They stuck with their offensive plan amid rampant teeth-gnashing and grumbling from fans and media. They stuck with their plan Saturday all the way to the end of the first overtime game in the history of venerable Memorial Stadium.

Make that double-overtime. Or double the stomach knots. Or double the heartache if you’re Iowa State. Or double the exhilaration if you’re Nebraska.

A 3-hour, 40-minute struggle ended as Iowa State quarterback Bret Meyer’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete. Finally, Nebraska fans could exhale and head for the exits, no doubt thrilled to remain undefeated but perhaps too fatigued to analyze exactly what had just transpired in the Huskers’ 27-20 triumph before 77,433 fans.

“You talk about execution under pressure,” Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. “I really thought our team persevered.”

Nebraska I-back Cory Ross waltzed into the end zone for the winning points after catching a swing pass, the ease of the score standing in stark contrast to the blood-and-guts scrum that had transpired. Iowa State’s defenders obviously were confused on the decisive play, and Ross rambled in untouched from 8 yards out.

Husker offensive coordinator Jay Norvell described it as a “free-release play,” meaning Ross leaves the backfield without even considering a block. Consequently, the onus is on quarterback Zac Taylor to make a good read and throw quickly.

In that regard, Ross’ touchdown was appropriate, as Taylor made sound decisions all afternoon en route to a school-record 431 passing yards. There was some irony in the big passing total, in that Callahan was criticized last season for not running the ball enough in a 34-27 loss to Iowa State that began a three-game slide to end the season.

So, what does Nebraska do in response? Well, Taylor connects on his first seven passes and at one point throws on 17 straight plays. Indeed, the Huskers stuck with their plan, and Taylor wound up 36-of-55 after completing 44 percent of his throws during the season’s first three wins.

“This is what we do in practice,” Taylor said. “We just had to find a way to do it in a game. We weren’t going to lose confidence, but you do need something to show for how hard you work in practice.”

Added Norvell: “We had hoped to generate big plays and chunks of yardage. We felt like we could get that done in the passing game.”

Iowa State (3-1) often clogged the line of scrimmage and left the middle of the field open. Nebraska repeatedly used crossing routes and short dump-offs to Ross, who finished with eight catches for 131 yards, a school record for a running back. He was one of 10 Huskers with at least one reception.

“We’ve never given up that many yards over the middle,” Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said.

Nebraska essentially used a short passing game as its running attack (the Huskers finished with 36 rushing yards). It worked particularly well early in the third quarter when Ross turned a screen pass over the middle into a 70-yard touchdown to give his team a 10-3 lead.

Iowa State, which had won eight of its last nine games dating to last season, responded quickly with Meyer’s 2-yard scoring pass to tight end Walter Nickel.

Nebraska faced its first deficit of the season when Bret Culbertson drilled a 32-yard field goal with 2 minutes left in the third quarter. Jordan Congdon’s 23-yard field goal with 7:20 remaining in the game ended the scoring in regulation.

Husker cornerback Cortney Grixby’s pass-interference penalty on R.J. Sumrall set up Iowa State’s touchdown in the first overtime, a 10-yard burst up the middle by Greg Coleman.

Cyclone cornerback DeAndre Jackson returned the favor, his pass-interference penalty helping to set up Ross’ 1-yard plunge.

Tension was palpable in the old stadium as Nebraska began the second overtime with possession. Taylor completed passes of 11 yards to Grant Mulkey and 6 yards to Clayton Sievers before zipping the final strike to Ross.

In winning its Big 12 opener, Nebraska again relied heavily on strong defense. The Huskers recorded six sacks, and defensive end Jay Moore had a crucial interception.

“We’re just fighting through every bad situation,” Moore said. “We have so much faith and love for each other. We’re going to continue to do this.”