Riley Donald
July 1, 2024 7:00 am CT
The Big Ten, despite its recent growth and addition of four new members, is rooted in rivalries and year-to-year matchups for trophies and bragging rights. Headlined by “The Game” between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines, arguably among the best rivalries in all sports, the Big Ten has a long list of intense rivalries.
With the new era of college football, some conferences and long-time rivals have seen their yearly matchups fall to the wayside. Luckily, for teams and fans, the Big Ten protected this by guaranteeing protected games each year that keep these rivalries on the schedule.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have protected games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Minnesota Golden Gophers, and the Wisconsin Badgers as part of this deal. These three games are also trophy games that rank highly among CBS Sports’ top Big Ten rivalries.
No. 3: Iowa vs. Minnesota for the Floyd of Rosedale
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Coming in at No. 3 on the list is the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale. While Minnesota owns the all-time record, Iowa has dominated this rivalry lately winning 10 of the last 12 matchups.
3. Iowa vs. Minnesota (Floyd of Rosedale)
If I were ranking Big Ten rivalry trophies, this would be first in a landslide victory. Who doesn’t want a trophy of a pig? The Floyd of Rosedale is perfect in every way, but I’m placing this one behind Minnesota and Wisconsin because there’s more history between those two. Still, it’s another border rivalry with an awesome trophy.Minnesota leads 63-52-2 – Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports
No. 7: Iowa vs. Wisconsin for the Heartland Trophy
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Another battle of the former Big Ten West is the matchup of Iowa versus Wisconsin for the Heartland Trophy coming in at No. 7. Wisconsin barely leads this rivalry as they dominated the 2010s although Iowa has won three of the last four.
7. Iowa vs. Wisconsin (Heartland Trophy)
This rivalry has gained steam in the College Football Playoff era. While the Hawkeyes and Badgers have played a long time (96 games since 1894), things ramped up when they were placed in the Big Ten West. The division existed for 10 seasons, and one of these two won it in seven of those seasons, meaning their annual meeting mattered far more often than not. It will remain a protected rivalry for the time being, but I wonder if we could see this slip a bit now that they no longer share a division since neither is the other’s primary rival.Wisconsin leads 49-46-2
No. 9: Iowa vs. Nebraska for the Heroes Trophy
Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Although a little further down the list, this one garners the most fan hate and true rivalry feelings online and among fans on both sides. Coming in at No. 9 is Iowa versus Nebraska for the Heroes Trophy.
Nebraska leads the all-time record but has seen that rapidly close as Iowa has won nine of the last 11.
9. Iowa vs. Nebraska (Heroes Trophy)
I appreciate how quickly these two fanbases took to hating the other. Nebraska didn’t join the Big Ten until 2011, but they were immediately placed in the Legends division with Iowa and then joined them in the West, meaning they’ve played every season since. It already feels like a Black Friday staple.Nebraska leads 30-21-3
New rivalries for Iowa
Syndication: HawkCentral
With USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington joining the Big Ten, there is potential for a new rivalry to spawn itself. In 2024, Iowa draws Washington at home and takes a trip to play UCLA. They avoid Oregon and USC this season.
On paper, the most likely rivalries from this bunch of newcomers are either UCLA or Washington. UCLA would feature Iowa and the Bruins rotating between the Rose Bowl and Kinnick Stadium for iconic matchups.
An Iowa versus Washington rivalry may be more fitting on the field, though, as the two are fringe contenders that play in front of rabid fanbases that travel far and wide. This one could blossom into a fun rivalry.
Best of the rest
(Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
No.1: Ohio State vs. Michigan
No. 2: Minnesota vs. Wisconsin for Paul Bunyan’s Axe
No. 4: UCLA vs. USC for the Victory Bell
No. 5: Michigan vs. Michigan State for the Paul Bunyan Trophy
No. 6: Oregon vs. Washington
No. 8: Indiana vs. Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket
No. 10: Illinois vs. Purdue for the Purdue Cannon
No. 11: Michigan vs. Minnesota for the Litte Brown Jug
No. 12: Illinois vs. Northwestern for the Land of Lincoln Trophy
No. 13: Minnesota vs. Nebraska for the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy
No. 14: Illinois vs. Ohio State for the Illibuck
No. 15: Indiana vs. Michigan State for the Old Brass Spittoon
No. 16: Michigan State vs. Penn State for the Land-Grant Trophy
No. 17: Michigan vs. Northwestern for the George Jewett Trophy
No. 18: Nebraska vs. Wisconsin for the Freedom Trophy
No. 19: Maryland vs. Rutgers
No. 20: Maryland vs. Penn State
No. 21: Minnesota vs. Penn State for the Governor’s Victory Bell
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