Ames, Iowa — In a thrilling finish, Behren Morton led Texas Tech down the field for a decisive 71-yard touchdown drive, clinching a 23-22 victory over No. 11 Iowa State with only 19 seconds remaining in the game. This win disrupted Iowa State’s aim for a historic start, which would have marked their best in the program’s history.

After Iowa State took the lead for the first time in the contest with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Rocco Becht to Carson Brown at the 2:11 mark, Tahj Brooks responded by running in a 5-yard touchdown. Brooks had an impressive performance, carrying the ball 25 times for a total of 122 yards, surpassing the 4,000-yard milestone in his career. Remarkably, this was the ninth consecutive game in which Brooks rushed for over 100 yards.

The Red Raiders, now standing at 6-3 with a 4-2 record in the Big 12, bounced back from two previous losses against Baylor and TCU. Meanwhile, Iowa State’s hopes for an 8-0 season were dashed, as they were unable to capitalize on several opportunities to secure the win.

Becht showcased his skills as he threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns, with Jayden Higgins contributing significantly by catching ten passes for 140 yards. Morton, who returned from an injury sustained in the previous game against TCU, completed 21 of 40 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns, though he did throw two interceptions.

During the critical winning drive, Texas Tech overcame three false-start penalties, and Morton made a crucial fourth-and-7 conversion with an 8-yard completion to Josh Kelly. Brooks sealed the game for Texas Tech with a touchdown following a direct snap.

In the wake of the game, Texas Tech secured bowl eligibility for the fourth straight year, marking the third consecutive year under the leadership of coach Joey McGuire. Conversely, Iowa State’s offense struggled against a Texas Tech defense that had previously allowed the most points in the Big 12.

Following their first loss of the season, Iowa State’s ranking could face a significant drop in the polls. Looking ahead, Texas Tech is set to take on No. 23 Colorado next Saturday, while Iowa State will head to Kansas for their next matchup.