November 2, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Coy Eakin (8) catches a pass for Iowa State Cyclones defenseman Myles Purchase (5) at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn images

As rain poured into Jack Trice Stadium and day turned to night, it seemed like fate gave No. 11 Iowa State every opportunity to turn the cards, culminating in a 23-22 loss.

The Cyclones had their chances, but couldn’t capitalize on enough of them to beat Texas Tech.

“We beat ourselves,” defensive back Myle’s purchase said. “We made a lot of mistakes. We had unwise punishments and other things that we need to get control over. We should also be able to control the things we can control, such as not imposing such penalties.”

Iowa State’s defense set up the Red Raiders on third-and-10 from their own 14-yard line in the third quarter. Jayden Higgins who finished with 140 yards on 10 catches, had scored just before halftime to give the Cyclones a 13-10 lead.

Jontez Williams then picked the Texas Tech quarterback Behren Mortonwho had thrown three interceptions all season before Saturday.

It would have been Morton’s third pick of the game, but defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim was flagged for hands in the face, causing Texas Tech to go down first.

The Red Raiders then completed a 98-yard drive to take a 17-13 lead late in the third quarter.

“A lot of mistakes were made,” defensive lineman said Joey Petersen He said in a somber voice, still fully processing this group’s first loss of the year. “We often shoot ourselves in the foot.”

On the ensuing drive, Iowa State moved the football as it went wide Jaylin Noel found space and caught a ball for what would have been a 20-yard gain.

But senior offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford was flagged for being too far in the field.

The teams met during the TV timeout before the fourth quarter. Shortly afterwards, Abu Sama gave the stadium hope it hadn’t felt for much of the game, running to the 1-yard line as defenders missed in the most unlikely way.

After a review, Iowa State would get the ball first and goal, gaining one yard to find Paydirt.

Senior fullback Stevo Klotz a false start was called, and the Cyclones would settle for a field goal.

“I think it was due to details, precision and lack of mental skills. We had a lot of penalties today, more than ever,” the quarterback said. Rocco Becht said. “That hurt us a lot. I think everyone needs to look at themselves in the mirror and just see what they need to figure out.

That’s just a sampling of the eight penalties that cost Iowa State 59 yards for a one-point loss.

“Some of those (penalties) weren’t called (this year),” coach Matt Campbell said. “We’re going to have to get it corrected because it’s so close to whatever it is or isn’t that it’s put us in a very difficult position. From our side we have to coach better. That starts with the head football coach, and then we have to perform better.”

Thus, the 7-0 turns into 7-1 and the next six days become increasingly important as Iowa State prepares for its next game against Kansas.

There’s no room for error now, especially with preseason goals as lofty as reaching college football’s first 12-team playoff.

“Honestly, we’re doing well,” Purchase said. “It’s a loss, but a loss won’t completely deter our season. We still have everything ahead of us. We still determine our own destiny. The leaders in the locker room hold everyone’s heads up.”

This is where the captains – and other leaders in the room – can shine the most.

“It’s very important,” Purchase said of the leaders on the team. “We have a lot of young guys playing who haven’t been in these situations before, and the people who have been in these situations have to be able to pick these guys up. It’s really important.”

With postgame press conferences underway, No. 17 Kansas State fell to 4-2 in Big 12 play after being upset by Houston.

There’s no telling what either outcome will do to the national perception of the league as the first CFP rankings are revealed on Tuesday, but the difference in room for error in losses and wins is as big as one game can be at this point .

Regardless, Iowa State will play in the Big 12 championship game if it wins its final four games to end the regular season.

“You don’t want to play like that, especially starting in November, and that’s what we did,” Campbell said. “We’re going to have to own it. We live with it and we grow with it. Hopefully we have enough courage in ourselves to correct it and move forward.”

That courage will come down to this season, and this team’s response to its first loss as a group will play the biggest role in that.