Recap: Iowa State football's regular season ends with 62-14 loss against No. 4 TCU

Iowa State football fans suffered through a long season of close calls and draining defeat after defeat.

While the final setback wasn’t close, it was just as difficult to sit through.

Iowa State was dominated from start to finish by No. 4 TCU in a 62-14 loss at Amon G. Carter Stadium Saturday.

The huge setback, the worst of the season for the Cyclones, put the finishing touches on a struggling year that was already expected to be a rebuilding one but ended up being much worse.

Iowa State finishes with a 4-8 record and 1-8 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Cyclones lost their final three games and suffered through their worst season since coach Matt Campbell’s first in 2016.

Here’s how it all unfolded.

4Q/1:18 - Another touchdown for TCU

Just to impress the playoff committee. It's now a 62-14 TCU lead.

4Q/9:11 - Rocco Becht had struggled since replacing Hunter Dekkers

Iowa State fans hoping to get a glimpse of the backup quarterback have gotten their wish with Dekkers going down with an injury early in the second half. But Becht has had his share of troubles. He's completed just 3-7 passes for 38 yards including a pick six.

4Q/13:46 - Iowa State finally scores again

Iowa State reaches the end zone for the first time since the second quarter with a nice 19-yard run by Deon Silas. Cyclones now trail 55-14.

End of the 3rd quarter: TCU 55, Iowa State 7

Everything has gone wrong for Iowa State. Why recap it right now?

3Q/.22 - Hunter Dekkers' day is done

FOX reports that it is indeed a shoulder injury for Dekkers who can't continue on. It's Rocco Becht for the remainder of the game.

3Q/1:02 - Rocco Becht throws a pick 6

Enough said.

TCU leads 55-7.

3Q/2:00 - Max Duggan polishing his Heisman Trophy resume

Another touchdown for Max Duggan who unleashes a 13-yard touchdown pass to give TCU a 48-7 lead. Duggan now with three touchdown passes today. Iowa State just needs this game to end. Now.

3Q/4:30 - We have probably seen the last of Hunter Dekkers today

The latest from Travis Hines is not good.

3Q/5:30 - More bad news for Iowa State

It looks like Hunter Dekkers' day may be done. And it gets worse. Rocco Becht tosses a pass to Sean Shaw who coughs up the ball trying to get some more yardage.

3Q/6:25 - Max Duggan fires another touchdown pass

The Iowa native threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to give TCU a 41-7 lead. Duggan now 13-20 for 170 yards and tow touchdowns. He's starting to polish up that Heisman Trophy resume.

3Q/10:40 - Jace Gilbert misses another field goal

The special teams debacles continue for Iowa State. Gilbert, who missed a field goal earlier in the game, now misses from 35 yards. That kind of day for Iowa State which is still without Hunter Dekkers.

3Q/11:05 - Hunter Dekkers dealing with reported shoulder injury

FOX is reporting that it appears to be a shoulder injury for Dekkers who went back to the locker room to get looked at.

3Q/13:00 - Hunter Dekkers hurt

Dekkers went down on a quarterback keeper. He was replaced by backup Rocco Becht. The news keeps getting worse and worse for Iowa State.

Halftime - Iowa State stats

Passing: Hunter Dekkers 11-22, 97 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.

Rushing: Cartevious Norton 9-64.

Receiving: Jaylin Noel 6-37.

Halftime - TCU 34, Iowa State 7

If it could go wrong for Iowa State, it has. Special teams issues, defensive breakdowns and offensive struggles have all plagued Iowa State.

2Q/.14 - TCU reaches the end zone again

With a series that seemed to last all day, TCU finally reaches the end zone for a touchdown before halftime. It's now a 34-7 TCU lead.

2Q /1:23 - Iowa State with another special teams miscue

Special teams have been a major issue for Iowa State this season. They posed problems again today. They already have a missed field goal but a horrible snap overshoots Iowa State's punter. Thankfully, for the Cyclones, it hit the officially and possibly prevented a TCU touchdown.

2Q/1:28 - Penalties killing any Iowa State momentum

Iowa State had a costly hold on its last series and another one this series. It's going to force the Cyclones to punt and give TCU another shot to add some points before halftime.

2Q/4:00 - Iowa State's defense is starting to settle in

That's kind of been the theme for Jon Heacock's group. They may not look sharp right away but they always seem to settle in. That's been the case today. They've forced back-to-back punts and surrendered a long field goal after that early scoring spree by TCU.

