Cyclone damage for Horned Frogs
Iowa State’s upset might leave Big 12 on the outside looking in at the playoff.
AMES, Iowa — Texas Christian is no longer unbeaten. The Horned Frogs have only themselves — and a resurgent Iowa State defense — to blame.
Kyle Kempt threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns and 25th-ranked Iowa State upset fourth-ranked TCU 14-7 on Saturday, leaving the Big 12 without an undefeated team heading into November.
Iowa State’s win might have seriously hampered the league’s ability to get a team into the playoff after missing out a year ago. But TCU coach Gary Patterson believes the Horned Frogs still control their own destiny.
TCU (7-1, 4-1 Big 12), Oklahoma State (7-1, 4-1) and Iowa State (6-2, 4-1) are tied atop the league — and the Cowboys play in Ames in two weeks.
“We’ve still got a chance to play for a Big 12 title. Does it hurt our chances for the playoff? Probably. We still played good enough defense to win,” Patterson said.
Marcel Spears intercepted a Kenny Hill pass with 1:16 left to seal it for the Cyclones.
They forced a pair of turnovers in the red zone in the second half in winning their fourth consecutive game, two of them over teams ranked in the top five on game day.
“We go into games thinking we’re going to try to shut teams out,” Iowa State linebacker Joel Lanning said of a defense that held the Horned Frogs scoreless.
Kempt put Iowa State ahead 14-0 at the break with touchdown passes to Matt Eaton (17 yards) and Hakeem Butler (four yards).
TCU answered to open the second half on a 94-yard kickoff return by KaVontae Turpin. But Brian Peavy intercepted Hill in the end zone in the third quarter and brought it back 70 yards, and Willie Harvey caused Hill to fumble a ball recovered by Iowa State at its own 15-yard line with 7:11 to go.
Hill had his worst game of the season, finishing 12 of 25 passing for 135 yards and those two costly interceptions. The Horned Frogs also committed 11 penalties for 104 yards.