When Jacob Park didn’t board the plane for Oklahoma last weekend, coach Matt Campbell came over to tell Kyle Kempt he was the starting quarterback against the Sooners.

Excited and nervous were a couple feelings going through him, but the main one was ready.

He’s been around college football for five seasons, so he knew what to expect and he knew there was a job to do. His focus was beating Oklahoma and coming back to Ames with a win.

To his avail, the Cyclones pulled off the upset against the No. 3 Sooners with a 38-31 final score making his first career start at Iowa State a little sweeter.

“These guys made all the plays out there,” Kempt said. “I just happen to be getting all the credit because of the position I play.”

Kempt has been playing that position, quarterback, for several years, but his journey to Iowa State has been a roller coaster ride.

The 6-foot-5 redshirt senior grew up in Massillon, Ohio, where he grew up around the game of football. His father played college football and his two brothers are playing at different universities.

Football was just in his blood.

After high school, Kempt attended Oregon State where he redshirted in 2013, his first year, and learned the ropes of being a college quarterback. After the first year, he became a squad member at Oregon State, but decided to transfer to Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas, in 2015.

He became a squad member once again for his year at the community college, but was also speaking with coach Matt Campbell when Campbell was at Toledo. Campbell had interest in him and wanted a quarterback like him to be on the team.

“I knew coach Campbell at Toledo when he recruited me there,” Kempt said. “I didn’t have any offers coming out of Hutchinson, so I thought what a better opportunity then just to walk-on here.”

Campbell, of course, wanted Kempt on the team after recruiting him at Toledo, so it became a perfect fit.

His first year at Iowa State, Kempt was the third string quarterback behind Joel Lanning and Park. He played in two games last season going 2-for-2 for 15 passing yards and a single rush for seven yards.

This year, Lanning moved to the linebacker position, which allowed Kempt to compete for the backup spot behind Park. But once Park was listed out last Saturday due to personal health reasons, Kempt got the opportunity he’d been waiting for since 2013 at Oregon State.

He took full advantage of it.

Kempt threw for 343 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. He also completed 75 percent of his passes going 18-for-24.

“That’s why it was such an easy decision to go with Kyle,” Campbell said. “His work ethic, his demeanor, it’s always ‘how do I get that chance to be the guy?’”

Well, Kempt’s the guy for the Kansas game this upcoming weekend, but to him it’s just another week of practice.

He said the Kansas defense can be a dangerous territory if you aren’t prepared for them the right way. Even though the Oklahoma game was a big upset, Kempt isn’t ready to be done.

Kempt still has walk-on status and after this weekend, the question was brought up: should Campbell think about that scholarship option for Kempt at the end of his career?

“It’s [Campbell’s] decision,” Kempt said. “I’m fine either way. I’m good.”