Completed Event: Soccer at #11 Iowa on September 4, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
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#11 Iowa
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Iowa State University Athletics
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Mike Williams scored the first TD in Jack Trice Stadium history and rushed for 118 yards vs. Air Force in the stadium’s debut game.
Iowa State 17, Air Force 12 – September 20, 1975
The first game in stadium history – it was called Cyclone Stadium then – was a success with Iowa State defeating Air Force, 17-12 behind the “W-W Express.” Cyclone running backs Mike Williams and Jim Wingender each reached over 100 yards rushing, as the Cyclones accumulated 301 of their 346 total offensive yards on the ground with a record-attendance crowd (42,000) watching. The contest included a 62-yard field goal by the Falcons’ Dave Lawson. The kick hit the crossbar to bounce through the goal post to end the first half. It was the NCAA record for longest field goal at the time and it remains the longest kick in Jack Trice Stadium history.
Quotable…
“It was a win, and we’ll take it. We’re a heck of a lot better football team than what you saw out there today.”- Iowa State head coach Earle Bruce
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Iowa State forced 10 turnovers in a dominating victory over Utah.
Iowa State 44, Utah 14 – October 9, 1976
Iowa State showcased its potent offense and its defense forced 10 turnovers, including six interceptions, in a 44-14 triumph over Utah. The Cyclones outgained the Utes, 587-286, as backup QB Buddy Hardeman rushed for 99 yards and two TDs, his final score giving ISU a comfortable 44-6 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Utes’ 10 turnovers are the second-most by a Cyclone opponent in school history. Linebacker Tom Boskey picked off two passes in the blowout.
Quotable…
“After I caught the first one, I wanted to lateral it but there wasn’t anybody to lateral to. I consider myself a better blocker than runner.”– Iowa State linebacker Tom Boskey
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No one is going to catch Luther Blue in a 95-yard kickoff return TD, one of the most iconic plays in Jack Trice Stadium history.
Iowa State 37, No. 9 Nebraska 28 - November 13, 1976
In one of the biggest wins in Cyclone history, Iowa State downed No. 9 Nebraska, 37-28 in front of 50,781 fans. It was ISU’s first win vs. Nebraska since 1960. In a game marked with outstanding plays, none was bigger than Luther Blue’s 95-yard kickoff return that gave the Cyclones a 17-7 lead. Sophomore running back Dexter Green rushed for 109 yards and two TDs and the ISU defense held the heralded Husker rushing attack to just 77 yards. The win vaulted the Cyclones into a tie for first place in the Big Eight Conference standings with one regular season game remaining
Quotable…
“Jiminy Christmas! We held them to 77 yards rushing! That’s a helluva defensive effort. This is the high point of my career and the greatest thing that’s happened to Iowa State and Iowa State football. I’ve been telling people we have great football players. Luther Blue is a super player. And I’ll tell ya, Dexter Green’s not so bad either.”– Iowa State head coach Earle Bruce
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All-American Mike Stensrud and the Cyclone defense smother Kansas, holding the Jayhawks to 189 yards of total offense.
Iowa State 41, Kansas 3 – October 29, 1977
Iowa State destroyed Kansas, a team that beat No. 15 Washington State and tied No. 3 Colorado, 41-3 in a festive Homecoming victory. Iowa State was dominant in all facets, outgaining the Jayhawks, 442-189. All six of ISU’s touchdowns came by run, as the Cyclones rushed for a whopping 292 yards. Dexter Green had 149 of those rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Cornerback Kevin Hart had two fumble recoveries to lead the defense. ISU finished the 1977 season tied with Nebraska for second in the rugged Big Eight at 5-2
Quotable…
"I just happened to be in the right place on both of those (fumble recoveries). Tom Perticone (ISU rover) did all the work to cause one of those fumbles. I was just lucky.”
– Iowa State cornerback Kevin Hart
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Mike Schwartz and Cyclone fans celebrate a Larry Crawford fumble recovery in Iowa State’s shutout of Kansas State.
Iowa State 24, Kansas State 0 – November 4, 1978 - Iowa State throttled Kansas State, 24-0, outgaining the Wildcats, 439-162 in its final home game of 1978. It was a key victory, as ISU won its last two road games (Oklahoma State, Colorado) to finish the regular season at 8-3 and earn a Hall of Fame Bowl bid. It was the last time Cyclone fans watched All-American running back Dexter Green at home. Green, who ran for 103 yards in the win, became the school’s all-time leading rusher and one of the program’s most popular players.
Quotable…
“Three-straight winning seasons. Nobody else has been a part of that since 1927. It’s a pretty nice way to go out. Man, it went by so quickly. So quickly, I can’t believe it’s almost over.”– Iowa State running back Dexter Green
Dwayne Crutchfield bruises his way to 136 rushing yards and three TDs in Iowa State’s 69-0 win over Colorado State.
Iowa State 69, Colorado State 0 – October 4, 1980 - In one of the most lopsided victories in Iowa State history, the Cyclones broke a school record for rushing yards in a game (449) in a demolishing 69-0 win over Colorado State to increase their season record to 4-0. The Rams never had a chance. The 69 points was the most by a Cyclone team in the modern era. Eight of ISU’s nine touchdowns were via rush with All-American Dwayne Crutchfield recording three and a game-high 136 rushing yards. Five different Cyclones had 60+ rushing yards and QB John Quinn only attempted four passes (4-of-4). Quinn hit tight end Dan Johnson for a 76-yard TD in the game’s only non-rushing TD.
Quotable…
“The coaches have been getting on us in practice about being intense at all times. I wasn’t worried about it. I knew we would just keep pushing on. We weren't worried about the defense either. They’ve been coming through all year."– Iowa State offensive lineman Brian Neal
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All-American Dwayne Crutchfield carried the ball 36 times and rushed for 147 yards in Iowa State's win over Iowa.
Iowa State 23, Iowa 12 – September 19, 1981 - Since the Iowa State-Iowa series was renewed in 1977, the Cyclones played host to the Cy-Hawk game for the first time, prevailing in a 23-12 victory before a raucous crowd of 53,922. All-American running back Dwayne Crutchfield did damage to the Hawks by compiling 147 of ISU’s 212 rushing yards. ISU was in control the entire game, taking a 23-6 lead early in the fourth quarter. A huge factor in the contest was ISU’s kicking game. Alex Giffords was 3-of-3 on field goal attempts, booting 3-pointers from 48, 40 and 34 yards. Punter Rich Miller was just as effective, averaging 45.0 yards on five punts. This Iowa team shared the Big Ten title and played in the Rose Bowl.
Quotable…
“I heard comments last year that I crack under pressure in the big games. I had to prove to myself and the people around the state that that’s not true.”– Iowa State placekicker Alex Giffords
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Vinny Cerrato celebrates after a 41-yard TD catch in the second quarter of Iowa State’s victory against No. 8 Missouri.
