Because of some creative scheduling for TV contracts, Iowa State will be playing a non-conference game for Homecoming this year. According to the ISU media guide, Toledo is only the second non-conference Homecoming opponent in nearly a century and sixth since the first Homecoming in 1912.
In 1986, Wyoming was the opponent, but it was the fourth game of the year and third home game in an 11-game schedule. Otherwise, the last non-conference Homecoming opponent was Iowa in 1920, and that was the last game of the season, possibly due to Nebraska technically being an independent that year. Iowa was also a non-conference Homecoming game in 1912 (the first), ’14, and ’16, all three times the second-to-last game of the year in November.
UPDATE: They’re wearing what?!?