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Iowa State Football: 3 takeaways from Camping World Bowl loss to Notre Dame

By Connor Muldowney

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Re-al Mitchell #6 of the Iowa State Cyclones gets tackled by Notre Dame Fighting Irish defenders in the second half of the Camping World Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Re-al Mitchell #6 of the Iowa State Cyclones gets tackled by Notre Dame Fighting Irish defenders in the second half of the Camping World Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 28: Brock Purdy #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones throws a pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half of the Camping World Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 28: Brock Purdy #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones throws a pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half of the Camping World Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1. This will be known as the season of ‘what ifs’ for Iowa State

Iowa State fans will be constantly wondering “what if” all offseason leading into the 2020 campaign. What if Breece Hall was the starting running back from Week 1? What if the Cyclones won some of those one-possession games against Oklahoma, Iowa, Baylor and Oklahoma State? What if this team actually got off to strong starts?

What if the Cyclones didn’t fall behind early against Notre Dame in the Camping World Bowl?

Iowa State didn’t have any answers for the early deficit against Notre Dame as it seemed like all of their comebacks were used up earlier in the season and there was nothing left in the tank. Brock Purdy struggled and that was basically the nail in the coffin.

If the Cyclones had won 3-4 of those one-possession games, we could be talking about a team that played for a Big 12 title and potentially in a New Year’s Six bowl, but instead they looked lifeless in the Camping World Bowl. Were they disinterested in the bowl? Maybe, but they just looked out-matched.

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Luckily Iowa State has plenty of talent returning in 2020 so the Cyclones can turn a season of what ifs into one of titles and success.

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