Texas @ Iowa State Recap: ALMOST

ALMOST. One more first down, one less (mostly deserved) pass interference call, one less Hail Mary completed by Texas, or one less horrible officiating blunder, and the Cyclones are looking at a 2-2 record. As it stands, Iowa State comes away from a nationally televised, shockingly well called game from Courtney Messingham with a ton of sympathizers across America, but yet another mark in the loss column.

I'll just let a very emotional Paul Rhoads talk about the officiating.

You know it's bad when Iowa fans are commiserating, Texas fans are apologizing. Oklahoma State fans are drinking limeys in our (sad) honor, and TCU fans are giving us the "worst Big 12 call of the year award" previously owned by them.

To add insult to injury, Mack Brown actually defended the Mike Davis personal foul in his post game press conference, arguing that the Longhorn receiver was just "competing". You be the judge here.

Deon Broomfield was clear with his opinion.

Mike Davis really tried to take me out.

— Deon Broomfield (@iBroomy) October 4, 2013

While it's easy to focus solely on the officiating blunders and the loss, let's all take a step back and compare the team you just watched spill their guts on the field tonight to the complete garbage that we saw against Northern Iowa, and it's hard not to be impressed with the progress they've made. Quenton Bundrage is proving to be possibly the best receiver Iowa State has had since Todd Blythe, putting up yet another monster game on the strength of the longest touchdown reception in Iowa State history, while Aaron Wimberly made it back to back 100 yard games, the first time that feat has been accomplished at Iowa State since 2010. Sam Richardson looked to be his old dual threat self tonight, throwing for 262 yards and tacking on an additional 83 yards on the ground.

But just when things are looking up...

QB Sam Richardson noted pain in his right ankle was "agonizing" right now. It will be worse in the morning. Got dinged in the 4th #Cyclones

— Dean Berhow-Goll (@DeanBG) October 4, 2013

Welcome to the life of an Iowa State fan.