Ames, Iowa — Rocco Becht delivered an outstanding performance, throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for another, as No. 17 Iowa State secured a 29-21 victory over Kansas State on a frigid Saturday night. The win marked a historic milestone for the Cyclones, earning them their first-ever 10-win season.
The celebration continued hours later when BYU defeated Houston, officially securing Iowa State’s spot in the Big 12 Championship game. The Cyclones will face Arizona State next Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, marking their second appearance in the conference title game. They previously lost to Oklahoma in 2020.
“This opportunity has been earned,” said Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. “Our kids never wavered. After some tough losses, we’ve bounced back to win three straight. This is a tremendous moment for our program and our fans.”
Key Plays Propel Iowa State to Victory
Becht’s first touchdown pass, a 15-yard strike to Jayden Higgins, came immediately after Myles Purchase recovered an errant pitch from Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson on the game’s opening play. Later, Joey Petersen’s recovery of a Keagan Johnson fumble set up Becht’s second scoring pass, a 9-yard throw to Jaylin Noel. The touchdown catch pushed Noel over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
Becht capped off a strong first half with a 5-yard touchdown run, giving Iowa State a 24-14 lead at the break.
“Our ability to make critical plays in key moments defined the game,” said Campbell. “In these conditions, it was always going to be a grind, and the team rose to the challenge.”
Defense Steps Up in the Second Half
Iowa State’s defense played a crucial role, starting with a critical goal-line stand in the third quarter. After a 36-yard run by Kansas State’s DJ Giddens set the Wildcats up inside the 5-yard line, the Cyclones held firm and blocked Chris Tennant’s 21-yard field goal attempt.
The defense struck again in the fourth quarter, forcing a safety when Jacob Ellis pressured Johnson into intentional grounding in his own end zone. Kyle Konrardy’s 20-yard field goal extended Iowa State’s lead to 29-21.
Kansas State (8-4, 5-4) had one last chance after Konrardy missed a 37-yard field goal with 1:11 remaining. However, their final drive stalled when backup quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson’s fourth-and-15 pass fell incomplete.
Becht took a knee to seal the win, and Cyclones fans stormed the field to celebrate.
Mistakes Cost Wildcats
Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman lamented his team’s errors. “You can’t play a quality team like Iowa State and make the mistakes we made, especially in the first half,” Klieman said. “Congratulations to Matt Campbell and his team. They capitalized on our errors and earned their win.”
Avery Johnson, Kansas State’s quarterback, had a mixed night. He threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring passes of 28 and 65 yards to Jayce Brown. However, Johnson also committed costly mistakes, including the intentional grounding penalty that resulted in a safety.
Looking Ahead
The Cyclones now shift their focus to the Big 12 Championship game against Arizona State. With momentum on their side, Campbell expressed optimism for the team’s chances.
“This group has already accomplished so much, and I’m excited to see what’s next,” Campbell said.
