The Iowa State Cyclones entered Saturday with a golden opportunity to vault themselves back into the conference championship race, with an undefeated, 8th-ranked Oklahoma State team coming into Ames. The Cowboys were fresh off a road win against Texas the previous week.
Iowa State’s offense started the game a little sluggish, as the Cyclones were stoned on a 4th and 2 on the Cowboys side of the 50. The Cowboys would take the lead on their second offensive drive, on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Spencer Sanders to Brennan Presley, to put Oklahoma State up 7-0. After a missed field goal on the ensuing Oklahoma State drive, the Cyclones turned it into points on a 15-play drive, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy to Xavier Hutchinson on 4th goal, to tie the game at 7. Oklahoma State would get a big play before halftime, as Spencer Sanders hit Brennan Presley for a 42-yard touchdown pass, to give the Cowboys a 14-7 halftime lead.
Following an opening drive punt by Oklahoma State, Brock Purdy picked apart the Cowboys defense, finding Xavier Hutchinson for a 9-yard touchdown pass, to tie the game at 14. Following Oklahoma State’s 2nd missed field goal of the day, Iowa State put together a scoring drive, capped off by an Andrew Mevis field goal, that put the Cyclones on top 17-14. Oklahoma State’s offense would respond following an Iowa State turnover on downs, as Spencer Sanders found Tay Martin for a 25-yard touchdown pass, to put the Cowboys up 21-17. Iowa State’s offense would respond quickly, as Breece Hall capped off a 6-play, 85-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, to put Iowa State up 24-21. Iowa State’s defense would make one final stand, stopping the Cowboys a half-yard shy of a first down on 4th and short, to seal the upset, as fans charged the field.
Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell: “College Football is really hard, we’re not one of those programs that’s ever going to go up the nice, smooth side of the mountain. Every year we play, I don’t care what they say before the season, I really don’t care what anyone says, it’s going to be the rough side of the mountain. The character of the team, that’s the only chance we have here to be successful.”
Iowa State’s next game will be on the road, as they face the West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown. Kickoff is slated for 1 PM at Milan Puskar Stadium.