Many questions were raised after the ISU football team’s 15-13 win over Iowa, the largest of which was: “How’d that just happen?”

The obvious answer? The Cyclones scored more points.

But some stats depict Iowa State’s improvement in almost every aspect of the game.

Offense

Iowa State ranks 111th in scoring, offensively, nationally and worst in the Big 12, with 42 points.

Only two other teams have scored fewer points and won a game.

After two games, Iowa State had scored 27 points. On Sunday, the Cyclone failed to score a touchdown against the Hawkeyes, the offense turned the ball over just once – a fumble by quarterback Bret Meyer.

As a result, the Hawkeyes took over at the ISU 41-yard line and scored their only touchdown of the game. However, after turning the ball over seven times in the first two games, the Cyclones limited their mistakes, which allowed for a victory.

Meyer was 21-for-29 for only 157 yards but was able to piece together drives with short completions and use his legs to pick up first downs with 55 yards rushing. J.J. Bass ground out 83 yards from a stingy Hawkeye defense on 25 carries.

Iowa State is 11th in the Big 12 in yardage per game at 335.

Defense

Iowa State’s defense has been its strength through three games, but turnovers and a lack of scoring from the offense has decreased the margin of error.

The Cyclones ranks fourth in the Big 12 in scoring defense after three games, allowing an average of 20 points a game. Twenty-four of the 60 points given up were off turnovers.

Against Iowa, Meyer’s fumble was converted into the Hawkeyes’ only touchdown. The Cyclones allowed only 115 yards rushing and 118 yards passing, and held Iowa to three third-down conversions on 13 attempts.

Iowa State’s defensive deficiency this season has been the inability to produce turnovers. All three turnovers the Cyclones have produced were in the first game of the season against Kent State.

Iowa State ranks last in the Big 12 in turnover margin at -5.

Last season, the Cyclones finished 10th in the Big 12 with a turnover margin of -5, and second to last in scoring defense, giving up 30.8 ppg.

Special Teams

Bret Culbertson converted five of six field goals, accounting for all 15 points against the Hawkeyes. A tackle by reserve linebacker Michael Bibbs (see below) on a 65-yard kickoff return preserved the game.

Culbertson came into the game 0-for-3, but converted on attempts from 21, 33, 42, 40 and finally 28 yards to win the game. He hit the left goal post from 47 yards in the fourth quarter on his lone miss.

Lost in the shuffle of Culbertson’s performance were his three kickoffs for touchbacks. Josh Griebahn handled the kickoffs in the first two games, and he had yet to kick a touchback for Iowa State.

Culbertson’s kicks were a sight for sore eyes on the Cyclone sideline. Iowa State has allowed 38.4 yards a return this season, worst in the Big 12.

Drenard Williams also stepped in to improve special teams production. He fielded two punts for 22 yards, including one 14-yard return. Iowa State ranks last in the conference in punt return with a 2.8 yard average, and had muffed three punts this season.

Penalties

Iowa State leads the Big 12 in fewest penalties committed (10) and yards off penalties (79 yards).

The Cyclones’ discipline ranks them second nationally in yardage off penalties, only 2 yards behind Army.

Against Iowa, the Cyclones committed three penalties for 30 yards. Cornerback Chris Singleton committed a personal foul on a kickoff return, and fullback Derrick Catlett was cited for a holding penalty in the second quarter. Nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin was called for a 5-yard incidental facemask penalty on a 5-yard tackle for loss of Damian Sims in the third quarter.

Third Downs

Iowa State has converted 41.7 percent of third downs this season, while opponents’ third-down conversion rate is 34.9 percent. Iowa was 3-of-13 (23 percent) on third downs.

Sacks Against

Bret Meyer has only been sacked twice this season, a combination of Meyer’s agility, short passes and solid play from the ISU offensive line. That number ties Iowa State with five Big 12 teams for the fewest sacks allowed.