Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On November 18, 2011, Iowa State running back Jeff Woody ran over the Oklahoma State defense and into Cyclone lore as a part of a 37-31 double-over time upset. Entering the game as 27-point underdogs, the Cyclones managed to earn the program's first-ever win over an opponent ranked in the top six nationally (after starting 0-56-2) in a wild come-from-behind victory.
Oklahoma State entered Jack Trice on a roll. Over the four weeks prior, the Cowboys put up at least 45 points in wins over Missouri, Baylor, Kansas State, and Texas Tech. Projected as a participant in the BCS National Championship Game, Oklahoma State arrived in Ames for a nationally televised game against Paul Rhodes and his 5-4 Cyclones. When Cyclone quarterback Jared Barnett threw a first-quarter pick-six, it appeared the Cowboys might boat race Iowa State like they’d already done to much of the Big XII.
Iowa State trailed 24-7 early in the third quarter before starting to embark on one of the greatest comebacks in school history. Jarvis West returned a kickoff to near midfield, setting up a 32-yard James White touchdown run. The Cyclones recovered an on-side kick and resumed marching down the field, only to see Barnett fumble at the four-yard line. A Cowboy fumble set up a Zach Guyer field goal to pull the Cyclones to 24-17 with 4:12 left in the third quarter. A Barnett-led 12-play, 89-yard scoring drive featuring completions to five different Cyclone receivers pulled Iowa State even at 24-24 with 5:30 to play in the fourth quarter.
Things looked bleak for Iowa State when a Barnett interception with 3:17 left paired with a personal foul penalty to set Oklahoma State up at the Cyclone 26-yard-line with just 3:17 to play. When the Cowboy’s kicker missed a 37-yard field goal with 1:17 left, the game headed to overtime. A Barnett touchdown pass to White allowed the Cyclones to pull ahead in the first overtime, only to see the Cowboys answer. Taking the ball first in the second overtime, Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden attempted to hit star receiver Justin Blackmon only to see Cyclone safety Ter’Ron Benton pick off the Jake Knott deflected pass. Jeff Woody then bulldozed his way into Cyclone history on three carries. First, Woody ran for seven yards. Then, for 14. At 10:50 p.m. CST, from four yards out, Woody punched in the winning score, and pandemonium reigned in Ames. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
