COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 48 days

Iowa State running back Dwayne Crutchfield vs. Colorado State in 1980. (Photo via Mike Green on Twitter)

Each day leading up to Iowa State’s season opener against South Dakota State, Cyclone Fanatic will check another day off the calendar with a memorable statistic, player or game as part of our Countdown to Kickoff presented by Tailgate Clothing. 

Very few people would ever mention Iowa State’s 1980 football team as one of the program’s best, but there is no disputing their season got off to one of the best starts the school has ever seen.

On Oct. 4, 1980, Iowa State moved its record to 4-o with a 69-0 win over Colorado State while scoring a still-standing program-record 48 points in the first half. The Cyclones would move to 5-0 the following week with a win over Kansas State but lost five of their last six games on the way to a 6-5 finish.

Regardless, the team’s absolute rout of Colorado State is one of the most statistically astounding performances in school history.

Iowa State’s 69 points remain the Jack Trice Stadium record 38 years later. Meanwhile, the team’s 449 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns and 618 total yards remain in the program’s top-five for single-game marks.

While few people remember the team’s 5-0 start, the 1980 Cyclones’ school record 48 first-half points are likely safe for the near future. Although, Texas Tech is coming to Ames this fall. 😉

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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