Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 20, 1990, both Iowa and Iowa State pulled off road upsets in one of the most memorable days in the state’s college football history. Iowa edged out tenth-ranked Michigan 24-23 in Ann Arbor, while Iowa State upset sixteenth-ranked Oklahoma 33-31 Oklahoma in Norman.
Hayden Fry’s twenty-third-ranked Hawks entered the Big House as 13-point underdogs to face the reigning Big 10 Champion Wolverines. The Hawkeyes trailed 14-7 at the half, and Michigan led 20-10 late in the third quarter as Iowa faced long odds against the nation’s top-ranked defense. Quarterback Matt Rodgers led the Hawkeye comeback, connecting on 27 of 37 passes for 276 yards on the day. Rodgers completed five of six passes on a game-winning drive, which ultimately saw fullback Paul Kujawa plunge in from a yard out to tie the game. After the extra point, Iowa held a one-point lead with under a minute to play. A Moses Santos sack set the Wolverines back on their heels, and a John Derby interception sealed the victory for the Hawkeyes.
The Cyclones entered Memorial Stadium in Norman a 24-point underdog to the Sooners. Down 14-0 during the first quarter, Iowa State’s hopes fell further when star tailback Blaise Bryant injured his ribs late in the first half. However, Quarterback Chris Pederson helped Iowa State win in Norman for the first time since 1961. Pederson threw for 102 yards while rushing for 148, and led the Cyclones on a game-winning drive, which included a 20-yard gain on a quarterback draw when Iowa State faced a fourth-and-eight. Later in the drive, on third and goal, Pederson again came through to scramble for the game-winning touchdown.
While Iowa State floundered down the homestretch to finish the season 4-6-1, Iowa ended up in a four-way tie atop the Big Ten with an 8-4 record and earned the school’s third Rose Bowl appearance in ten years. Despite the difference in results, the dual upsets on a late-October Saturday forever etched the moment into Iowa and Iowa State football lore. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
Comments