After its loss to No. 22 Texas Saturday, Iowa State football is now 0-4 in the Big 12.

While the Cyclones were able to stick with the Longhorns, mistakes from special teams, penalties and a controversial call ended in a Texas win.

Here are the three big takeaways from the 24-21 loss.

Special teams slip

As the Cyclones started with the ball, they were greeted by the Longhorns defense after a four and out on the first drive. The punt was blocked by Texas’ Keilan Robinson giving Texas an opportunity for their first attempt with the ball.

Although Texas sits at sixth in the Big 12 on third downs, the Iowa State defense was able to put on the pressure and only give the Longhorn’s a chance for a field goal. Unfortunately for Texas, the 39-yard field goal by Bert Auburn was no good.

Penalties seemed to give both teams a run for their money. While Texas was 4-20 on penalties, Iowa State was 6-40. Penalties for both sides involved common mistakes such as false starts and offsides.

Additionally, after Jace Gilbert struggled to make field goals against Kansas, the freshman showed up for a second weekend in a row to put up extra points for the Cyclones. However, a field goal was missed by Gilbert.

Noel’s spotlight

As they typically are, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson were common targets for Hunter Dekkers.

Hutchinson appeared to be limping midway through the first quarter but was back on the field after sitting out a few plays.

An offsides on Texas gave first and goal advantage to the Cyclones along with the first points on the board.

With 57 seconds left in the first quarter, a five-yard pass from Hunter Dekkers to Jaylin Noel gave Iowa State a 7-0 lead. The drive consisted of 11 plays for 84 yards in five and a half minutes.

When the Cyclones were given the ball back, Texas took the opportunity to tie after intercepting Dekkers’ pass in the endzone. Longhorns’ quarterback Quinn Ewers was able to throw a 15-yard pass to Xavier Worthy.

Furthermore, Ewers threw a five-yard pass to Jordan Whittington to score again before halftime for a 14-7 lead.

As the second half began, the Cyclone defense again stopped the Longhorns from only scoring a field. When Iowa State trailed 17-7, Noel did the job to attempt to get ahead.

A 54-yard pass from Dekkers to Noel put the score at 17-14.

Noel ended the game with six catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Hutchinson had 10 catches for 154 yards.

So close

Although an interception was thrown, Dekkers was seen passing the ball more times than in previous games.

Additionally, Dekkers received his own touchdown as he ran for 11 yards into the end zone giving Iowa State its second lead of the game with a 21-17 score.

Dekkers was 25-36 on passing completions for 329 yards and also ran for a total for 30 yards on eight attempts.

Nonetheless, Texas fought back to get ahead as Ewers gave Worthy his second touchdown of the day for three yards.

A long throw down the middle to Hutchinson resulted in an incomplete pass. A completion of the pass would’ve given the Cyclones a greater chance for seven more points.

Furthermore, a controversial play from head coach Matt Campbell to the Big 12 refs gave the Longhorns another chance with the ball.

Iowa State will have a bye week and return October 29 to play Oklahoma back in Ames.