to Honor Seniors on Friday
Nebraska will hold its Senior Day festivities before Friday's game, honoring 22 players who will appear in Memorial Stadium for the final time against Iowa. 

The group includes 14 fifth-year seniors, including seven players who will likely leave Nebraska as four-year letterwinners. 

• The 2019 senior class has players from 12 states, including seven native Nebraskans. 

• The 22-man senior class has accumulated a total of 219 starts in their collegiate careers. The group has six players with at least 15 starts at Nebraska including defensive lineman Carlos Davis (35), cornerback Lamar Jackson (35), linebacker Mohamed Barry (25), long snapper Chase Urbach (21), linebacker Alex Davis (20) and punter Isaac Armstrong (18). 

• Seniors on the Nebraska offense have made a total of just 13 career starts at Nebraska. 

• Linebacker Mohamed Barry will finish his career in the top 15 on the Nebraska career tackles chart.

• Cornerback Lamar Jackson will end his career in the top 10 in school history in pass breakups. 

• Twin brothers, Carlos and Khalil Davis, are the seventh set of brothers in NU history to each record at least 100 career tackles. 

• Fifteen of Nebraska's 22 seniors are playing the 2019 season as graduate students, with another five players set to graduate in December. 

2019 Nebraska Football Senior Class
• Avery Anderson, S, Surprise, Ariz.
• Fyn Anderson, DL, Lincoln, Neb.
• Isaac Armstrong, P, Lincoln, Neb.
• Mohamed Barry, LB, Grayson, Ga. 
• Darrion Daniels, DL, Dallas, Texas
• Alex Davis, LB, Riviera Beach, Fla.
• Carlos Davis, DL, Blue Springs, Mo.
• Khalil Davis, DL, Blue Springs, Mo. 
• Austin Hemphill, RB, Gretna, Neb.
• Lamar Jackson, CB, Elk Grove, Calif.
• Reid Karel, S, Seward, Neb. 
• Eric Lee Jr., S, Milton, Mass.
• Wyatt Mazour, RB, Albion, Neb. 
• DaiShon Neal, DL, Houston, Texas
• Kanawai Noa, WR Honolulu, Hawaii
• Jeramiah Stovall, CB, Omaha, Neb. 
• Chase Urbach, LS, Grosse Pointe, Mich. 
• Vaha Vainuku, DL, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Nick Virka, OL, Morse Bluff, Neb.
• Jackson Walker, P, Overland Park, Kan. 
• Mike Williams, WR, Lake City, Fla. 
• Jaron Woodyard, WR, Gaithersburg, Md. ?

Nebraska Joins 900-Win Club
Nebraska reached a major milestone in the history of its program with its win at Illinois on Sept. 21, becoming the fifth program in the country with 900 all-time victories. Nebraska joined Michigan, Ohio State, Texas and Alabama in the 900-win club. Oklahoma and Notre Dame joined the 900-win list a week later on Sept. 28.

Rk. School (Wins)
1. Michigan (962)
2. Ohio State (922)
3. Alabama (915)
4. Texas (914)
5. Oklahoma (906)
    Notre Dame (906)
7. Nebraska (902)

Husker Offense Hits Late-Season Stride
The Nebraska offense has been at its best in the past four games, averaging 478.3 yards per game, including 231.5 rushing yards per game and 246.8 passing yards per contest. 

Nebraska is coming off a 531-yard effort at Maryland, its second-best output of the 2019 season. The offense also produced a season-high 54 points against the Terps, tying Nebraska's most points in a Big Ten Conference game (since 2011). 

• Nebraska rushed for 305 yards against Maryland, while passing for 226 yards. It marked the fifth time this season, and third time in four games the Huskers have topped 200 yards both rushing and passing. 

• The previous week against Wisconsin, Nebraska totaled 493 yards of offense against a Badger defense that was allowing 231.4 yards per game entering the contest. The Huskers rushed for 273 yards, which was 189 yards more than the Badgers' average allowed prior to the game. 

• Nebraska produced 12 plays of 20 yards or more against Wisconsin. The Badgers had allowed 25 plays of 20 yards or more in their first nine games. Nebraska topped 200 yards both rushing and passing against Wisconsin, the fourth time this season the Huskers reached that milestone.

• Nebraska began its recent offensive surge on Oct. 26 against Indiana. The Huskers tallied 514 total yards, including 294 passing yards and 220 on the ground. 

• In the past four games, Nebraska has crossed midfield on 40 of 49 drives.

2019 Husker Offense Shows Versatility
The 2019 Nebraska offense has shown the versatility to both strike quickly and drive the length of the field. Nebraska has 20 scoring drives that have covered 75 yards or more.

