It started out similar to the game against Oklahoma State in 2011, where the Cyclones were able to pull off an upset against one of the top teams in the country.

But it didn’t end the way it did four years ago.

No. 3 Texas Christian (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) was able to hold on to an early Cyclone lead Saturday night, defeating Iowa State (2-5, 1-2 Big 12) 45-21 and keeping their College Football Playoff hopes alive.

The first quarter was a 59-minute offensive battle that neither team could seem to gain an advantage in. The Cyclones, who started with the ball, seemed to be stopped in the opening drive. But after a fake punt where Holden Kramer found Mitchell Harger in the middle of the field, hope was kept alive. Running back Joshua Thomas was able to cap that drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, giving the Cyclones the early 7-0 lead.

TCU responded quickly, though, running the kick back 63 yards. Then, just three plays later, Heisman hopeful Trevone Boykin found Josh Doctson in the end zone for a touchdown, tying the game back at 7-7.

Two drives later TCU found the end zone again when Boykin hit Kolbe Listenbee for a 21-yard touchdown, putting the Horned Frogs up 14-7.

On the very next drive though, back up quarterback Joel Lanning entered the game. On his second play at the helm, Lanning found Allen Lazard for a 74-yard touchdown on the sidelines, tying the game back up 14-14.

Boykin and the Horned Frogs marched right back down the field on the next drive in to the red zone, and looked poised to score. But cornerback Nigel Tribune forced a fumble on the nine-yard line, giving the Cyclones the ball back.

Richardson and the Cyclones quickly marched down the field 91 yards before running back Mike Warren was able to run the ball in for a touchdown.

The Cyclones led the Horned Frogs 21-14 after the first quarter, and compiled 262 total yards.

The second quarter slowed way down, but brought just as much excitement as the first. Boykin was able to complete a 14-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the quarter, tying the game up 21-21. The two teams then found themselves in a standoff for the majority of the second quarter.

With time winding down, TCU found themselves in the red zone poised to score. But a goal line stand by Iowa State forced a Horned Frog field goal as time expired, giving TCU a 24-21 lead heading into the locker room.

By halftime, TCU and Iowa State combined for 617 total offensive yards.

TCU opened the second half of the game fast, as usual, marching down the field in just less than four minutes. Running back Kyle Hicks was able to find the end zone on a 13 yard run, extending TCU’s lead to 31-21.

It wasn’t until the first two plays of the final quarter that Boykin was able to find the end zone again, running it in himself for another TCU touchdown. TCU would find the end zone one final time Saturday, bringing the final score to 45-21.