The Iowa-Iowa State rivalry has covered 61 games since the first in 1894. Iowa is in control of the rivalry, leading 40-21, largely due to the strength of a 15-game win streak from 1983 to 1997. On Saturday the two teams will play at Kinnick Stadium in a game that is being overlooked by many due to Iowa State’s 0-2 start.
Even if this game is not at the top of the marquee nationally, the two schools are taking it very seriously locally. When the nation thinks about this rivalry, the most recent memory is from the 2011 season:
Playing in Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, both teams came in 1-0. Iowa State had survived Northern Iowa by a single point and Iowa had beaten up Tennessee Tech.
The two rivals fought back and forth and ended the first half tied, 10-10. After three quarters Iowa State gained a slight 17-16 advantage.
The game ultimately came down to one drive, with Iowa up seven points. The Cyclones, led by Steele Jantz at quarterback, got the ball with 5:50 left in the game and promptly marched 13 plays for 59 yards to tie the score.
In overtime, Iowa rode Marcus Coker to a quick touchdown but the Cyclones had to work much harder. After a great initial play to start the drive (a 14-yard run by Shontrelle Johnson), the Cyclones stalled. Finally on fourth and goal at the 4-yard line, Jantz found Darius Reynolds to tie the game.
In double overtime the teams traded touchdowns again, as James White ran for a score and James Vandenburg responded by hitting Keenan Davis for a 23-yard touchdown.
In triple overtime, Iowa was the first to show weakness as it settled for a 34-yard field goal on fourth and one. Iowa State knew it could win the game with a touchdown, and Steele Jantz took it to Iowa, completing two passes and then running the ball down to the four-yard line to set up James White’s four-yard touchdown run that won the game for the Cyclones.
After the game, spectators were able to see the kind of thing that makes college football special. It sets apart college football from the pros because of the passion of the fan bases. Take a look at this video which features the overtime periods as well as the hoisting of the trophy and the post-game field rush:
and of course, don’t forget about Sweet Caroline…..