Iowa State 34, No. 8 Missouri 13 – October 17, 1981 - Behind the powerful legs of All-American back Dwayne Crutchfield, Iowa State routed No. 8 Missouri, 34-13 in a game televised by ESPN. Crutchfield, who had missed practice during the week because of injuries, had three touchdowns and 98 yards in the win, as the Cyclones moved to 4-1-1 and into the national rankings the following week. Senior QB John Quinn completed 20-of-32 passes for 226 yards to complement the offense. The Cyclones picked off a trio of Missouri passes, two snared by Darren Longshore.
Quotable…
“We will continue to throw the football. I felt we could throw the ball on Missouri. I thought they played the rush pretty tough. They weren’t a group we could just rush through. Our protection was pretty good, we’ve protected John (Quinn) pretty good all year. I thought we made some good catches.”
– Iowa State head coach Donnie Duncan
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All-American Tracy Henderson corrals one of his 10 catches in Iowa State's come-from-behind win vs. Kansas.
Iowa State 38, Kansas 35 – October 8, 1983 - Iowa State staged one of its most dramatic comeback victories in Jack Trice Stadium history, rallying from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Kansas, 38-35. The game was decided by the foot of Marc Bachrodt, who calmly drilled a 47-yard field goal as time expired to punctuate an unlikely victory. ISU trailed the Jayhawks 35-21 to begin the fourth quarter. ISU needed precision to escape the loss, converting on 14-of-20 third downs and engineering five drives of 80 yards or more. The orchestrator of the offense was future NFL QB David Archer, who broke school records for passing attempts (47) and completions (28) enroute to a personal-best 300 yards. All-American Tracy Henderson caught 10 passes for 139 yards to help the Cyclone effort.
Quotable…
“I just want to say that the offensive linemen blocked their butts off. We gave the game ball to Marc Bachrodt because of his kick, but it could just have easily gone to the offensive line.”– Iowa State quarterback David Archer
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Rick Frank with the game-winner vs. Vanderbilt.
Iowa State 20, Vanderbilt 17 – September 21, 1985 - Rick Frank’s 34-yard field goal with 0:03 seconds left allowed the Cyclones to escape with a 20-17 victory over Vanderbilt. It was a defensive battle, as both offenses struggled to move the ball effectively. The Cyclones shut down the Commodores to just 190 yards of total offense. With the game tied at 10-10 in the fourth quarter the Cyclone defense came up with a huge play. Sensing a pass to his side, Terrence Anthony picked off a John Gromos pass and raced 29 yards for the score, ISU’s first interception return for a TD since 1980.
Quotable…
“I really don’t dream about those kinds of plays. I really don’t thrive on that situation. I would have rather seen my team win by more points and not have to worry about a kick like that.”– Iowa State placekicker Rick Frank
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Willie Everett reaches high to block a pass attempt in Iowa State's upset win over No. 7 Oklahoma State.
Iowa State 15, No. 7 Oklahoma State 10 – November 23, 1985 - It was brutally cold (22 degrees at kickoff), but the Cyclones came ready to play in a win over the seventh-ranked Cowboys. ISU held future NFL Hall-of-Famer Thurman Thomas, the nation’s second-leading rusher, to just 54 yards and the Cowboys to just 47 total rushing yards and 253 total yards. Rick Frank’s three field goals were key and running back Andrew Jackson was proficient with 93 rushing yards. The Cowboys were the highest ranked team the Cyclones had beaten in Jack Trice Stadium until 2011.
Quotable…
“How can you single out one guy from that defensive group? Very seldom did you see one guy make the tackle, there was always two or three guys. Today’s win was a real tribute to the courage the players have shown this season.”– Iowa State head coach Jim Criner
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Dennis Ross breaks free for a long TD catch and run in Iowa State's comeback win over UNI.
Iowa State 39, Northern Iowa 38 – October 10, 1987 - Jim Walden’s first victory as the Cyclone head coach came in miraculous fashion. Down 38-21, ISU outscored UNI 18-0 in the game’s final 10 minutes for a dramatic 39-38 victory. It still ties for the greatest fourth quarter comeback in school history. An Eddie Bridges touchdown run was followed by a Brett Sadek score with 2:38 remaining to make it 38-34. Walden, commonly referred to as the “Mississippi Gambler,” decided to go for two and was successful when Edwin Jones scored to make it 38-36. Walden gambled again, instructing Jeff Shudak to attempt an on-side kick. Shudak was perfect with “the bump” and ISU’s Greg Gloede recovered. Moments later, Shudak connected on a 28-yard field goal to secure the victory. Dennis Ross was also instrumental in the win, catching eight passes for 174 yards.
Quotable…
"Jeff (Shudak) just hit it perfect. I was just hoping it would make it to me. I kind of waited for it. They (UNI) were probably expecting one like we had at Tulane."– Iowa State special teamer Greg Gloede on the key on-side kick
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Marv Seiler puts on the jets in a 78-yard run to set up ISU's final fourth-quarter TD in a memorable upset over No. 7 Nebraska.
Iowa State 19, No. 7 Nebraska 10 – November 14, 1992 - On a crisp November afternoon in 1992, Iowa State stunned the football nation by posting one of the biggest upsets in college football that season with a 19-10 win over No. 7 Nebraska. The story of the game was defense and third-string quarterback Marv Seiler. The Cyclones held the Huskers to 246 yards of total offense, 225 yards less than their season average. While the Cyclone defense was stopping the Husker offense, Seiler was becoming a legend among the Cyclone faithful. The seldom-used fifth-year senior carved up the Husker defense with 144 rushing yards on 24 carries. His 78-yard run set up Iowa State’s fourth-quarter touchdown. His brilliant manipulation of the triple-option controlled the clock and moved the chains the rest of the way.
Quotable…
“I’m not very fast. But I’m a lot faster when people are chasing me.”– Iowa State quarterback Marv Seiler
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Weylan Harding sacks Kansas State quarterback Chad May during Iowa State's 27-23 upset over the 18th-ranked Wildcats.
Iowa State 27, No. 18 Kansas State 23 – November 6, 1993 - On a cold - 25 degrees at kickoff – day in Jack Trice Stadium, the Cyclones rallied with three unanswered fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome a 17-6 deficit and defeat No. 18 Kansas State, 27-23. A 16-play, 80-yard drive culminated in a Todd Doxzon touchdown cut the Wildcat lead to 17-12. ISU mounted another long touchdown drive on its next possession to take the lead. The biggest play of the game occurred on that drive. Facing a 3rd-and-7 at the KSU 49-yard line, Doxzon’s pass attempt was tipped up in the air at the line of scrimmage. ISU center Tony Booth caught the deflection and rambled eight yards to pick up the first down. James “The Eel” McMillion scored moments later. Running the triple-option to perfection, the Cyclones outgained the Wildcats, 222-51 on the ground with most of the yardage coming behind Booth up the middle. Booth was named Big Eight Player of the Week after his performance.
