It wasn’t what most people expected.

In all honesty, it wasn’t what most people wanted.

Did Austen Arnaud play well and, at least for now, put to rest the quarterback controversy?

“Oh, never,” said coach Paul Rhoads of Arnaud possibly quieting the doubters.

While that may be the case, the doubters and everyone simply wanting to give Jerome Tiller a shot to lead this team will have to wait.

Arnaud played his best game as a Cyclone on Saturday.

He may not have had the yards — only 190 on the night — that he’s had in the past, but the rest of the numbers were impressive. He completed 20-of-28 passes with four touchdowns.

Never in his career had he had four touchdowns. Not even in high school or middle school, he said.

From where I sat, I saw only one bad throw all night, and it was the first pass he threw. Even though offensive coordinator Tom Herman gave him a minus grade for rolling the wrong direction on his touchdown pass to Collin Franklin in the fourth quarter.

“Austen got a minus on the play because the play that was called for the field was open for a first down, and he didn’t see it for whatever reason and rolled to the right,” Herman said. “He got a minus on an explosive touchdown throw.”

Most importantly, he didn’t have a single turnover all night, against a Big 12 opponent nonetheless.

Those who doubted Arnaud were saying mostly the same things: He makes poor decisions under pressure, turns the ball over at inopportune times, etc.

At least for one game, he did neither.

“To come back and perform with a hurt shoulder … that’s a courageous player to run the ball, scramble with the ball, knowing you’re going to take shots,” Rhoads said. “He just kept stepping up and delivering. He showed the faith that this football team and this coaching staff has in him.”

This is only one game. There certainly is room to say he hasn’t completely proven that he can do this on a consistent basis.

But remember that this wasn’t an FCS opponent. This was Texas Tech. While it isn’t the Texas Tech of two years ago, it was still a formidable opponent who played right with Texas, albeit a Longhorn squad that is struggling right now.

At least for one week, Arnaud lived up to all the expectations. He played the way he promised he would, the way his coaches promised he would, and the way all the Cyclone fans hoped he could when he took over full time two years ago.

Remember this, too: Arnaud never asked to have all those expectations placed on him. He didn’t shy away from them, certainly, but he didn’t provide them.

When I got here as a freshman, I can remember people saying he was the next Seneca. That with Chizik, Arnaud could lead the team and provide those fantastic and jaw-dropping performances.

Do people remember Seneca threw more interceptions than touchdowns while at Iowa State? Or that he only went 14-12 as the starter, with no bowl wins?

It’s remarkable to me how far Arnaud has fallen in the eyes of the fans in just two seasons.

When he was injured against Kansas State, the fans seemed almost excited that Tiller was getting a chance and disappointed when Arnaud came back in. Then, after just one throw against Northern Iowa, fans were screaming for Tiller. The same thing happened again Saturday night.

This isn’t a knock on Tiller at all. He played well against Northern Iowa, and once he matures under center, he certainly appears to have the potential to lead the team.

If the Cyclones want to beat Utah, or Texas or even Nebraska, Arnaud has to be the guy to take them there. The time for excuses is over. He’s a senior, the unquestioned team leader and has had two-plus years to step up and prove he can play at that high level.

Arnaud has the support of his teammates and coaches, and that’s all he really needs right now. He doesn’t need me or anyone else outside of the Jacobson Building who claims to know something about football supporting him.

It had to have been satisfying, if not just a relief, to quiet the doubters and send a message that this is his spot and his team, at least for one week.

Even if he won’t say it.

“Doubters?” Arnaud said sarcastically to laughs.

“I hope all the Cyclone fans and all the media supports everything we do, but everywhere you go there’s doubters. I don’t let that affect me, and this team doesn’t let it affect them.”