Iowa City Today

The 2025 Pioneer Heroes Game will take place at 11 a.m. Central Time on Friday, November 28, 2025, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event aims to recognize individuals from Iowa and Nebraska who have made significant contributions to their communities.

Each year, one citizen-hero from each state is selected and honored during the game. These honorees receive VIP treatment as special guests, are recognized on the field, and have their names inscribed on the Heroes Trophy awarded to the winning team of the annual contest.

Nominations for Iowa’s Hero are open until October 10, 2025. Organizers encourage fans to nominate Iowans who have demonstrated acts of heroism in their daily lives.

“Agriculture plays an important role across Iowa and Nebraska,” said Todd Frazier, VP, U.S. Marketing, Corteva Agriscience. “That’s why we’re excited to continue sponsoring the annual Heroes Game – honoring those local heroes that live and work in the communities Pioneer serves every day is one small way we can express our appreciation.”

Pioneer serves as a multi-year title sponsor for the Heroes Game and maintains partnerships with both the Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers. The partnership with Iowa is managed by Learfield’s Hawkeye Sports Properties, which holds multimedia rights for University of Iowa athletics. For Nebraska, Huskers Athletic Partners oversees the relationship as part of Playfly Sports Property.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are scheduled to begin their 2025 football season on August 30 with a home game against UAlbany at Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium.