Iowa State and Kansas State suffer losses, throwing the Big 12 rankings into further chaos

By Scott Dochterman, Justin Williams and Sam Khan Jr.

The Big 12 caused even more chaos on Saturday when two of the top 20 teams fell to unranked opponents. No. 11 Iowa State, which entered the weekend undefeated, lost 23-22 at home to Texas Tech, and No. 17 Kansas State fell 24-19 on the road to Houston. Both results disrupt the top of the conference standings and have implications for the College Football Playoff race.

In Ames, Iowa, the Cyclones' attempt to post the first 8-0 start in program history failed when Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks scored with 20 seconds left in a 23-22 upset at rain-soaked Jack Trice Stadium stormed into the end zone.

Texas Tech (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) took over at the 29-yard line with 2:06 left and drove 71 yards in 12 plays. The Red Raiders converted a fourth-and-7 with an 8-yard pass from quarterback Behren Morton to Josh Kelly, who carried the ball past midfield. Morton then completed three straight passes on the drive to get the Red Raiders to the Iowa State 1-yard line.

Two plays after Texas Tech took a false start penalty to the 6-yard line, Brooks broke through for the game-winning touchdown.

Brooks finished the game with 122 yards on 25 carries. Kelly had eight catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

Tahj Brooks takes the lead in Ames‼️ ⌚️

📺 ESPN | #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/P8CH4cgCvw

— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) November 2, 2024

The No. 11 Cyclones (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) were off to their best start since 1938 and had plenty of chances to win. After getting within 17-16, Iowa State missed a 51-yard field goal.

Then, with 2:11 left, quarterback Rocco Becht threw a 44-yard strike to Carson Brown, who raced through the Texas Tech defense to give the Cyclones a 22-17 lead. The two-point conversion failed, which proved crucial.

In Houston, K-State blew a 9-point lead in the fourth quarter, hampered by two interceptions by quarterback Avery Johnson. The first gave Houston (4-5, 3-3 Big 12) a first-and-goal situation that led to a three-play touchdown drive. The second interception came after a 41-yard touchdown run by Cougars quarterback Zeon Chriss, which gave Houston a crucial 24-19 lead.

HE'S GONE!!! @zeonchriss pic.twitter.com/9QrtOqvYiR

—Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) November 2, 2024

Kansas State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) outgained Houston 327 to 232 total yards, but the Wildcats struggled to establish a running game, managing just 89 yards on 34 attempts (2.6 yards per carry). The late turnovers were enough to turn the tide for the Coogs, led by Chriss, who went a perfect 11-for-11 through the air for 103 yards and a touchdown. He added 75 rushing yards and another touchdown on the ground.

The Wildcats got the ball back with 35 seconds left, but as time expired, a last-minute Hail Mary was deflected out of the end zone.

In the end, two of the Big 12's four ranked teams suffered a loss, while the other two (BYU and Colorado) are inactive this weekend.

What Iowa State's loss means

Saturday was a blow to an otherwise magical season for the Cyclones. But they narrowly missed the best start in program history and still have a lot to do to reach the Big 12 title game – especially the season finale against Kansas State. It also hurts Iowa State's overall College Football Playoff odds.

A Cyclones team that lost in the Big 12 Championship — perhaps to an undefeated BYU? – would have had a strong claim to secure a spot in the first-round playoffs. Now, an Iowa State team that doesn't win the conference title would have at least two losses, and the best win might be a Week 2 non-conference win over then-first-place Iowa. – Justin Williams, senior college football writer

What Kansas State's loss means

It's a major — though not fatal — blow to the Wildcats' Big 12 championship and their CFP hopes. Kansas State is two games behind conference leader BYU in the loss list, but the Wildcats are helped by the fact that Iowa State suffered its first conference loss. Kansas State and Iowa State meet in the regular-season finale on Nov. 30 in what could turn out to be a play-in game for the Big 12 championship.

This was a win the Wildcats needed because the next three weeks will be tough: K-State hosts Arizona State and Cincinnati before traveling to Ames, Iowa. Kansas State's last three opponents had a combined record of 17-6. — Sam Khan Jr., college football senior writer

What the upsets mean for Big 12 and CFP races

Colorado is the big winner. The team is tied for second place in the conference, tied with Iowa State and one game behind BYU. Kansas State, which handed Colorado its only conference loss to date, suffered its second loss and fell behind the Buffs in the standings.

BYU remains the only undefeated team in the Big 12 at 8-0 overall and 5-0 in league play. There is still a month left in the season, but Saturday's developments create some potential tiebreakers in the Big 12 championship race -problems. BYU, which defeated K-State earlier this season, will not face Colorado or Iowa State for the remainder of the season. Colorado also won't face Iowa State, which has the potential for both teams to end the regular season with one conference loss each and no head-to-head matchup.

The Cyclones will face Kansas State in the regular season finale. Aside from fighting for a spot in the conference title game, a second loss by K-State and Iowa State, which are eliminated from the rankings of undefeated teams, also reduces, but does not diminish, the Big 12's chances of sending two teams to the playoffs , but does not eliminate them. – Williams

Texas Tech's rollercoaster week

During the ESPN postgame interview, you could hear the crackle in coach Joey McGuire's voice, with emotions coming through.

“We had a really tough week last week,” said McGuire, who coached the Red Raiders to earn bowl eligibility in the team's biggest win of the season.

Texas Tech lost 35-34 to TCU last Saturday, losing the ball in the final two minutes after blowing a 17-point lead in the second half. This loss came a week after Baylor was embarrassed at home.

Then this week, Texas Tech found itself at the center of the unencrypted helmet communications ordeal. Tech's in-game headset audio communications were captured by an outside company, prompting Tech to request a Big 12 review of its losses to Baylor and TCU and move to a new company for its coach-to-helmet communications equipment .

The Big 12's review found no evidence of wrongdoing against Tech, but a program and fan base that felt appeased and rejected will find some vindication in Saturday's upset in Ames. – Williams

What the win means for Houston

It's a big step for the new coach Willie Fritz. The Cougars fought mightily out of the gate and entered this game with the lowest-scoring offense in the Big 12. Their defense has kept them in games and did so again on Saturday.

But Chriss — who began the season as a backup before passing Donovan Smith for the starting position — has added a spark to this offense. He contributed to an upset win over TCU last month. On Saturday, he went 11 for 11 passing, threw a touchdown pass and ran for 75 yards, including a game-winning 41-yard score.

Chris's Career Night at home
Zeon Chris's highlights ->#GoCoogs #Big12FB pic.twitter.com/xAYtW2fOWY

— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) November 3, 2024

Few believed Houston would make a bowl in Fritz's first year, but that could be in the cards for the resurgent Cougars. – Khan

Avery Johnson's ups and downs

Johnson, the sophomore quarterback who entered the season with K-State's playoff hopes on his shoulders, was the catalyst for the Wildcats' wins and losses. When he's there, he's great. But his lows were difficult to bear.

Johnson threw two interceptions Saturday, including a costly one late in the fourth quarter that wiped out a potential scoring drive with 1:43 left. In Kansas State's two losses, Johnson threw four of his seven interceptions. The other two came in the Wildcats' 38-9 loss at BYU on Sept. 21. – Khan

Required reading

(Photo of Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks: Reese Strickland / Imagn Images)