Quotable…
“I just happened to look up and grabbed the ball. That was my first instinct, go for it. I just wanted to come down with it so they wouldn't get an interception. I had no idea where I was at when I caught the ball."– Iowa State center Tony Booth
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All-American Troy Davis scores one of his three TDs in a record-setting performance against Ohio in 1995.
Iowa State 36, Ohio 21 – August 31, 1995 - It was billed as the “Doughnut Bowl” because both teams went winless in 1994. Coming off an 0-10-1 season, Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney was making his Cyclone debut and he wanted to create positivity and excitement within the program. He did so by utilizing Troy Davis, who had just 35 carries for 187 yards as a rookie. McCarney made the right choice, because Davis nearly doubled his season total from 1994 by breaking Dave Hoppmann’s school mark of 271 rushing yards in 1961 by grinding out 291 yards in a 36-21 victory. The Cyclones were down 21-12 at the beginning of the fourth quarter but bounced back with 24-straight points, including two touchdowns and 104 yards from Davis.
Quotable…
“I had a dream Wednesday night that I would get 300-some yards, but the dream didn't come true, but I was close to it."– Iowa State running back Troy Davis
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Graston Norris on his way to a 91-yard TD run, the longest rush in Jack Trice Stadium history.
Iowa State 57, UNLV 30 – September 23, 1995 - The Iowa State offense shattered records and All-American running back Troy Davis enhanced his legend as the Cyclones steamrolled UNLV, 57-30. The Cyclones outrushed the Rebels, 586-78, setting a school mark that still stands for rushing yards in a game. Davis broke out nationally by breaking school records for rushing yards (302) and rushing TDs (5) in a game, all in just three quarters. The Cyclones led 57-16 at the end of the third quarter after Graston Norris, who had 128 rushing yards, broke open a 91-yard TD run, the second-longest rush in school history and longest rush in Jack Trice Stadium history.
Quotable…
“I just hit the corner and saw a big hole there. I just ran to the end zone. The line played tough today. I just ran the ball, looked for my holes, and the line had the holes there for me."– Iowa State running back Graston Norris
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Troy Davis' 378-yard rushing performance against Missouri is one of the greatest individual feats in Cyclone history. It ranked as the third-best individual effort in NCAA FBS at the time and still stands as the ISU school record.
Iowa State 45, Missouri 31 – September 28, 1996 - Iowa State’s first Big 12 Conference game turned out to be the Troy Davis Show. The All-American running back raced into the history books by rushing for a school-record 378 yards, the third-best NCAA Division I total at the time, in a 45-31 win over Missouri. Davis could not be stopped. He scored on runs of 1, 38, 40 and 30 yards, and had nine rushes of 15 yards or more in one of the greatest performances in Jack Trice Stadium history.
Quotable…
“He's (Davis) the best in college football, I'm convinced of that. He is, really truly, an amazing, outstanding, unbelievable football player. Whatever accolade you want to lay on him, it's a fact, it's a truth and he backs it up every week."– Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney
"We went up 38-31, and I looked up at the TD Yard-O-Meter up over 900 and I thought, 'My God, wasn't it at 500 or something when we started?"
- Iowa State offensive lineman Tim Kohn
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Darren Davis posted his second-straight 200-yard rushing game (235 yards) vs. Iowa to propel the Cyclones in back-to-back wins over the Hawkeyes.
Iowa State 17, Iowa 10 – September 11, 1999 - Iowa State defeated its in-state rival at home for just the second time since the renewal of the series in 1977, racking up 444 yards of total offense to Iowa’s 230 en route to a 17-10 victory. Senior Darren Davis set the tone on the ground while pass-catcher Damien Groce was outrunning the Hawkeye secondary. Davis rushed for 235 yards and scored the opening touchdown with 10:36 remaining in the first quarter. Groce caught just three passes in the game but made the most out of his limited touches. The wideout gave Iowa State a 14-0 lead with an 80-yard touchdown reception late in the first quarter. Groce finished the day with 113 yards receiving.
Quotable…
“This is a Cyclone state. This sends a message to every recruit that we work hard here, we play hard, we're humble and we play to win."– Iowa State quarterback Sage Rosenfels
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Ennis Haywood rushed for 214 yards to help the Cyclones down Missouri, one of his three 200-yard rushing games in his brilliant career.
Iowa State 39, Missouri 20 – October 28, 2000 - Iowa State’s 39-20 win over Missouri in 2000 held monumental significance for the program. It upped ISU’s record to 6-2, making the Cyclones bowl-eligible and assuring the program’s first bowl game appearance in 22 years. The win was the culmination of Dan McCarney’s massive program rebuild. The Cyclones went on to tie the school record for wins (9) and claimed their first-ever bowl victory in school history. Running back Ennis Haywood and freshman defensive back Marc Timmons were the stars. Haywood had two touchdowns and 214 yards rushing. Timmons picked off two passes, including a third-quarter 78-yard interception return for a touchdown that broke open a close game.
Quotable…
“A lot of people said I was committing professional suicide coming here. It's going to be hard to say that you can't win at Iowa State after tonight. We're not where we want to be yet, but we're getting a hell of a lot closer. Instead of going to relatives at Christmastime this year, maybe we can go someplace else and play another game, instead of watching everybody else in the country play."– Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney
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Seneca Wallace dissected the Baylor defense by completing a school-record 91.7 percent (22-of-24) of his passes.
Iowa State 41, Baylor 0 – September 29, 2001 - Cyclone QB Seneca Wallace was sensational, and the Cyclone defense was in lock-down mode in a 41-0 dismantling of Baylor. Wallace, playing in his first Big 12 game, was nearly perfect. He completed 22-of-24 passes for 299 yards and four touchdowns. Wallace’s performance is still the best single-game completion percentage (91.7%) mark in school history. The Cyclone star had a sequence of 18 consecutive completions, also a school record. The stingy Cyclone defense held Baylor to 190 yards and blocked a 27-yard field-goal attempt, ending the Bears’ only serious scoring threat.
Quotable…
“He (Wallace) was definitely in a groove today. The whole offense was in a groove, really. It wasn't just Seneca. The O-line was protecting. The receivers were catching the ball. He was putting it on the money every time. We thought like we couldn't be stopped out there today."– Iowa State wide receiver Lane Danielsen
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Kevin DeRonde sacks Iowa QB Brad Banks in a tense Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series game.
Iowa State 17, Iowa 14 – November 24, 2001 - The Cy-Hawk game was played in November for the first time since 1933. Originally scheduled for September, the annual contest was postponed to the last game of the regular season after the September 11th terrorist attacks. It was a hard-hitting game that went down to the wire. The Cyclones won their fourth-straight game in the series. ISU jumped out to an early 14-0 lead after a Seneca Wallace touchdown pass to Lane Danielsen and a 7-yard scoring run by Ennis Haywood. Wallace ended the game with 228 passing yards on 20-of-27 attempts. After Iowa fought back to even the score at 14-14, the Cyclones made two memorable plays to seal the victory. Clinging to a 17-14 fourth quarter lead, Wallace threw an interception to Iowa’s Grant Steen deep in ISU territory. Steen returned the ball 16 yards before ISU receiver Craig Campbell popped it loose where it was recovered by Haywood to give ISU a new set of downs. Strong safety Adam Runk later picked off a pass to allow ISU to run out the clock.