2Q/5:53 - Iowa State misses a field goal

Stopped me if you've heard this: Iowa State misses a field goal. Jace Gilbert, who was benched last week, gets another shot this week but misses from 45 yards. I'm guessing kicking is a priority for Iowa State in the offseason.

2Q/7:53 - Iowa State finally gets a stop

TCU put up points on its first four drives of the day. But a big tackle (not a sack) by Will McDonald, helped end the drive and force a TCU punt.

2Q/8:54 - Iowa State forced to punt

Iowa State did manage 35 yards on that possession with a couple of nice (and dangerous passes) by Hunter Dekkers. The drive stalls out and Iowa State is forced to punt again.

2Q/11:29 - Another score for TCU

Everything is going TCU's way. A 54-yard (!) field goal puts the Horned Frogs out in front 27-7. Every TCU drive has produced points so far.

2Q/13:07 - TCU starts its next possession with great field position

Any momentum Iowa State may have grabbed with the touchdown is likely gone after a great return by TCU. A 63-yard return puts the Horned Frogs in business already.

2Q /13:16 - Iowa State reaches the end zone

Iowa State's third drive of the day finally produces some momentum and even a touchdown. Hunter Dekkers rolled out and found DeShawn Hanika at the edge of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Was he in bounds, unlike Jack Campbell (I'm kidding!)? He was. They both were, actually. The Cyclones were in desperate need of something positive happening with the route well on its way to happening. TCU still leads 24-7.

End of the 2nd quarter: TCU 24, Iowa State 0

It has been all TCU so far today. Iowa State is starting to show some life on offense at the end of the quarter. But it may already be too little too late.

1Q/2:03 - It keeps getting worse for Iowa State

It's probably going to be a long day for Iowa State. A pick six by Hunter Dekkers gives TCU a 24-0 lead. Easily the worst start of the season for the Cyclones and possibly the worst start since Matt Campbell's first season in Ames.

1Q/2:15 - TCU takes a commanding lead

Iowa State is already in a ton of trouble. TCU takes a commanding 17-0 lead behind a 25-yard touchdown run by Kendre Miller. A barrage of missed tackles by Iowa State allowed Miller to score.

1Q/4:00 - Another three and out for Iowa State

Iowa State's second drive wasn't much better. Hunter Dekkers missed an open Jaylin Noel down the field. A completion very well could have ended with Noel sprinting to the end zone. Instead, Iowa State's drive didn't produce anything. Two series, two punts and zero first downs.

1Q/4:54 - TCU takes a 10-0 lead.

The good news is Iowa State's defense at least kept the Horned Frogs out of the end zone. TCU had another impressive drive but some key stops by Iowa State forced a 36-yard field goal for the Horned Frogs who now lead 10-0. TCU's offense has already racked up 111 yards and is averaging 5.8 yards per play. Of the 19 plays, TCU has run on offense, 15 have resulted in positive yardage.

1Q/8:53 - Iowa State with an uninspiring drive to start the game

Iowa State goes three and out on its opening drive. It ends with quarterback Hunter Dekkers taking a sack. Iowa State could find itself in a giant hole very quickly.

1Q/10:13 - TCU takes a 7-0 lead with a a great opening drive

What an impressive opening drive for TCU which marched down the field for 73 yards and reached the end zone with Duggan tossing a 19-yard touchdown pass. The Horned Frogs, who went for its on fourth down, ran nine plays during the drive. Every single one went for positive yardage.

Kickoff: Today is a big day for Iowa native Max Duggan

The TCU quarterback and Iowan has been in the Heisman Trophy conversation for most of the season. According to FOX analyst Brock Huard, this game could be what gets him to the ceremony: “That door to New York City," Huard said during the broadcast. "It’s available to you. It’s open to you.”

2:47 p.m.: Iowa State has not had much luck at TCU

The Cyclones are 2-4 in games played at TCU. Iowa State’s last win there came back in 2012. The last time TCU had a trip to the playoffs on the line, they handed Iowa State a lopsided loss. The storyline going into that game was if the Horned Frogs needed to win convincingly to earn some style points.

It could come into play as well, today.

2:44 p.m.: Jace Gilbert back to handling the placekicking?

Drake Nettles got a chance to show what he could do last week. But that didn't pan out well. Looks like it'll be back to Gilbert today.

3:42 p.m.: Updates on the offensive line

The offensive line has gone through some changes over the last week. Hines has a preview of what it may look like today.

3:04 p.m.: We're getting close to gametime

Travis Hines has made it to the stadium for today's big game. It looks like a nice day in Fort Worth.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Recap: Iowa State football no match for No. 4 TCU in 62-14 loss