With just under 40 seconds left in the game and facing a seven-point deficit, Zeb Noland dropped back and fired a jump-ball toward Marchie Murdock.

Murdock wrestled Oklahoma State’s A.J. Green to the ground, both controlling the ball near the sideline. The referees blew the play dead.

Four of them conferred in the endzone for about 30 seconds.

“It is what it is,” Noland said. “Sometimes you get calls, sometimes you don’t.”

When the officials broke their huddle, the Cowboys’ defense in the end zone sprinted back to their sideline, arms in the air in celebration.

Green had intercepted the pass. After a lengthy review, the call was confirmed and Oklahoma State had clinched the 49-42 victory.

“They felt like he had possession of it when they came down to the ground,” said coach Matt Campbell. “It’s one of those bang-bang calls. I could sit here and complain about it, but that’s not who we are, and that’s not what we do.”

It took a lot of weird breaks and an unlikely hero to even get Iowa State in a position to tie the game, however.

Iowa State (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) lost starting quarterback Kyle Kempt late in the second quarter. Campbell said Kempt had been fine in practice after taking some hits last week against West Virginia, but his throwing shoulder got dinged up against Oklahoma State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) and he had to leave the game. Of course, that meant Iowa State was down to two quarterbacks, already dealing with the loss of Jacob Park in early October.

Enter Zeb Noland, the third quarterback to play significant snaps for Iowa State in what has been a wild year under center.

“I was just excited to get in,” said Noland, who hadn’t expected to play in the game. “I was just ready to play.”

Noland, a redshirt freshman, was on the sidelines when Kempt first got hurt. Kempt went back to the locker room briefly early in the game, but he eventually returned. He later got hurt further and had to be removed from the game.

“I had to get my helmet because I had my stocking cap on,” Noland said. “I just sat down on the bench, took a deep breath and kind of got real calm and was ready to play after that.”

Noland’s first drive electrified the team. The Cyclones, with Kempt, opened up a 14-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game. But the Cowboys fought back and took a 21-14 lead as halftime approached.

“I’m super proud of him,” said senior wide receiver Allen Lazard, who finished with nine catches for 126 yards, four catches coming from Noland’s throws. “Just for all the adversity he’s been through. For him to come in and step up the way he did, to give us a chance, it’s something huge and it’s something special.”

Noland promptly led Iowa State on a seven-play, 91-yard drive in less than two minutes. It was capped off by a Joel Lanning touchdown run with 22 seconds before halftime, which tied the game.

To Noland’s credit, he chipped in with two completions for 36 yards on the drive, which woke Iowa State back up after a slow second quarter.

“Honestly I don’t even remember it,” Noland said. “I was just in a daze. I remember picking up coach Campbell after Joel scored and that’s about all I remember.

“I really kind of blacked out and don’t even remember the first drive because I was so excited… It was just unreal.”

Noland helped Iowa State get out to a lead in the second half. With 8:38 left in the game, Iowa State extended its lead to eight points.

“How about Zeb Noland?” Campbell said. “For him to come in and play like he did — the way he played today was really special and I’m really proud of him. We’re fortunate to have guys that keep getting better… that was awesome to see.”

But the Cowboys came back, and pulled out the win with some last-minute heroics.

And while Iowa State wasn’t able to finish that last drive to tie the game, it’s clear that the offense is making strides.

Noland finished 17-of-28 against Oklahoma State and tallied 263 passing yards.

“I know he’s a great quarterback,” Lazard said. “He has great poise. I think the biggest thing was just for him to complete that first pass. Once he did, I just knew the confidence in him was just growing and growing.

“Zeb’s all for the home run ball, making the big play. He did such a phenomenal job today. For him to get the ball off and put the ball for me and the other receivers to go make plays, he did an excellent job.”

But one solid performance, especially in a loss on a last-second call, is not good enough for this team.

And it’s not good enough for Iowa State’s former third-string, and now potential starting, quarterback.

“We gotta end the season on a good note,” Noland said. “We can’t just be satisfied we’re going to a bowl. We can’t be satisfied with where we’re at now, we’ve just got to get better.”