By Darin 
The Night the Title Dream Died in Ames
November 18, 2011. For the No. 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys, this was supposed to be a routine road win, a necessary stop on their march toward a potential national championship. They boasted their best-ever shot at finishing No. 1, led by the prolific passing of quarterback Brandon Weeden. What transpired on that cold, dramatic Friday night in Ames, Iowa, however, became one of college football’s most notorious upsets—a devastating blow that shattered a perfect season.
The Cowboys initially looked like they were cruising. They built a comfortable 17-point lead in the third quarter, quieting the home crowd and seemingly putting the Iowa State Cyclones away. But the Cyclones refused to quit. In a gritty, determined fourth-quarter comeback, Iowa State clawed its way back, tying the game with just 5:30 left in regulation. The atmosphere at Jack Trice Stadium was electric, the tension palpable.
The teams traded blows in the first overtime, both finding the end zone to keep the high-stakes drama going. The turning point came in the second overtime. With the momentum hanging in the balance, Iowa State defensive back Ter’Ran Benton made the play of a lifetime, picking off Brandon Weeden. This critical turnover gave the Cyclones the ball and a clear advantage. Minutes later, Cyclones running back Jeff Woody plunged into the end zone from 4 yards out, sealing the 37-31 double-overtime victory.
Friday Night Lights Iowa State, Ok Stae 2011 19 Nov 2011, Sat The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) Newspapers.com
The impossible had happened. The unranked Cyclones had snatched the national title dream right out of the Cowboys’ hands, a result that reverberated across the entire college football landscape. It serves as a classic reminder that in college football, nothing is guaranteed, especially on a Friday night in November.