Quotable…
“I wasn't even sure if it came out or not. I just knew I got a good swipe at it. I used to play defense in high school. I was just going on my instincts, and that helped me out. Once I knew he was going to intercept, I just tried to make my way back."– Iowa State wide receiver Craig Campbell on his key fourth quarter forced fumble
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Nick Leaders sacks Jammal Lord, one of his two sacks in the game. Leaders and the Cyclone defense held the Cornhuskers to a paltry 81 rushing yards.
No. 19 Iowa State 36, No. 20 Nebraska 14 – September 28, 2002 - Iowa State QB Seneca Wallace completed 19-of-32 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores as the Cyclone defense held No. 20 Nebraska to 81 yards rushing for ISU’s biggest win over the Huskers since 1899. It was the Stadium’s second Top-20 matchup. Wallace received help from running back Michael Wagner and receiver Lane Danielsen. Wagner gained 107 yards on just 19 carries and Danielsen tallied 111 yards through the air on nine catches. The win marked Iowa State’s first victory over a ranked opponent since 1993.
Quotable…
“We wanted to go out there and cut down mistakes. We were trying to keep the ball moving and score some points. We are focusing on playing to win and putting Iowa State football on the map."– Iowa State quarterback Seneca Wallace
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Final sequence shots of Seneca Wallace and "The Run."
No. 11 Iowa State 31, Texas Tech 17 – October 12, 2002 - Two of the highest-powered Big 12 offenses squared off in a game remembered for one of the most dynamic plays in Iowa State history. The Cyclone defense came to play before a nationally-televised TBS audience. ISU held the high-octane Red Raider offense to 17 points, 31 points below their average. But for anyone in the stands that day, they will always remember “The Run.” The game was tied 3-3 in the third quarter. ISU quarterback Seneca Wallace took the snap at the Red Raider 12-yard line. Pressured when he dropped back to pass, Wallace retreated to the 32. The Cyclone signal-caller then zipped toward the right sideline, staying inbounds as he continued to look for a receiver. Cutting back to his left at the 10, a devastating block from Michael Wagner, allowed Wallace to stroll into the end zone untouched. In all, the 12-yard run covered 135 yards and was featured as the “play of the week” by Sports Illustrated. Wagner carried the ball 32 times for 102 yards.
Quotable…
“When I got to the edge, I knew I could get past and had some blockers out there. I just tried to make a play. It helped us get some momentum and get our offense going. We just needed that one big play to get us going."– Iowa State quarterback Seneca Wallace describing "The Run."
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Lane Danielsen was outstanding in Iowa State's 42-35 win over Missouri, catching eight passes for 152 yards.
No. 22 Iowa State 42, Missouri 35 – November 2, 2002 - A last-minute touchdown by Michael Wagner allowed the Cyclones to earn bowl-eligibility for the third-straight season in a wild 42-35 victory over Missouri. Seneca Wallace, in his last conference home game, was amazing. Wallace broke the school’s total offense record with 493 yards, including 425 yards through the air. With the game tied at 35-35, the Cyclones took over at their own 7-yard line with 3:23 remaining. Wallace completed all four passes and had runs of 33 and 11 yards to set up Wagner’s game-winner with 32 seconds left. Lane Danielsen snared eight passes for 152 receiving yards to aid the Cyclones.
Quotable…
“I don't know that on any one day there's been a guy that's more important to his football team than what you saw from Seneca. He's just an amazing football player. I'm really proud of him."– Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney
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Ellis Hobbs lays it all out while blocking Anthony Gallagher's punt in the Cyclones' comeback win over Northern Illinois.
Iowa State 48, Northern Illinois 41 – September 18, 2004 - Iowa State prevailed in a crazy, high-scoring, see-saw battle against Northern Illinois, 48-41. The momentum shifts in this game were astounding. ISU raced to a 20-7 second-quarter lead after WR Todd Blythe caught his second TD pass of the day. But the Huskies then scored 27-straight points on four touchdowns to move ahead 34-20 with a under a minute left in the third quarter. Ellis Hobbs, like he did so often, made a huge play at a critical moment when he blocked Anthony Gallagher’s punt that was recovered by LaMarcus Hicks in the endzone to kickstart 28-straight points by the Cyclones. Blythe scored his third TD of the day and LB Matt Robertson returned an interception for a TD, ISU’s third non-offensive TD of the day, to put the game out of reach at 48-34 with :19 seconds left.
Quotable…
“It was one of those things where the middle opened up. It opened up like the Red Sea."– Iowa State cornerback Ellis Hobbs on the blocked punt that ignited ISU's second half come-from-behind win over Northern Illinois.
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Jon Davis catches a perfect strike from Bret Meyer for a 77-yard TD against Nebraska in 2004.
Iowa State 34, Nebraska 27 – November 6, 2004 - A pair of freshmen sparked the Cyclones to a 34-27 win over Nebraska, as rookie QB Bret Meyer passed for 345 yards and three touchdowns and fellow freshman Todd Blythe caught eight passes for 188 yards. The win marked the fourth Cyclone victory vs. Nebraska in Jack Trice Stadium history. Meyer’s 77-yard TD pass to Jon Davis late in the third quarter gave the Cyclones a 34-14 cushion. Tim Dobbins sealed the win with an interception on Nebraska’s final drive. It was the third win in a four-game Big 12 winning streak to push the Cyclones into a share of the Big 12 North title.
Quotable…
“Getting this win is just huge for us. It just lifts the spirits and feels great. It feels like 2002 all over again. I can't even explain it. I'm still in shock."– Iowa State offensive tackle Cale Stubbe
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Ryan Kock celebrates a late fourth quarter TD in a 23-3 win vs. No. 8 Iowa.
Iowa State 23, No. 8 Iowa 3 – September 10, 2005 - This game was supposed to be close, but it wasn’t. Iowa State totally dominated No. 8 Iowa in a 23-3 victory. Turnovers were the difference in the game. The Cyclones converted all 23 points after five Iowa miscues. A LaMarcus Hicks 28-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Cyclones a 16-0 lead at the break. Iowa never threatened and Ryan Kock put the game out of reach with a two-yard touchdown run with 3:50 left in the game. It was the first time Iowa hadn’t scored a touchdown in the series since a 31-0 Cyclone victory in 1978.
Quotable…
“Last week (vs. Illinois State) we just didn't play the way we were supposed to. We were beating ourselves. Like Coach (Dan McCarney) said, we were the most improved team in America today and this win feels great."– Iowa State senior nose tackle Nick Leaders
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Brent Curvey begins his 66-yard interception TD return to seal Iowa State's 30-16 win over No. 22 Colorado.
