Iowa State Football: 3 takeaways from convincing win over Texas Tech

Iowa State football hosted Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon and came away with a convincing win. What did we learn from this Big 12 battle?

After losing to Louisiana at home to start the season, one would have thought Iowa State would completely fall out of Big 12 title contention with a disappointing squad. However, the Cyclones have now won three straight games with the victory over Texas Tech in Ames on Saturday, 31-15.

Brock Purdy began the season slow but has turned it up in recent weeks and now looks like that NFL quarterback prospect we all expected. He had yet another good game against Tech.

Usually possessing a potent offense, Texas Tech was held completely in check on Saturday against the Cyclones.

Is Iowa State looking like the best chance for the Big 12 to get a team to the playoff after the Red River Rivalry finale?

Let’s talk takeaways.

3. Defense stepped up when it needed to

Who would have thought it’d be Iowa State’s defense that would steal the show against Texas Tech? Not me, but the Cyclones proved me wrong.

For three straight games to start the season, the Cyclones have allowed at least 30 points but they held Texas Tech to just 15 and 270 total yards on the day. Alan Bowman had a nightmare of a game, finishing the day on the bench after going just 13-for-22 for 97 yards. The offense continued to stall under him as he dinked and dunked and couldn’t sustain drives.

Not many defenses have been able to do this to Texas Tech. Heck, the Longhorns allowed 56 points to the Red Raiders just a couple of weeks ago.

Iowa State’s defense stepped up when it needed to.