Texas Tech stuns No. 11 Iowa State, throwing wrench into race for a spot in Big 12 Championship Game

Texas Tech handed No. 11 Iowa State its first loss of the season Saturday evening, triumphing 23-22 in a back-and-forth affair. As most would expect, with the game on the line, the Red Raiders turned to running back Tahj Brooks to score the game’s go-ahead touchdown. 

Texas Tech got the ball down 22-17 with 2:06 left to play. Quarterback Behren Morton led the Red Raiders down the field with some efficient passing, including a crucial 8-yard completion to Josh Kelly on fourtuh-and-7 to keep the drive alive. 

Texas Tech drove to Iowa State’s 1-yard line, but a false start penalty complicated their goal-line approach. After an incomplete pass, Brooks took a direct snap and raced around the right side of Texas Tech’s offensive line, sprinting towards the end zone behind a key block from tight end Jalin Conyers. 

Brooks led all players with 25 carries for 122 yards and the decisive touchdown. The Red Raiders went for two to protect against a potential game-winning field goal, but the conversion attempt fell incomplete. 

Texas Tech’s final drive came immediately after Iowa State scored on a 44-yard touchdown connection between quarterback Rocco Becht and wide receiver Carson Brown. That gave the Cyclones their first lead since late in the third quarter. 

The Red Raiders snapped a two-game losing streak to Big 12 opponents with the win. This is also the program’s first victory against a top-11 foe since 2011 against Oklahoma. 

The Cyclones were one of two remaining unbeaten Big 12 teams, with BYU, and looked like a strong contender to make the Big 12 Championship Game and the 12-team College Football Playoff. 

Now, there’s no margin for error, especially with so many schools near the top of the Big 12 standings. As of Saturday evening, Kansas State and Colorado also have just one loss in conference play. Two-loss teams like Texas Tech, Cincinnati, TCU and West Virginia are still within striking distance. 

Iowa State also has a tough close to the year. The Cyclones have to play at Kansas and preseason favorite Utah and have home games against the aforementioned Bearcats and top-25 Kansas State. The Big 12 Championship Game is still a realistic possibility for Iowa State, but it will need some dominoes to fall its way to re-open the playoff door.