Iowa State (Almost) Upsets Nebraska: Iowa Time Machine November 11, 1972

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On November 11, 1972, a muddy field in Ames, Iowa, became the stage for one of college football’s most remarkable moments. With only twenty-three seconds left and Nebraska leading 23-17, Iowa State quarterback George Amundson found Willie Jones in the end zone for a stunning touchdown. The crowd rushed the field before the extra point, and when kicker Tom Goedjen missed, the game ended in a 23-23 tie.

The Cornhuskers arrived in Ames as the powerhouse of college football. Under coach Bob Devaney, Nebraska had fielded teams that crushed opponents with punishing defense and relentless offense. The 1971 squad, widely regarded as one of the best ever, had outscored its competition by nearly 400 points and defeated Alabama in the Orange Bowl. Although Nebraska still featured Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers and defensive star Rich Glover, cracks had begun to appear. Earlier losses to UCLA and Oklahoma had shaken confidence, and the matchup with seventeenth-ranked Iowa State looked like a test of pride as much as it was a test of talent. The Cyclones, coached by Johnny Majors, entered the game determined to prove they could compete on the national stage.

What unfolded was a chaotic, muddy battle marked by grit and turnovers. Nebraska fumbled six times and threw two interceptions as Iowa State’s defense and the soggy field slowed the Cornhuskers’ rhythm. Amundson passed for 246 yards and three touchdowns, leading a Cyclone offense that matched Nebraska’s firepower at every turn. Each team traded scores until the final minute, when Nebraska extended its lead to six with a field goal. Amundson then engineered a last, desperate drive, capped by the tying touchdown pass to Jones. The missed extra point preserved the draw, but in Iowa, it felt like victory. Devaney’s postgame comment comparing his players to “farmers at a picnic” only deepened the sting, especially among the very fans who had witnessed the upset.

The tie in Ames became the moment Nebraska’s first great dynasty came to an end. Though the Cornhuskers closed the season with a win over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, they were no longer untouchable, and Devaney soon retired, leaving the program to Tom Osborne. For Iowa State, that muddy November afternoon became a cornerstone of school pride. #Iowa #IowaState #Nebraska #History #CollegeFootball