• Against Colorado, Nebraska had two touchdown drives of 95 yards or longer (95 and 96). That marked the first time the Huskers have had two 95-yard scoring drives in the same game since the 2000 Fiesta Bowl against Tennessee (97- and 99-yard touchdown drives). 

• Nebraska had two long scoring plays at Colorado with touchdown passes of 65 (Martinez-Spielman) and 75 yards (Martinez-Washington). That marked the first time the Huskers had multiple 65-yard pass plays in the same game since 2006 against Kansas. 

• Nebraska flashed its quick-strike ability and explosiveness against Northern Illinois. Nebraska produced nine plays of 20 yards or more against the Huskies, including eight before halftime. The eight first-half chunk plays matched Nebraska's combined total in its first two games. 

• The Huskers had a season-high 14 plays of 20 yards or more against Illinois. In the process, Nebraska topped 300 yards in both rushing and passing to mark just the second time in school history the Huskers have reached that milestone. 

• Nebraska's 674 yards of total offense at Illinois was its most against a conference opponent since posting 710 yards against Kansas State in 2007. 

Balance a Key for Husker Offensive Success
Nebraska has had five games this season when it has totaled 200 yards both rushing and passing, including three of the past four games.  Nebraska has accomplished the offensive double against Northern Illinois, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Maryland. While Nebraska has five 200-200 games this season, the other six Big Ten West teams have combined for just five such games, including two by Iowa. 

A balanced attack has been a staple of Scott Frost's Nebraska offenses, as the Huskers have produced 11 games with 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing since 2018, seven more than any other Big Ten West team.

200 Yards Rushing & Passing Games by Big Ten West Teams in 2019
Nebraska – 5
Iowa – 2
Wisconsin – 2
Minnesota – 1

200 Yards Rushing & Passing Games by Big Ten West Teams Since 2018
Nebraska – 11
Wisconsin – 4
Iowa – 3
Illinois – 2
Purdue – 2
Minnesota – 2
 

Frost Offenses Traditionally Impressive on Opening Drives
One common theme of a Scott Frost-led offense has been a fast start, and that has held true for Frost's tenure in Lincoln. Nebraska has scored points in four of 11 games on its opening drive in 2019.

Nebraska scored touchdowns on its opening drive against both South Alabama and Colorado to open the season. The Huskers opened with a field goal on the game's first drive against Northern Illinois, and added a touchdown on the game's opening drive against Indiana. The opening-drive success has continued a theme throughout Frost's head coaching tenure. 

• Nebraska scored on its first possession seven times in 12 games in 2018, including six of the final seven games. All seven of NU's opening scoring drives resulted in touchdowns. In Frost's two seasons, Nebraska has scored on its opening possession 11 times in 22 games (10 TD, 1 FG).

• Over the last three seasons - 2018-19 at Nebraska and 2017 at UCF - Frost's offenses have scored a touchdown on their opening possession 19 times in 36 games (53 percent). The average length of the touchdown drive in that span is 74 yards.

• In three-plus years as a head coach, Frost's offenses have scored on their opening drive 24 times in 49 games, with 22 touchdowns and two field goals. In 89 games over seven seasons as a play-caller, Frost's offenses have scored on their first possession of the game 45 times, putting points on the board in more than half of their opening possessions.

• NU received the opening kickoff nine times in 2018 and scored touchdowns on six of those drives while punting only once. The Huskers had a game-opening touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead in five straight games during the Big Ten Conference season.

• The Huskers scored on nearly 60 percent of their opening possessions in 2018, even with a pair of drive-ending turnovers in opponent territory. Nebraska's average touchdown drive covered more than 74 yards, including one 80-yard touchdown march and five 75-yard scoring drives..

• Frost's Opening Drive Scoring Percentage: 51% (45 of 89 drives)    
• Frost's Opening Drive Touchdown Percentage: 44% (39 of 89 drives)

Spielman Continues to Climb Husker Charts
Junior wide receiver JD Spielman has made Husker history as the only player in program history to have a 200-yard receiving game. Spielman enters the regular-season finale with 167 career catches for 2,512 yards, ranking third at Nebraska in both receptions and receiving yardage. 

• Spielman reached 2,000 and 1,000 career receiving yards faster than any other Husker. He hit 2,000 yards at Illinois on Sept. 21, breaking the 2,000-yard barrier in 25 games. He reached 1,000 career yards in only 15 games, eclipsing Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers (16 games).
 
• Spielman needs 23 catches and 233 yards to become NU's all-time leader in both categories. In his 32-game career, Spielman averages 5.2 receptions and 78.5 receiving yards per game.

