Hy-Vee Heroes GameHy-Vee Heroes Game
Football

Hy-Vee Heroes Game

ABOUT THE HY-VEE HEROES GAME

Established prior to the school's first meeting as Big Ten Conference opponents in 2011, the Hy-Vee Heroes Game was created to honor the rich football traditions of the University of Iowa and University of Nebraska football programs while also annually honoring community heroes in both states. Hy-Vee is proud to be the title sponsor of the annual Heroes Game, a yearly matchup that also benefits the American Red Cross, an organization doing incredible good in the heartland.

The “Heroes Game,” scheduled for the Friday after Thanksgiving, pits conference powerhouses Iowa and Nebraska in a nationally-televised battle for bragging rights in the nation’s heartland. The winner of each year's game will take home The Heroes Game trophy, which was designed  by Rickabuagh Graphics. The trophy, which stands 30 inches tall also features a dark gray acrylic etched with a corn stalk pattern on all four sides and the logos of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The trophy has four sides:

  • the front prominently displays the Heroes Game logo in brushed aluminum
  • the back is labeled at its top "TRADITION" and includes brushed aluminum art that prominently displays images of Memorial Stadium and Kinnick Stadium
  • the left side is labeled at its top "VALOR" and carries the badges that will be dated and carry the names of the two "Citizen Heroes"
  • the right side is labeled at its top "VICTORY" and carries the badges that will be dated and carry the final score of each Heroes Game

HY-VEE HEROES GAME RESULTS

MATCHUP LOCALE RESULT SERIES HEROES
Nov. 25, 2011 Lincoln #21 Nebraska 20, Iowa 7 NU leads, 1-0 Heroes
Nov. 23, 2012 Iowa City #17 Nebraska 13, Iowa 7 NU leads, 2-0 Heroes
Nov. 29, 2013 Lincoln Iowa 38, Nebraska 17 NU leads, 2-1 Heroes
Nov. 28, 2014 Iowa City Nebraska 37, Iowa 34 (OT) NU leads, 3-1 Heroes
Nov. 27, 2015 Lincoln #3 Iowa 28, Nebraska 20 NU leads, 3-2 Heroes
Nov. 25, 2016 Iowa City #17 Iowa 40, Nebraska 10 Tied, 3-3 Heroes

THE HY-VEE HEROES GAME: HONORING "CITIZEN HEROES" WHILE SUPPORTING THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

The Hy-Vee Heroes Game is about more than a trophy or bragging rights. With the help of Hy-Vee, the national stage created by the Iowa-Nebraska game will be utilized to recognize individuals for acts of heroism in their communities. In addition, Iowa and Nebraska officials are counting on the intense interest in the big game to help raise money for the American Red Cross as they continue doing heroic work in the two states. Hy-Vee stores in Iowa and Nebraska will spearhead the fundraising effort by creating activities designed to engage and excite fans of each school.

In advance of each year's game, fans of each school will be encouraged to nominate everyday citizens of Iowa and Nebraska who deserve to be honored for extraordinary acts of heroism. One citizen-hero from each state will be invited to attend the game as a special guest of the teams, receive on-field recognition and have his or her name inscribed on the game trophy.