Iowa State 30, No. 22 Colorado 16 – November 12, 2005 - A strange game indeed. In a night game delayed because an unlikely November tornado was spotted west of town, the Cyclones lived up to their name in a 30-16 win over No. 22 Colorado. It was the final home game of the season and the fourth-straight win for the Cyclones. The game began 40 minutes late. The winds were howling, producing gusts up to 45 mph. Two second-half defensive touchdowns by the Cyclones were the difference. Steve Paris returned a fumble 66 yards for a touchdown and defensive tackle Brent “Big Play” Curvey had the game-clincher with a 66-yard interception touchdown return with 1:31 left in the contest. The result was ISU’s first win over Colorado since 1983.
Quotable…
“The game was on our shoulders. We had to do whatever we had to do to stop it. They released me, and I knew something was wrong. I know they are not going to let me go. I dropped back to see what was going on and he threw it right to me."– Iowa State defensive tackle Brent Curvey
“I always thought we had a pretty good mascot. But when Iowa State showed up with a real tornado, that's the real deal."– Colorado head coach Gary Barnett
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Todd Blythe snares a Bret Meyer pass in the third overtime of ISU's 45-43 victory over Toledo.
Iowa State 45, Toledo 43 (3 OT) – August 31, 2006 - Iowa State’s 45-43 triple-overtime victory vs. Toledo in the 2006 season-opener was cathartic. In its first five extra session games in school history, the Cyclones lost each one, including three the previous season. This time, the Cyclones prevailed, and QB Bret Meyer played a huge role, rushing for three TDs and tossing two TDs to WR Todd Blythe in the overtime periods. Meyer’s third TD rush, an 11-yard scamper, gave the Cyclones a 30-23 lead in the first overtime. Toledo answered with a pair of TDs to go up 37-30, and suddenly the Cyclones’ backs were against the wall. On a critical 3rd-and-15, Meyer found Blythe on the sideline for a 29-yard TD strike to knot the score at 37-all in the second overtime. Beginning the third overtime on its next offensive play, Meyer hit Blythe again, who snagged it one-handed in the back corner of the end zone for a 25-yard TD. Meyer rushed in for the 2-point conversion for a 45-37 Cyclone lead. The Rockets got their chance and scored, but CB Chris Singleton deflected Clint Cochran’s 2-point conversion pass to preserve a Cyclone victory.
Quotable…
“We knew they were going to give us single coverage. The guy kinda bit on the stutter. Bret threw it up there, and it came down and just stuck."– Iowa State wide receiver Todd Blythe on ISU's final touchdown
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Fans storm the field and Cyclone players raise head coach Dan McCarney on their shoulders in his final game, an upset victory over Missouri.
Iowa State 21, Missouri 16 – November 18, 2006 - Defensive End Shawn Moorehead sacked Missouri QB Chase Daniel at the ISU 11-yard line on the game’s final play to preserve an emotional 21-16 win over the Bowl-bound Tigers in the 2006 season-finale. It was head coach Dan McCarney’s final game of his Cyclone career. The school’s all-time winningest coach, it was announced McCarney’s contract would not be renewed earlier in the season. The Cyclones wanted Mac to go out on top, mounting a 21-10 lead late in the third quarter thanks to an outstanding performance from senior RB Ryan Kock. The seldom-used Kock rushed for 179 of his 498 career yards and a pair of TDs in a Senior Day for the ages. The game still went down to the wire. With ISU holding a narrow 21-16 lead, MU had fourth-and goal at the one with :26 left when Daniel dove for an apparent TD. One official signaled a TD, but another threw a flag for holding. The holding call held setting up Moorehead’s sack on the final play.
Quotable…
“Hopefully, there will be another day, another team, another sideline, but it will be hard to beat these last 12 years. We will always be Cyclones; I can promise you that."– Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney
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Holder Josh Griebahn begins celebrating Bret Culbertson's game-winning field goal in the closing seconds of Iowa State's 15-13 win over Iowa.
Iowa State 15, Iowa 13 – September 15, 2007 - The “Shaggy Game.” Any victory decided on the last play of the game is sweet, especially if it’s against your in-state rival. Senior kicker Bret “Shaggy” Culbertson accounted for all 15 Iowa State points on a school-record-tying five field goals in ISU’s 15-13 win over Iowa. Culbertson’s fourth field goal, a 40-yarder late in the second quarter, gave the Cyclones a 12-0 lead at the half. The Hawkeyes started their comeback, scoring 13-straight points to move ahead 13-12 with a mere 3:38 left on the clock. ISU had one more chance. On its final drive, quarterback Bret Meyer found freshman Phillip Bates on a 38-yard pass to put ISU in field goal range. The Cyclones proceeded to run the clock down, setting up Culbertson’s game-winning 28-yard field goal with one tick left to secure the Cy-Hawk victory.
Quotable…
“Before you lay your head down to sleep, just visualize the kick. If you miss it in your head, take it again. I did that all night last night, did it again this morning....And then I did it this afternoon. You never quit. I've missed some big ones, but I'm still here. The whole team's still here. Iowa State's still here."– Iowa State placekicker Bret "Shaggy" Culbertson
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Todd Blythe, one of the greatest wide receivers in school history, celebrates a TD in Iowa State's comeback triumph against Colorado.
Iowa State 31, Colorado 28 – November 10, 2007 - When Iowa State entered the locker room at halftime the scoreboard read: Colorado 21, Iowa State 0. Behind seniors Bret Meyer (QB) and Todd Blythe (WR), the Cyclones battled back on Senior Day with 31 second-half points to come away with an improbable 31-28 victory over the Buffaloes. Blythe caught just four passes, but they netted 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 55-yard TD snare to tie the game at 21-all late in the third quarter. Alexander Robinson, who grinded out 127 rushing yards, scored on a nine-yard run with under five minutes remaining to push ISU out in front 31-21. The Buffs weren’t finished. After cutting the lead to 31-28, CU raced down to the ISU 34-yard line on its final drive. Hurrying to kick a field goal, Colorado was penalized for a premature snap which resulted in a five-yard penalty. The official marked the ball with one second remaining and Kevin Eberhart made what appeared to be a game-tying 55-yard field goal. However, the officials ruled the clock had expired before the snap to allow the Cyclones to escape with a win. The 21-point comeback victory is still tied for the second-largest in school history.
Quotable…
“Unbelievable. We had to get our confidence going, and we did. This is really special. I didn't want to leave the field and wanted to stay with my teammates. I've spent a lot of time with those guys."– Iowa State quarterback Bret Meyer
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Wide receiver Josh Lenz hauls in a spectacular TD catch in Iowa State's 52-38 win over Texas Tech.
Iowa State 52, Texas Tech 38 – October 2, 2010 - Iowa State scored 24 points in the second quarter and 28 in the fourth in a 52-38 win over Texas Tech. It was one of the highest-scoring games in Jack Trice Stadium history and ISU’s 28 fourth-quarter points is the second-most in school history. The Cyclones raced out to a 24-0 lead before the Red Raiders tied it at 24-24 midway through the third quarter. ISU answered with back-to-back touchdowns, including a 61-yard run from Shontrelle Johnson. TTU cut the ISU lead to 45-38 with under two minutes remaining and had one final chance with an on-side kick attempt, but Jeremy Reeves picked up the kick in stride and raced 42 yards for the final touchdown. Both Alexander Robinson (103) and Johnson (102) went over the century mark in rushing and QB Austen Arnaud tossed four TD passes to lead the Cyclone offense.
