Thanks @brentblum for the Northwest Bank clarification. Had no idea they were a Spencer, IA company. Thought it was some random PNW bank.
The 2005 comparison is interesting in terms of frustration. I do think both teams are frustrating in terms of dumb mistakes, iffy special teams, and an inability to find ways to win games in the 4th quarter/OT. 2005 was a season that could have easily been 9-2 vs 7-4 if just a handful of plays/things go differently. I don't think 11-0 would have been realistic, because the running game was so inconsistent and our pass blocking was dicey too.
It is a little different in that 2005 had some of the highest highs as well as the lowest lows in program history. I don't think we've had the same level of high's in 2025, but that might be due to the higher expectations for football in 2025.
Here are some of my memories from that season. I'm sure I'm missing some things too.
www.espn.com
The 2005 comparison is interesting in terms of frustration. I do think both teams are frustrating in terms of dumb mistakes, iffy special teams, and an inability to find ways to win games in the 4th quarter/OT. 2005 was a season that could have easily been 9-2 vs 7-4 if just a handful of plays/things go differently. I don't think 11-0 would have been realistic, because the running game was so inconsistent and our pass blocking was dicey too.
It is a little different in that 2005 had some of the highest highs as well as the lowest lows in program history. I don't think we've had the same level of high's in 2025, but that might be due to the higher expectations for football in 2025.
Here are some of my memories from that season. I'm sure I'm missing some things too.
Iowa State Cyclones 2005 Regular Season NCAAF Schedule - ESPN
ESPN has the full 2005 Iowa State Cyclones Regular Season NCAAF schedule. Includes game times, TV listings and ticket information for all Cyclones games.
- 32-21 home win over Illinois State. Meh game.
- 23-3 home win over Iowa. We kicked the crap out of Drew Tate and their top 10 pre-season ranked Hawkeyes. It could have been much worse.
- 28-21 road win over Army on a Friday night. Ugly road win. Needed a 2 TDs in the 4th quarter to pull it out.
- 20-27 2 OT road loss vs Nebraska. So many what if's in this one. We gave up a million passing yards to Bengals HC Zac Taylor, but I still feel like we should have won this one. What if Meyer doesn't throw a red zone INT? What is DeAndre Jackson picks up the fumble and takes it to the house? What if Nic Leaders catches the INT?
- 13-23 home loss to Baylor. I think this was Baylor's first ever road win in the Big 12 (took 10 seasons). The Greg Coleman fumble game. He had 2 back breaking fumbles in the red zone with 1 of them into the end zone.
- 24-27 OT road loss vs Missouri. The Chase Daniel game. We knocked Brad Banks out of the game midway thru the 4th quarter up 24-14. True freshman Chase Daniel came in and led the Tigers to victory including the game tying TD with 20 seconds to go. This game was not on television; had to listen on the radio.
- 37-10 home victory over Okie St in Mike Gundy's first season as HC (I think). Game wasn't close.
- 42-14 road victory over Texas A&M. Greatest Meyer to Blythe game of all time. 4 TDs. Total domination.
- 45-17 home victory over K-State. Glorious butt kicking in Snyder's last season before he came back after the Prince debacle.
- 30-16 home victory over Colorado. The tornado game when an actual F1 tornado briefly touched down on campus that afternoon. Unbelievable atmosphere that night. Joel Klatt was their QB and Mason Crosby was their kicker who could make field goals once they crossed midfield. Big play Curvey put the game away late with a pick 6. We were in the driver's seat to win the Big 12 North and get a date to get crushed by Vince Young and Texas.
- 21-24 OT road loss vs Kansas. We came out firing and got up 14-3 at half. Felt like we played not to lose in the 2nd half especially when we had the ball up 21-14 with 2 minutes to go and ran the ball 3 straight times to burn thru their timeouts. After punting, it took KU like 30 seconds to march 60 yards for the tying TD. Like Mizzou, Culbertson missed a FG and then KU made theirs ending our chance to the win the Big 12 North for the first time ever the 2nd year in a row in the season finale.
- 24-27 bowl game loss to TCU in Houston. Fun game, but our inability to find a way to win in the 4th quarter showed up again this season.
