Iowa State Football: 3 takeaways from last-second win over Texas

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AMES, IA – NOVEMBER 16: Tight end Charlie Kolar #88 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first half of play against then Texas Longhorns at Jack Trice Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

1. Iowa State is a few plays away from being a Big 12 favorite

Imagine if Iowa State was able to pull out a win at Baylor after a massive comeback. Or what if the Cyclones completed that two-point conversion to beat Oklahoma in Norman? Or that one-touchdown loss to Oklahoma State and one-point loss to Iowa at home earlier in the year?

Yes, this is a team that could very well be 10-0 or even 9-1 but is currently just 6-4 with another last-minute win over Texas.

A loss to Texas in the final minute would have ignited a meltdown and fans wondering all these “what ifs” while staring a bowl-less postseason right in the face. But Iowa State will be going bowling and it’s just painful to think about how close they are to winning 9-10 games at this point with a shot at a Big 12 title.

Does that mean Iowa State is a year away from contending for the Big 12 title and it just has to find the inches? Potentially, but it could also just mean that this team is better than its record implies.

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Iowa State is not an easy win for any team and the Cyclones have come incredibly far as a program — maybe Matt Campbell will lead them to Baylor-type heights in 2020.

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