The Cyclones survived again. I’m not sure how they did it, but they beat Utah and kept the hope of a Big 12 Championship alive.

Saturday was one of the ugliest wins I’ve ever seen Iowa State have, and it came at one of the most crucial points of the season. It’s not every day a team wins a game after throwing a pick-six and falling victim to a blocked punt touchdown.

But the Cyclones did.

Now, I won’t beat around the bush: that was an ugly win. But a win is a win, which matters in November, especially with the new College Football Playoff format.

Quarterback Rocco Becht didn’t look great, but he once again did what he needed to do in order to eke out a victory. Becht was 20-for-38 with 256 yards and added 27 yards on the ground on seven carries.

It was his second-lowest completion percentage of the season, but I digress. Becht has proven throughout the season that early mistakes don’t get to him. Look at the UCF game and this game.

Running back Carson Hansen was perfect throwing the ball. He found tight end Gabe Burkle down the field on a 26-yard gain for a massive first down in the final minutes.

I’ll give offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser massive credit for that one. Gutsy calls like that are what win games. That throw set up Hansen’s second rushing touchdown of the game.

That play call was so unexpected, and lots of people are calling it one of the best plays in Iowa State football history. I thought it was great, but Seneca Wallace’s run still tops my list.

The ‘kicker’ to me in the end was Utah’s missed field goal. Cole Becker missed wide-right from 54 yards on a kick that would have tied the game.

Becker was a part of the 2020 recruiting class and actually de-committed from Iowa State and went to Colorado. He missed the field goal to stay alive against the team he said no to. Funny, isn’t it?

Back on the Iowa State side, it was a tale of two games for the senior wide receivers. Jayden Higgins had a massive game with nine catches for 155 yards and a score. That yardage pushed him past the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career.

Jaylin Noel was quiet, with 41 yards on five catches. He enters the Kansas State game 24 yards away from 1,000.

Noel did have a costly mistake with his first muffed punt of the season, but in the end, the Cyclones righted the mistakes and forced Utah into some of its own, including a lost fumble from quarterback Isaac Wilson.

What matters at the end of it all is that Iowa State won and is still very much alive for a Big 12 Championship spot. The Cyclones are in a four-way tie entering rivalry week with Arizona State, BYU and Colorado all at 6-2 in the Big 12.

It’s fairly simple for Iowa State to make the conference championship game. If the Cyclones lose, they are out. That part is simple.

If Iowa State beats Kansas State and Arizona State, BYU and Colorado all win as well, it will be Iowa State vs. Arizona State in Arlington.

However, if there ends up being a three-way tie, there are combinations where Iowa State either makes or misses the game.

Here’s what would happen in every scenario:

• Two-team tie scenarios:
  • The two tied teams at 7-2 will be the Championship game participants.

• Three-team tie scenarios:
  • Colorado loss: Arizona State vs. Iowa State
  • Arizona State loss: Iowa State vs. BYU
  • Iowa State loss: Arizona State vs. BYU
  • BYU loss:
    • If Texas Tech defeats West Virginia, then
      • If Baylor beats Kansas and Cincinnati beats TCU: Colorado vs. Iowa State
      • Otherwise: Colorado vs. Arizona State
    • If West Virginia defeats Texas Tech: Arizona State vs. Iowa State

• Four-team tie scenario:
  • Arizona State vs. Iowa State

• For teams who are 5-3 entering the week, they must win and see at least three of the four 6-2 teams take a loss.

Hopefully, this explains it all.

The easiest way for Iowa State to make it to Arlington is if all four of the top teams win, and all four are favored this week. A Colorado or Arizona State loss is another viable option for the Cyclones.

BYU is actually the team that impacts Iowa State the most, as a loss for the Cougars means even more games become impactful through the lens of the Cyclones.

Saturday’s game against Kansas State now becomes one of, if not the most important home games in Iowa State history. 

2020 was the last time I remember the Cyclones having impactful games in late November. Before that? I couldn’t say.

This is what Cyclone fans have waited a lifetime for.