Who considers us their Main Rival?

...... I see what you did there.

The two Iowa fans I know don't hate Michigan at all. They consider Minnesota their main rival, with Iowa State a distant second, and they harbor a passionate, contemptuous hatred for Illinois that I think primarily dates from the Deon Thomas recruitment (although I think it had started earlier, maybe during Mike White time).

No, I think Northwestern's main rival is Illinois. 

Maryland and Rutgers

gets it...

I grew up in Illinois, and this was news to me...I always thought Norrthwestern and Illinois considered themselves their top rivals...but who knows

Illinois' take is:

1. They had a slush fund scandal in 60's when Pete Elliott was the AD.
2. Gary Moeller wasn't successful there and Bo lambasted the UI administration for lack of support.
3. Bo hated Mike White's use of juco transfers and was vocal about it in the 80's. Illinois actually threatened to leave for the big12!
4. 1989 final four.
5. Nancy Cantor.

There's a few more things going back to the Yost / Red Grange era that I can't remember, but the bottom line is the two universities haven't always seen eye to eye. Contrast that to the closeness Bo/Moeller/Carr had ( still do) to the Iowa administration and coaching staff

We haven't really played them lately though. All of the PSU/Wisky students weren't around to watch us ruin their seasons in '05 and '06 respectively, and the last time we played them they blew us out

I agree about PSU.  I went to both PSU and OSU in 2006, and took worse abuse at PSU.  Of  course, we had beaten them for something like 10 years straight...

Well, Iowa & Nebraska do play for the Heroes Trophy

I wouldn't be surprised to see Nebraska and M both consider each other their biggest rival as time goes on. This does not make me happy, but it seems the Big Ten wants that to be the case, and wants OSU/PSU to be the other big conference rivalry.

I realize nobody on this board will ever think of Nebraska like that, but what about kids, grandkids and on down the line? If our game with them determines the division most years (and I'd guess it will) and thus a shot at the Rose Bowl, that's exactly how rivalries develop over time.

Iowa and ISU play for a corn trophy already.

The long streak of Ls didn't help their feelings either, especially the way Mario Manningham ruined their otherwise amazing 2005 season.

Yeah, that Illibuck trophy is something special.

As someone currently residing in Champaign-Urbana, I've seen a lot more hatred toward Michigan than Northwestern. They have the "muck fichigan" shirts in all of the store windows year-round.

Tony Posada - McDonalds Value Menu

I think you underestimate how much Wisconsin and Minnesota hate each other. I know people from both states and they don't just hate the other sports teams, they hate the states in general. And they go crazy over that axe of theirs.

...the only teams, I believe, that legitimately and unanimously consider us their main rival are Ohio and Michigan State.  I think you are confounding true rivalry with general hatred of an opponent.  Anecdotally, I have really hated MSU the past 4 years, but I still consider Ohio our MAIN rival.  The only possible exception to this is Illinois who probably "gets up" for the Michigan game more than any other on their schedule, however I believe Northwestern is still their main rival.

BEAT OHIO!

No, we're Slippery Rock's big brother.

But Slippery Rock is the little brother who's a decade younger than you and thinks you're just the greatest thing since sliced bread. You bring Slippery Rock to the ice cream stand during the summer and then go kick a soccer ball around

Michigan State, on the other hand, is that annoying brat 2 years younger than you who constantly wants to prove that whatever you can do, he can do too.