Matt Campbell has accomplished the feat of beating every Big 12 school, in emphatic fashion.

The Young Corners are Still Growing and Prevent Defense is Bad

The defensive backs have had a tough go this season. Dropped interceptions, cornerbacks slipping, missed tackles, you name it. While they have gotten better at pass coverage as a whole, a quarterback scrambling has been a problem. The defensive backs played extremely well for 29 minutes in the first half, and played well for stretches in the second half, but Texas’ first touchdown came late in the first half as Sam Ehlinger was flushed out of the pocket and found Brennan Eagles, who made a miraculous catch on the sideline.

The second touchdown was not due to a scramble drill, but still not a great look for Braxton Lewis, who got beat on a seam route. The Longhorns final, and potentially back-breaking, touchdown came on a play that everyone thought was going to be it for the Fighting Tom Hermans, but Ehlinger was once again able to find an open man and take the lead late in the 4th quarter.

Tayvonn Kyle, Anthony Johnson, Datrone Young, Kym-Mani King, and Derrick Miller form one of the best young defensive back groups in the conference, but the prevent defense Iowa State went to at the end of the first half and for stretches in the second half put them in bad positions to play the sideline routes that Texas gashed the defense with.

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Finally Over The Hump

Every week, we’re all reminded that Iowa State’s 4 losses have come by just 11 total points. it’s almost to the point of being the FREE square on your Cyclone Football Bingo card. It has been a theme in the last, well, forever that everything that could go wrong for the Cyclones late in football games, probably will go wrong. This week was a little different.

Instead of the usual madness and meltdown, Iowa State actually got a couple penalties in favor of them and was actually able to get the ball in a perfect position for Connor Assalley to hit the game winner (unlike what happened at Toledo when Cole Netten missed the kick). Although past Cyclone kickers have been able to sink a few late field goals in games, this was the first time since 1983, when sophomore kicker Marc Bachradt drilled a 47 yard field goal lifted Iowa State passed Kansas, that a kick as time expired has won the game for the mighty Cyclones. Hopefully this is a sign finally getting over the hump of losing close games late.

Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images

If Iowa State Had Fewer Losses, Purdy Would Be a Heisman Contender

Brock Purdy currently ranks 3rd in passing yards, 4th in total offense, 4th in completions per game, 15th in points responsible for, 18th in completion percentage, 19th in yards per pass attempt, 20th in touchdown passes, and 22nd in passing efficiency...IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. The dude can flat out ball, and if it was not for Iowa State’s 4 losses (that have come by a combined 11 points if you forgot) he would be at least in the conversation for an invite to New York after receiving votes earlier this season.