Forced? The two schools have played for 101 consecutive seasons. Iowa can't say that about anyone on their schedule. The games are frequently hotly contested with wild lead changes, and heartbreaking finishes. Both are Midwestern ag schools whose fanbases are comprised of people largely from a rural Midwestern back ground.
There ain't nothing "forced" about it.
Iowa has played the Gophers a grand total of 122 times. Would make for a nice non-conference rival with ISU too despite the Jack Trice history