Quotable…
“The passing game opened up the running game. We had two 100-yard rushers and what Jeff Woody contributed was very important to the victory. We threw the ball effectively and we threw the ball downfield."– Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads
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Steele Jantz' late-game heroics played a huge role in one of the most exciting games in the history of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series.
Iowa State 44, Iowa 41 (3 OT) – September 10, 2011 - Neither team was ranked, but for pure entertainment value, Iowa State’s 44-41 triple overtime victory vs. Iowa in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series was one of most exciting games in Jack Trice Stadium history. The Cyclones came from behind on three different occasions in the fourth quarter and overtime periods. The victory was sealed by James White’s four-yard TD run in the third overtime. ISU QB Steele Jantz was stellar, completing 25-of-37 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns. With Iowa State down 24-17 with 5:40 left in regulation, Jantz engineered a 13-play, 59-yard drive to force overtime and keep the Cyclones’ hopes alive. Twice in the drive, Jantz converted improbable third-and-long situations to keep the chains moving. The first on a 19-yard pass to Darius Reynolds on 3rd-and-15 and the second on a 40-yard pass to Reynolds on 3rd-and-20.
Quotable…
“I don't have trouble finding words very often. I had trouble in the locker room and am having trouble right now because of the unbelievable performance, not just by one team but by two teams out there. Our football team overcame unbelievable adversity today."– Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads
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Cyclone fans swarm the field in Iowa State's monumental victory over No. 2 Oklahoma State.
Iowa State 37, No. 2 Oklahoma State 31 (2 OT) – November 18, 2011 - Iowa State turned the college football world upside down with a 37-31 nationally-televised Friday night double overtime victory over No. 2 Oklahoma State. The Cowboys were the highest-ranked team Iowa State has ever defeated. The win knocked OSU out of national championship contention, as the Cyclones made an improbable comeback, erasing a 17-point second-half deficit. Jeff Woody sealed the win with a four-yard touchdown run, but the play of the game was Ter’Ran Benton’s interception after Jake Knott tipped a Brandon Weeden pass in OSU’s second-overtime possession. Reserve freshman quarterback Jared Barnett played remarkably. He passed for 376 yards, then the sixth-best output in school history. The Cyclones churned out 568 yards of total offense and handed the Cowboys their only blemish on the season (12-1). The win made Iowa State bowl-eligible.
Quotable…
“We've got a blue collar football team. We got a group of young men that put their hard hats on every day and just continue to go to work. I could not be prouder of the effort they put out tonight. It was a complete team effort and that is what we needed for victory and that is what we delivered."– Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads
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Jarvis West catches one of his three TD passes in a 35-21 win against Baylor. West's three TD snares is still tied for second on ISU's single-game record list.
Iowa State 35, Baylor 21 – October 27, 2012 - Iowa State quarterback Steele Jantz had one of the greatest performances by a Cyclone signal-caller in a 35-21 triumph over Baylor. Jantz broke the school record for completions (36) and tied the ISU mark for touchdown tosses (5) enroute to a career-best 381 passing yards. Jarvis West caught three touchdowns, including a 22-yarder to put the Cyclones up 35-14 early in the fourth quarter.
Quotable…
“He (Jantz) looked comfortable in the hotel. He looked comfortable in the locker room and that was an indication of how he was going to play. It made me feel good getting on the bus."– Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads
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All-Big 12 linebacker Jeremiah George fights to stay warm on the sideline in Iowa State's shutout of Kansas.
Iowa State 34, Kansas 0 – November 23, 2013 - Iowa State blanked Kansas (34-0) on Senior Night, the school’s first shutout against a Big 12 opponent since 2001, but that’s not what made this game memorable. The temperature for the night kickoff plummeted to eight degrees, making it the coldest game in Cyclone football history (home or away). The chilly temperatures made playing conditions challenging, but the Cyclones took advantage of an icy, rock-hard field by compiling a season-high 502 yards of total offense. Grant Rohach threw for 300 yards (15-of-20, 2 TD) and senior defenders Jeremiah George and Jacques Washington had monster games, registering 14 and 13 tackles, respectively. Conditions could have been much worse, however. The game was played under clear skies and a calm, windless night.
Quotable…
“The footing was the worst part. Obviously, it was cold, but playing, you kind of get over that. I think the footing was the biggest adversary to us. It was great to get the win and gives us confidence going forward."– Iowa State quarterback Grant Rohach
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Allen Lazard breaks free from Texas defenders in Iowa State's 24-0 blanking of the Longhorns. Lazard had six catches for 66 yards in the victory.
Iowa State 24, Texas 0 – October 31, 2015 - In his first collegiate start, quarterback Joel Lanning led Iowa State to a 24-0 blanking of Texas on beautiful night under the lights in Jack Trice Stadium. It was just the second victory by a Cyclone team against the Longhorns. It was the first time Texas was shutout by an unranked team since 1961, as ISU’s defense allowed just 204 yards in a dominating effort. Lanning threw for 188 yards and rushed for 64, and Mike Warren tallied 157 yards on the ground to help the Cyclones rack up 238 rushing yards.
Quotable…
“It's a defense's dream. That's good football. You played good football if you shut a team out like that."– Iowa State linebacker Levi Peters
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Joel Lanning is all smiles as he races for his school-record-tying fifth TD rush in Iowa State's 66-10 rout of Texas Tech.
Iowa State 66, Texas Tech 10 – November 19, 2016 - Head coach Matt Campbell’s first Big 12 home victory was a record-setter. Iowa State annihilated Texas Tech, a team led by future NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, 66-10 for the largest margin of victory (56 points) vs. a conference team in school history. ISU’s 66 points is the most-ever by a Cyclone team vs. a league foe and sixth-most overall. The Cyclones had six rushing touchdowns, including five by Joel Lanning, tying him with Troy Davis for the most rushing touchdowns in a game. Lanning also had a career-high 171 rushing yards and completed three passes for 51 yards.
Quotable…
“It's rewarding to me any time I see Joel Lanning have success because Joel Lanning's a really hard worker. Joel's a captain here. As well-respected here as any player on our football team and Joel has success because he works really hard at it."– Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell
"It's crazy. Troy Davis was a Heisman runner-up. It's awesome to be in that category.
- Iowa State quarterback Joel Lanning.
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Kyle Kempt and Trever Ryen soak in the celebration after Iowa State's victory over No. 4 TCU.
