Thousands of fans entered Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday hoping for an upset victory over No. 6 West Virginia. Thousands of fans left with their hopes fulfilled.

The Cyclones rattled senior quarterback Will Grier, and upset the Mountaineers 30-14. Iowa State holds a 3-3 record, needing three more wins to qualify for a bowl game.

The offenses started sluggish, ending with three punts on the first three drives. A Brock Purdy interception set up the Mountaineers for their third drive at Iowa State’s 44-yard line.

A Grier 18-yard pass to David Sills V put West Virginia ahead 7-0. Iowa State responded with a pair of touchdowns toward the end of the first quarter.

Purdy found redshirt junior Hakeem Butler for a 4-yard touchdown, and junior David Montgomery added a 2-yard score. Redshirt sophomore Connor Assalley missed his first extra point of his career, limiting the lead to 13-7.

The momentum continued for Iowa State with a 19-yard connection from Purdy to redshirt freshman tight end Charlie Kolar, making it 20-7. With a little over three minutes before halftime, Assalley attempted a 39-yard field goal. 

West Virginia’s special teams managed a block, and Derrek Pitts housed it to cut the lead to 20-14.

The kicking woes carried into the second half with a missed 46-yard field goal attempt for the Cyclones on their opening drive. Solid defense and a handful of penalties kept the offenses quiet for the third quarter.

The fourth quarter started with a bang after a 32-yard touchdown pass from Purdy to junior Deshaunte Jones, followed by a two-point conversion pass to redshirt senior Matthew Eaton.

Redshirt senior D’Andre Payne snared an interception off Grier in the fourth quarter, but the Cyclones failed to capitalize. 

The Iowa State defense tamed the explosive Mountaineer offense with a fourth quarter safety to seal the victory.