The Cyclones' first loss hurts, but the focus is on the future

AMES — Some time had already passed after the final whistle, cementing Texas Tech's 23-22 upset victory over No. 10 ranked Iowa State football, but senior Myles Purchase was still in full uniform as he addressed reporters after the game spoke.

The bitter loss weighed heavily on the Cyclones as they thought about what might have been and their next opportunity to make things right – the next practice and next Saturday's game against Kansas.

The Cyclones had to deal with the immediate aftermath – a bundle of shock, disappointment and frustration – when they suffered their first loss of the year thanks to Texas Tech's game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds left.

Iowa State (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) had enjoyed thrilling last-minute victories all year, but Saturday night's game ended in heartbreak.

“It felt like we were always trying to find a real rhythm in the game,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “…There were multiple times where the defense responded. On the other hand, we had a chance to really get going on offense and we didn't do it. The reality is that’s the moral of the story.”

“We never played the game at the pace we needed to play to win the football game. A lot of it is up to me. It's my responsibility to get us into a great rhythm and play the way we need to play.”

Iowa State defensive lineman Myles Purchases talks about the Cyclones' loss

Iowa State defensive lineman Myles Purchases talks about the Cyclones' loss to Texas Tech

Although Iowa State's defense has been a catalyst for the Cyclones through the first eight games of the season, making timely stops and turnovers to keep Iowa State within reach during Saturday's loss to Texas Tech, the detail-oriented unit was frustrated when they allowed an opening-drive touchdown for the fourth straight game.

“That’s frankly unacceptable for us as a defense,” Purchase said. “We move the ball (after the coin toss) to get stops. If we can't do that, it puts a strain on our defense and our mentality. We have to be better when we get on the field and stop them straight away.”

The Cyclones had to fight from behind again to get started.

Iowa State struggled to get going offensively early. The Cyclones grabbed the halftime lead with a last-second touchdown in the second quarter and scored again in the final minutes of the game before Texas Tech retook the lead with 20 seconds left.

Although the Cyclones defeated Texas Tech 432-366, they were unable to complete key drives, settling for four field goal attempts and converting just five of 17 third-down attempts.

“I just feel like as an offense, or rather I, we just didn't have the game that we needed today,” Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht said. “You can probably tell that the last couple of games we've played, we haven't played consistently great football for four quarters. If you're stopped on the goal line, turn the ball over at the 10-yard line, or.” If you throw a pick into their area of the field, I don't think you should do that because we're not up to our standards have played.

Two minutes with Joey Petersen after Iowa State's loss to Texas Tech

Joey Petersen of Iowa State football breaks down the Cyclones' loss to Texas Tech.

The slow starts are not intentional and the Cyclones have been trying to find an answer.

“I feel like we don't get into the right rhythm at the start of a football game, and we need to get better at that,” Campbell said. “It's something that we haven't played our best throughout the football season. It caught up with us a little bit tonight, that’s for sure.”

Defensive end Joey Petersen said in postgame interviews that the Cyclones hadn't had a chance to process or evaluate Texas Tech's game-winning performance, but it undoubtedly hurt.

“Really disappointed,” Petersen said. “Everything is still ahead of us, but it is difficult to lose. You never want to feel it.”

Iowa State is still in the hunt for a spot in the Big 12 title game, but the margin of error has narrowed now.

The Cyclones will probably have to win. They return next Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, FS1) with a game in Kansas City against Kansas (2-6, 1-4 Big 12 Conference). The Jayhawks had a bye this week but recently gave top-25 ranked Kansas State a scare with a 29-27 loss on Oct. 26.

After that, Iowa State faces Cincinnati (November 16), a road game at Utah (November 23) and its regular season finale against Kansas State (November 30).

“When we've won those games – we've been on the other side of some of them – it's really the same message,” Campbell said. “It doesn’t really change. We will be defined by who we are after the season is over. This game will not define us in any way, shape or form. It's how we respond to it and the team we create as a result.” What will really define the 2024 Iowa State Cyclones football team?

“This gives us the first great opportunity to now have to react to the adversity of a loss. What does that look like? How do we grow from this?”

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

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