No. 25 Iowa State 14, No. 4 TCU 7 – October 28, 2017 - For just the third time in Jack Trice Stadium history, two ranked teams squared off. The Cyclones, espousing head coach Matt Campbell’s “Process,” took the field with a three-game winning streak. The incredible October began with a huge upset at No. 3 Oklahoma. The defense came to play, as the Cyclones knocked off their second Top 5 opponent with a 14-7 victory over No. 4 TCU. Three forced turnovers by the Cyclone defense saved the day. In the third quarter, with TCU at the ISU 7-yard line Brian Peavy picked off Kenny Hill’s pass and returned it 70 yards. ISU was still clinging to a 14-7 lead in the fourth quarter when TCU had first and goal at the Cyclone 3-yard line. On second down, linebacker Willie Harvey sacked Hill, forcing a fumble recovered by J.D. Waggoner that ended another potential Horned Frog score. Linebacker Marcel Spears Jr. put a fork in the game with an interception with 1:16 remaining. Jack Trice Stadium erupted when quarterback Kyle Kempt kneeled to end the game. Throngs of fans stormed the field in a memorable afternoon.
Quotable…
“Real football at this level is grinding it out. You've got to figure it out and stick it out. This place gives you chills. To be able to see that environment enjoy today after what they've sacrificed, it's so rewarding. It's humbling. That's what makes ISU special. They deserve this as much as we do. All you want to do is get your team to November and have them playing for something, and we're finally there. We made it."– Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell
"We put in all that work in the offseason when no one was watching. To be able to go out there and showcase it to the great fans we have, it was difficult at first, but it's obviously paying off and very fulfilling."
- Iowa State wide receiver Allen Lazard
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Record-setting QB Brock Purdy was outstanding in his first career start at Jack Trice Stadium, compiling 254 passing yards and three touchdowns. Purdy ended his phenomenal career with a 16-1 record as ISU's starting QB vs. Big 12 opponents at Jack Trice Stadium.
Iowa State 30, No. 6 West Virginia 14 – October 13, 2018 - Record-breaking QB Brock Purdy was making his first start at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones wore all black uniforms for the first time. The high-powered sixth-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers were in town. The stage was set, and the Cyclone defense displayed one of their finest performances in an impressive 30-14 Iowa State victory. The vaunted Mountaineer offense crossed midfield just once, punted eight times, mustered only nine first downs and had their lowest offensive output this century with a mere 152 yards to ISU’s 498. All-American defensive end JaQuan Bailey had two of ISU’s school-record seven sacks. Purdy threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns and All-American running back David Montgomery rushed for 189 yards to celebrate one of many “Brocktober” victories.
Quotable…
“Brock (Purdy) is showing on the big stage what he can do. We always knew. We see it every day in practice. He's amazing."– Iowa State wide receiver Deshaunte Jones
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Mike Rose eyes the football prior to his 21-yard fumble return for a TD in Iowa State's amazing come-from-behind win over Kansas State.
No. 25 Iowa State 42, Kansas State 38 – November 24, 2018 - When Kansas State QB Skylar Thompson found Isaiah Zuber on a 4-yard TD toss to take a 38-21 lead with 12:27 left in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats had seemingly put the dagger in the Cyclones. What happened next will go down in Iowa State lore. ISU bounced back with a furious rally, scoring 21 points in the final 10 minutes for a miraculous 42-38 victory. The comeback started when senior tight end Sam Seonbuchner, on senior night, scored his first career TD on a 3-yard pass from Brock Purdy. On KSU’s next drive, linebacker Willie Harvey sacked Thompson and popped the ball loose. Catching it in mid-air, linebacker Mike Rose took it back 21 yards for the score to cut the KSU lead to 38-35. A quick Wildcat 3-and-out gave the ball back to the Cyclones. ISU wasted little time, scoring on an 18-yard TD run by David Montgomery. The Cyclone defense forced the Wildcats to turn it over on downs on their last series to equal the largest fourth-quarter comeback (17 points) in school history. Purdy passed for 337 yards, 144 of them to Hakeem Butler. Montgomery churned out 149 yards on the ground, as the Cyclones ended KSU head coach Bill Snyder’s career with a loss.
Quotable…
“The momentum definitely shifted after the fumble. But our team always believes. There was no coaches' message. It was more of a players' message. We've got too much trust in each other just to give up. That's the old Iowa State."– Iowa State running back David Montgomery
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Chase Allen congratulates Brock Purdy on one of his six touchdowns in Iowa State's 72-20 win vs. ULM.
Iowa State 72, ULM 20 – September 21, 2019 - Records were plentiful, and a Cyclone legend continued to flourish in Iowa State’s 72-20 dominating win over ULM. Iowa State racked up a school-record 714 yards of total offense and registered the most points in the modern era in the victory behind the exploits of second-year QB Brock Purdy. The Cyclone star broke the school record for total offense (510), throwing for 435 yards and rushing for 75 despite suffering turnovers on its first two possessions. Purdy also accounted for six touchdowns to equal the school mark, rushing for three and tossing three aerial strikes. Tarique Milton had three catches for 142 yards, including a 73-yard TD from Purdy, and Deshaunte Jones posted 100 yards on just two receptions, thanks to an 84-yard TD catch, the fifth-longest reception in school history.
Quotable…
“It was sweet to click after what happened earlier in the game. The second-and third-team guys came in and picked up where the starters left off."– Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy
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Enyi Uwazurike leads a group of Cyclones celebrating Iowa State's walk-off win over Texas.
Iowa State 23, No. 22 Texas 21 – November 16, 2019 - Connor Assalley’s 36-yard field goal as time expired gave Iowa State a 23-21 victory over No. 22 Texas in a walk-off winner. Iowa State led 20-7 heading into the fourth quarter thanks to the opening play of the second half when QB Brock Purdy eluded a Longhorn all-out blitz and found Deshaunte Jones wide open for a 75-yard TD. Texas took the lead, 21-20 with 5:37 remaining. The Cyclone defense then forced UT to a 3-and-out on its last drive to give the ISU offense one more chance. ISU moved the ball to the UT 25-yard line and came out to attempt a 42-yard field goal, but the Longhorns were called for offsides, setting up Assalley’s game-winner. With the win, head coach Matt Campbell now owned a victory over every Big 12 opponent. He became the only Cyclone coach to defeat every other member of the conference since the Big Six was formed in 1928. Purdy threw for 354 yards and Jones (144) and La’Michael Pettway (100) had triple digits in receiving yards.
Quotable…
“Ah man, they all piled on me, but I'll be fine. The offense played well all game. The defense played well all game. We had confidence in Steve (Wirtel) snapping and Blake (Clark) holding. I just kicked a few in the net and envisioned success. I was 100% confident."– Iowa State placekicker Connor Assalley
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Kene Nwangwu's fourth quarter 85-yard kickoff return was a key spark in Iowa State's first win over Oklahoma in Ames in 60 years.
