Recap Iowa State football vs Texas Tech: Cyclones fall in another one-score game

For the sixth time this season, Iowa State has lost a one-score game.

The Cyclones couldn’t get anything going on offense, coming away with just 3 points on five trips to the red zone in a 14-10 loss to Texas Tech on Saturday night in Jack Trice Stadium. Their lone TD came from just outside the red zone.

The loss all but eliminates any hope for Iowa State to continue its five-year bowl streak, barring a miracle against No. 4 TCU in Fort Worth next week and some help from the overstuffed bowl slate. It assures the second losing season of Matt Campbell’s Iowa State tenure, the first since 2016 which was his first in Ames.

The defense fought valliantly, holding Texas Tech to just 246 total yards. But it wasn’t enough to overcome sloppy offense and downright bad special teams performances on a senior night to forget for the Cyclones.

More:Iowa State football losing more links to the success of 2020 this senior day

Take a look at all the highlights, or lack thereof, down below.

FINAL: Texas Tech 14, Iowa State 10

The Cyclones lose their sixth one-score game of the season and all but eliminate their chances of becoming bowl eligible.

Q4/2:45 Matt Campbell trusting his defense

Facing a fourth-and long around midfield Matt Campbell sent the punt team out to give the ball back to Texas Tech. The Cyclones have just one time out remaining, so one or two first downs will essentially end the game.

Don't blame him for trusting the best defense in the Big 12 to give the offense one more chance, to be fair.

Red Raiders have the ball at their own 15 to start what could be the final drive of the game.

Q4/6:10 Texas Tech answers right back

The Red Raiders offense, which looked lifeless for an overwhelming majority of the night, retook the lead just minutes after Iowa State scored. Tech quarterback Tyler Shough engineered a 13-play, 77-yard touchdown drive which was capped off by a 4-yard fade route in the end zone which was hauled in by Baylor Cupp.

Texas Tech now up 14-10 late in the final frame.

Q4/11:18 Iowa State finally finds the end zone

The Cyclones' offense finishes a drive in the end zone for the first time tonight. Hunter Dekkers found tight end Easton Dean who leaped over a Texas Tech defender and across the goal line for 6. After the PAT, the Cyclones are up 10-3.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Texas Tech 7, Iowa State 3

The Iowa State offense has dominated this game for the first 80-yards of the field, winning in virtually every statistical category. But they can't finish drives and find themselevs down by four heading into the final 15 minutes of the game.

Texas Tech has the ball at their own 11-yard line facing third-and-4 when the fourth quarter begins.

Q3/0:31 Another red zone trip, another turnover on downs for Iowa State

The Cyclones just went on a 10-play, 40 yard drive that saw the ISU offense get inside the Texas Tech 5-yard line for the second staright series.

But just like the last series, they turned it over on downs and walk away with no points. That's five red zone trips for ISU with just 3 points to show for them.

Q3/7:29 Iowa State offense can't hit paydirt from 2-yards out

The Cyclones had second-and-1 at the 2-yard line and ran the ball three straight times for a total of -3 yards. Iowa State turns it over on downs.

The big play of the drive was when Hunter Dekkers found Dimitri Stanley along the left sideline for a 37-yard gain down to the Texas Tech 11-yard line, but the offense couldn't get any points out of the nine-play drive. That's the fourth time the ISU offense has been in the red zone and they came away empty-handed in three of those trips.

Q3/15:00 Back underway in Ames

Iowa State has the ball at their own 16 to start the second half after the kickoff.

HALFTIME: Iowa State 3, Texas Tech 7

The Cyclones attempted a 34-yard field goal as time expired in the half, but Drake Nettles couldn't convert. Looked like a Tech defender got a hand on it. He's now 1-for-3 on field goal attempts tonight.

Iowa State will get the ball to start the second half.

Q2/ 1:24 Will McDonald ties Big 12 history with latest sack

With just over a minute left in the half, Will McDonald notches his 34th career sack to tie the all-time Big 12 career record set by Aaron Hunt from Texas Tech (99-02).

Q2/6:38 Iowa State connects on a FG

The Cyclones are on the board after Drake Nettles drills a field goal from 37-yards out. A holding call took a touchdown off the board earlier in the drive, so ISU had to settle for 3.

Red Raiders are still up 7-3.

Xavier Hutchinson hauls in 100th catch of season

The senior wideout came down with his third reception of the night, a 10-yard grab on third-and-7. Then he hauled in a 25-yarder to get into the Tech red zone.

That first catch on third down marked his 100th of the season, well above his previous career-high of 83. So now he's up to 101 on the year.

Tech strikes first with 96-yard drive

Texas Tech gets on the board first on a Donovan Smith one-yard run. It capped a 14-play, 96-yard drive that took just over five minutes off the clock.

The biggest play of the drive was a Tyler Shough pass down the middle of the field to Myles Price to get the Red Raiders down inside the 5-yard line.

END OF 1Q: Texas Tech 0, Iowa State 0

Red Raiders have the ball near midfield to start the second frame.

Q1/2:27 Not a lot of excitement yet

Iowa State just punted the ball back to Texas Tech. So far, in almost a quarter of action, there's been a total of 73 yards between the two teams and just four first downs.

Q1/12:31 ISU offense stalls out, special teams rears ugly head again

After the big defensive play, the Iowa State offense mustered just three yards to set up a short field goal try. But, the much-maligned Cyclones special teams slipped up. Kicker Drake Nettles pushed a 30-yard attempt wide left. It was his first FG attempt of the season, though was 5-for-5 on PATs

Still all tied at 0 here in Ames.

Q1/ 13:56 Cyclones take the ball away

Texas Tech looked like they were about to move the sticks on third-and-short, but right as the WR turned upfield Beau Freyler knocked the ball out of his hands. Will McLaughlin picked it up and ran back 19 yards to the Tech 16.

Here we go -Red Raiders on offense first

Iowa State wins the toss and will defer to the second half. That vaunted ISU defense will be on the field first against a good Red Raiders offense.

Should be a fun matchup. Let's ride.

So how can Iowa State become bowl eligible?

With only four wins to their name and two games remaining on the schedule, the Cyclones could still make a bowl going the traditional route, by winning six games. That's not likely though, with undefeated No. 4 TCU waiting for them in Fort Worth next weekend. But win tonight and there's still a chance they can make the postseason with five wins.

Why is that, you ask? Well, it's thanks to the bloated slate of bowl games created by the TV networks and also Iowa State's high academic standing. If there aren't enough six-win teams to fill every bowl game, they come fishing for five-win squads with high Academic Progress Rate. The Cyclones are second only to Rice in the APR among schools that have yet to or still can attain bowl eligibility and have a Rate of 986, which ranks in the top 20 nationally.

So how much would that one extra game help Iowa State as they look to set the table for 2023? Click here to find out.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football vs Texas Tech: Live score updates, analysis