Iowa's Painful History: NDSU's 2016 Upset of Hawkeyes Still Stings
When North Dakota State walked into Kinnick Stadium in 2016 and knocked off No. 13 Iowa, it wasn't just another FCS-over-FBS upset. It was a defining moment in college football history, and for Hawkeye fans, it remains one of the most painful losses in program history. The Bison's 23-21 victory over the ranked Hawkeyes is one of only six times an FCS team has ever beaten a ranked FBS opponent since the divisions split in 1978.
What happened when NDSU beat Iowa in 2016?
The Bison stunned the Hawkeyes on Sept. 17, 2016, with a last-second 37-yard field goal from Cam Pedersen to seal the 23-21 win. The victory sent shockwaves through the college football world and nearly earned NDSU a spot in the AP Top 25. The Bison received 74 votes that week, ranking 27th, the most votes ever earned by an FCS program in the AP poll.
Which other FCS teams have beaten ranked FBS opponents?
NDSU's win over Iowa joins an exclusive club of FCS upsets of ranked FBS teams:
- Cincinnati beat No. 20 Penn State in 1983 (Cincinnati was temporarily classified as I-AA)
- Appalachian State stunned No. 5 Michigan in 2007
- James Madison defeated No. 13 Virginia Tech in 2010
- Eastern Washington knocked off No. 25 Oregon State in 2013
- North Dakota State shocked No. 13 Iowa in 2016
- Montana beat No. 20 Washington in 2021
How does Iowa fit into the broader FCS upset history?
The 2016 loss to NDSU is part of a long tradition of FCS teams punching above their weight. Since the NCAA split Division I football into I-A and I-AA in 1978, there have been dozens of upsets. In 2025 alone, there were four FCS wins over FBS teams, and 2024 saw six such upsets.
One of the most memorable recent games came in 2022 when Eastern Kentucky beat Bowling Green 59-57 in a seven-overtime thriller, the second-longest FCS game ever played.
Why does Appalachian State's 2007 win over Michigan matter?
Appalachian State's 34-32 victory over No. 5 Michigan in 2007 is widely considered the greatest upset in college football history. The Wolverines dropped out of the next AP Poll entirely, marking the first time a team fell from the top 5 to unranked because of a single game. That result also led to the so-called