Iowa State 37, No. 18 Oklahoma 30 – October 3, 2020 - Very few fans witnessed one of the most exciting games in Jack Trice Stadium history. The fans in attendance – limited by the Covid-19 pandemic – saw Iowa State rise with big plays in a 37-30 thriller over No. 18 Oklahoma. The Sooners went ahead 30-23 after a TD with 8:17 left in the game. Perhaps the biggest play of the contest ensued when Kene Nwangwu returned the kickoff 85 yards to the OU 13-yard line. Two plays later QB Brock Purdy tied the game with a 2-yard TD rush. ISU forced OU into a 3-and-out on its next possession and RB Breece Hall took over. Hall had a 36-yard run and an 8-yard TD scamper to push the Cyclones back on top with under four minutes remaining. Isheem Young intercepted a Spencer Rattler pass in the end zone with 1:02 remaining to put the game out of reach. Hall finished with 149 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns, as the Cyclones defeated the Sooners at home for the first time since 1960, ending a 24-game losing streak in Ames. The two teams held a rematch in December in Dallas when Iowa State appeared in its first Big 12 Championship game.
Quotable…
“Just because we beat Oklahoma, we're not going to go 'all right, the season's done.' We have so much more to play for. We don't train in the offseason just to beat one team."– Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy
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Landen Akers scoops up the ball after blocking a punt in ISU's wild 38-31 come-from-behind win over Baylor.
No. 17 Iowa State 38, Baylor 31 – November 7, 2020 - The 2020 season will go down as one of the greatest years in Cyclone history and their 38-31 win over Baylor that year was one of the most exciting. Iowa State had a horrendous start. Trailing 21-10 at the break, Brock Purdy threw three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Things appeared to go worse when Greg Eisworth fumbled a punt return at the beginning of the second half, handing the ball back to the Bears at the ISU 21-yard line. ISU’s defense held strong, allowing just a field goal as BU increased its lead to 24-10. Then the onslaught began. The Cyclones scored touchdowns on their next four possessions in under 15 minutes, incredibly erasing a 14-point deficit into a 38-24 lead with 10:46 remaining in the game. Big plays were instrumental in the comeback. Kene Nwangwu had a 67-yard kickoff return to set up the first TD and Landen Akers blocked a punt to set up the final TD. Purdy bounced back after intermission, connecting on 9-of-12 passes for 108 yards and three TDs while Breece Hall had 133 rushing yards and two TDs.
Quotable…
“When you're the quarterback, it's not easy and you better be a tough hombre, and Brock (Purdy) is about as tough as I know and is about as special of a competitor I've ever been around."– Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell
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Will McDonald IV sacks Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders in a critical fourth quarter series. McDonald IV shares the Big 12's career sack record with 34.
Iowa State 24, No. 8 Oklahoma State 21 – October 23, 2021 - A sellout crowd of 61,500 watched Iowa State hand No. 8 Oklahoma State its first loss of the season in a hard-hitting 24-21 victory. Both teams had strong defenses, but it was the Cyclones’ defensive unit that made the plays in the end. RB Breece Hall’s 4-yard TD run with 5:24 left in the game culminated an impressive 6-play, 85-yard scoring drive, as the Cyclones took a 24-21 lead. All-American DE Will McDonald IV sacked Cowboy QB Spencer Sanders on back-to-back plays on OSU’s next drive. The Cowboys turned the ball over on downs, preserving ISU’s 10th win over a ranked opponent in a five-year span. Head coach Matt Campbell also became the only coach in Cyclone history to defeat every league opponent at home and on the road in a career.
Quotable…
“In my head I was like, all right, I just need to cook this dude. They kind of switched it up and I thought they would be a chip over on my side. Oklahoma State is a really good team, but we just came through and played harder."– Iowa State defensive end Will McDonald IV
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Linebacker Jake Hummel and a swarm of Cyclones tackle a Longhorn en route to a suffocating defensive performance and a victory over Texas.
Iowa State 30, Texas 7 – November 6, 2021 - Iowa State made it three-straight wins over Texas behind a dominating second-half performance under the lights in Jack Trice Stadium. Down 7-3 at the half, the Cyclones pounced on the Longhorns after intermission (27-0), holding UT to a season-low 207 yards of total offense. RB Breece Hall was limited to 17 rushing yards at the half, but he came to life in the final 30 minutes, picking up 119 of his 136 yards and two TDs in the second half. Hall’s 47-yard TD burst at the beginning of the third quarter gave the Cyclones lead for good. That score was followed by a Brock Purdy backward pass to WR Xavier Hutchinson who then lofted a 49-yard TD strike to a wide open WR Tarique Milton. The Cyclone defense registered five sacks and 8.0 TFL. Will McDonald IV and Enyi Uwazurike each had 2.5 sacks in the blowout.
Quotable…
“Xavier was a quarterback his junior year of high school. It wasn't pretty, so that's why he's not a quarterback. Great, gutsy call by Coach (Tom Manning). It was the perfect time to run that play, we just wanted to run it as fast as we can."– Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell
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Breece Hall and head coach Matt Campbell hug after Hall rushed for a TD in his 24th-straight game, breaking the all-time NCAA FBS record.
Iowa State 48, TCU 14 – November 26, 2021 - Iowa State easily handled TCU in the final regular season game of the 2021 season, 48-14, but that wasn’t what made this game important. The contest was significant because it was the final game for two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Breece Hall, twice a consensus All-American running back and arguably the greatest player in ISU history. Hall’s finale was exhilarating. Heading into the game, Hall had tied the NCAA FBS record for consecutive games with a rushing TD at 23. He needed another to break the mark. Hall got it late in the second quarter with a 39-yard dash. He subsequently had two more scores - an 80-yarder and a 4-yarder. Hall ended the game with a career-best 242 rushing yards and career school records that will likely never be broken - touchdowns (56), rushing touchdowns (50) and scoring (336) – all in just three seasons of action.
Quotable…
“That run was for the record and it just showed all the hard work that myself and my team put in for me to get that record in these three years. It just means a lot. Today, I came in and I wasn't even focused on it. I just wanted to play hard for the seniors and send the seniors out the right way. Then with everything that happened it was like a fairytale ending for us."– Iowa State running back Breece Hall
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True freshman Abu Sama III breaks free in a 55-yard run early in the third quarter in the Cyclone victory.
Iowa State 27, TCU 14 – October 7, 2023 - On a night when Iowa State honored the legacy of Jack Trice, the Cyclones rolled over defending CFP national finalist TCU, 27-14. Wearing throwback uniforms from the era when Trice played at Iowa State 100 years prior, the defense came up with four interceptions and other key big plays. Beau Freyler picked off two passes and a Darien Porter blocked punt set up a field goal to give the Cyclones a 10-7 lead heading into intermission. Freshman Abu Sama rambled 55 yards for a TD and Easton Dean caught a 1-yard TD toss from freshman Rocco Becht to push the Cyclone lead to 24-7 going into the fourth quarter, as the Cyclones never looked back. Eli Sanders finished the game with 99 yards on the ground and a TD score.
Quotable…
“You can't say enough about our young guys. This group is courageous. They have come in with a purpose. They have come in, and it's not always been perfect, but they demand to get better every day. Their growth has been exponential."– Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell
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