• With seven catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns at Maryland, Spielman increased his season totals to 46 catches for 864 yards and four touchdowns. His 864 receiving yards rank seventh on the NU single-season list. The junior now owns the No. 7, 9 and 10 single-season receiving totals in school history. Spielman is the only player in school history with three 800-yard receiving seasons. Stanley Morgan Jr. and Johnny Rodgers are the only other players to have a pair of 800-yard receiving seasons. 

• Spielman needs four receptions on Friday to top the 50-catch mark for the third straight season. Spielman is one of only four players with a pair of 50-catch seasons at Nebraska, joining Johnny Rodgers, Kenny Bell and Stanley Morgan Jr. No Husker has ever had three 50-catch seasons. 

• Spielman has four 100-yard recieving games this season and eight career 100-yard receiving games. Both of those totals rank second on the respective Nebraska charts.

• Spielman opened the 2019 season with a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown against South Alabama, marking his second career punt return score. He had a 77-yard punt return touchdown last season against Bethune-Cookman. He also had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in his first career touch against Arkansas State in the 2017 season opener. Spielman is one of only eight players in program history to return both a punt and kickoff for a touchdown.

• Spielman had a 65-yard TD reception at Colorado, his sixth career touchdown of at least 65 yards. The 65-yard catch at Colorado was one of seven Spielman receptions of at least 40 yards in 2019. His seven catches of 40-plus yards ranks 10th nationally.  

• Spielman had seven catches for 160 yards at Illinois, his third-highest receiving total at Nebraska. 

•     Spielman is averaging 18.8 yards per reception, a mark that ranks third in the Big Ten. His yards per catch average ranks fifth in NU history among players with 40 or more catches in a season. 

• Spielman owns the only two 200-yard receiving games in Husker history (200 yards vs. Ohio State in 2017 and 209 yards at Wisconsin in 2018).

• Spielman is the only wide receiver in school history to have two career games with double-digit receptions (11 vs. Ohio State in 2017 and 10 vs. Purdue in 2018). Running back Marlon Lucky is the only other Husker to have two career games with double-digit catches.

Martinez at His Best Against Big Ten West
Adrian Martinez has put up big numbers in 10 career games against Big Ten West foes. 

• Martinez owns the Nebraska record with four career games with 400 yards of total offense. Each of those games has come against a Big Ten West Division opponent, as Martinez has recorded 400 yards of total offense in four of his 10 career games against West Division teams.

• Martinez has posted four of the top 16 total offense games in Nebraska history, with each of those marks coming against a Big Ten West opponent. Martinez had 446 yards at Illinois on Sept. 21 for the No. 3 total offense mark in school history, 441 yards last year at Wisconsin (5th), 409 yards in 2018 against Purdue (12th) and 401 yards against Minnesota in 2018 (16th).

• Martinez averages 335.6 yards of total offense in 10 career games against Big Ten West teams. He is completing 65.2 percent of his passes (219-of-336) with 17 touchdowns against seven interceptions, while averaging 272.4 passing yards per game. Martinez has rushed for 632 yards and six touchdowns against the Big Ten West, averaging 63.2 rushing yards per game.

• Twenty-three of Martinez's 39 career total touchdowns have come against West Division opponents (59 percent), including 20 of 25 touchdown passes (80 percent).

• Last season at Iowa, Martinez completed 26-of-38 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 17 times for 76 yards and a touchdown, for 336 yards of total offense. 

Huskers Discuss Black Friday Match-up with Iowa

Nebraska Head Coach Scott Frost and Husker football players met with members of the media at Memorial Stadium on Monday afternoon to kick off Iowa week. The Huskers host the Hawkeyes on Friday at 1:30 p.m. (CT) in a game televised nationally by BTN.

Nebraska needs a victory in the Heroes Game matchup in order to become bowl eligible for the first time since the 2016 season. The Huskers will also be looking for their first win over Iowa since a victory in Iowa City in 2014.   

Nebraska will enter the game with a 5-6 record, following a 54-7 victory over Maryland on Saturday in College Park. The 47-point margin of victory was Nebraska's largest against a Big Ten opponent in its nine seasons in the conference. The Husker offense continued to find a late-season stride, rolling up more than 500 yards, including more than 200 yards both rushing and passing for the third time in four games.

Iowa will come to Lincoln with an 8-3 overall record and a 5-3 record in Big Ten Conference play. The Hawkeyes are ranked 19th in the Associated Press Poll and No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Iowa has won its past two games heading into the regular-season finale, including a 19-10 victory over Illinois on Saturday in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes boast one of the nation's top defenses, allowing just 306.1 yards and 12.2 points per game. Iowa has not allowed an opponent to score more than 24 points and has limited five teams to 10 points or less. 

For complete transcripts of Coach Frost's session with the media, and those of Nebraska players, click on the links below:

Information from huskers.com.