LAWRENCE, Kan. — Frustration: it’s been building since the ISU football team’s season-opening loss to North Dakota State.

It continued to grow after allowing Kansas State and Texas comebacks. It became public when Jamie Pollard, ISU athletic director, made statements about officiating after the Oklahoma State loss. It manifested itself on the field in the team’s 45-point loss to Oklahoma.

The frustration was all but vocalized by players and coaches. But, after a 20-point loss to a Kansas team that had only won two games, there was no hiding it.

“Bad,” said center Tom Farniok. “It was just a lot of bad all around.”

There was no sugarcoating it, and no positives were mentioned. For the first time all season, there was no mention of the next game on the schedule. The loss, as bad as any in the Paul Rhoads era, showed this team is frustrated.

“[The] worst half of football that we’ve played in my six years here at Iowa State took place in the first 30 minutes,” Rhoads said.

A new starting quarterback and a new starting middle linebacker — the anchors to both offensive and defensive units — likely did not help. The passing game failed to get going early on, and Kansas was able to do essentially whatever it wanted on the defense through much of the first half.

The health and depth of the team has taken a hit this season, no question. But losing to the Jayhawks was hardly even a distant concern to a team and fan base that had seen them beat Kansas teams time and time again. Down 24-0 in the second quarter, that reality started to set in.

It did not help it happened on the road, either. Kansas had been 2-38 in conference play since 2010, and fans tore down a goalpost in last season’s only Big 12 win over West Virginia. Against Iowa State, it was a Gatorade bath for interim coach Clint Bowen, the fans rushing the field and a torn down goalpost.

Losing to ranked teams is one thing, but losing to a team that celebrates wins over two-win teams is another. 

The team will be looking for answers in a bye week after showing a midseason surge in offensive production, bringing hope for a bowl game. Just two years after beating Kansas to become bowl eligible, the Cyclones were sent packing in Lawrence, Kan. with no bowl game in the future. The Cyclones are now playing for pride. 

With a struggling Texas Tech squad heading to Ames in two weeks, the team has a chance to save face. 

But with the Cyclones’ two worst losses fresh on their minds, the frustration out weighs the optimism.

“Very frustrating, very upsetting,” Rhoads said.