Iowa State and TCU weren’t expected to light up the world on the offensive side of the ball, and Saturday’s game was right on brand, ending in a 17-14 win for the Horned Frogs.

The Cyclones were strong on defense, forcing two turnovers and coming close to more on multiple occasions, but the TCU defense was up to the task all night long. 

Iowa State started its first drive by moving up the field with a couple of first downs, but the Cyclones were stopped on fourth down. 

The first quarter ended scoreless, with neither team really threatening the other team’s end zone. Iowa State struck first, scoring early in the second quarter following a turnover by TCU. Redshirt freshman Charlie Kolar caught a three-yard pass from Zeb Noland, the first touchdown reception from a tight end in the Matt Campbell era. 

The Horned Frogs fought back by utilizing their speed in the boundaries, scoring on a screen pass from 11 yards out to tie the game up at seven. Despite a long drive from TCU at the end of the second quarter, the score would be tied heading into the locker room. 

The second half began with a whiplash moment for the Cyclones. It started off well, with redshirt sophomore running back Kene Nwangwu returning the opening kickoff for 45 yards, granting the Cyclones great starting field position. 

Then, two plays later, disaster: Noland got the ball knocked out of his hands by the TCU defense and the Horned Frogs returned it for a score to take a 14-7 lead. The Horned Frogs were on the hunt for a two-score lead late in the third quarter before a puzzling hurdle attempt resulted in a fumble recovery by the Cyclones. 

Redshirt freshman linebacker O’Rien Vance came up with the loose ball. 

After entering the fourth quarter with 107 yards of total offense, the Cyclones marched down the field and scored the game-tying touchdown thanks to a one-yard run from junior running back David Montgomery. 

The Cyclones then created their third turnover of the evening on a Braxton Lewis interception, but the Iowa State offense was unable to capitalize. 

TCU, on the back of a big completion from Shawn Robinson, worked its way inside the red zone with less than a minute to play. The Horned Frogs made the go-ahead field goal with 37 seconds left. 

Down 17-14, the Cyclones had to move the ball with no timeouts. 

The Cyclones managed just two yards and turned the ball over on downs to end the game. Iowa State dropped to 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in the Big 12. 

Up next for the Cyclones is a trip to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to face the 4-1 Oklahoma State Cowboys.