Texas Tech Shocks No. 11 Iowa State at Home, 23-22

© Reese Strickland/USA TODAY SPORTS

The No.11 Iowa State Cyclones (7-1, 4-1 Big 12 Conference) are perfect no more as the Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-3, 4-2) came into Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa and beat the Cyclones in the final seconds, 23-22. A rainy, ugly, gritty affair saw the Red Raiders bounce back after back-to-back losses.

The victory was sealed by a Tahj Brooks 5-yard touchdown run with 20 seconds left. After escaping the UCF Knights (4-5, 2-4) two weeks ago, the Cyclones could not prevail this time around in crunch time.

A Major Conference Shakeup

The Cyclones and Red Raiders went back and forth all game. While it wasn't a shootout as expected, it was still a game full of momentum shifts and major moments. Penalties and costly mistakes defined this game. With Iowa State coming into this game as the least penalized team in the FBS, it should have gone Iowa State's way.

It did not, however, as the Cyclones had 8 penalties for 59 yards, a season high. While Texas Tech did have 10 penalties for 84 yards, they made more out of their possessions than the Cyclones did. Brooks gashed the porous Iowa State rush defense multiple times, and quarterback Behren Morton made plays when it counted. Overall, the Red Raiders took a page out of the Iowa State book by being resilient and matriculating the ball down the field.

Morton finished 21-of-40 passing for 237 yards, 2 TDs and 2 interceptions. Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht finished 23-of-39 for 299 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception. Brooks finished with 25 rushes for 122 yards and a TD while Iowa State finished with 38 total carries for 133 yards. An almost dead-even affair, inches made the difference in this contest with Texas Tech having that slight edge.

Brooks Seals the Deal

The Red Raiders were threatening within the Iowa State 1-yard line. A false start penalty pushed them back to the Iowa State 5-yard line, giving a bit of momentum back to the Cyclones after being put on the ropes.

However, it didn't matter as the Red Raiders had their ace seal the deal. Brooks has been on a tear this season, not having a single game where he ran below 100 yards. Well, Nov. 2 was no different and once again, the senior proved that he is the big man on campus.

Brooks took the direct snap and did the work himself, cashing in from 5 yards out to give his Red Raiders the lead with 20 seconds to go. That sealed the victory.

Forlorn Iowa State Playoff Hopes?

This game is a major gut punch to the College Football Playoff hopes of Iowa State. Should they have won this game, their playoff hopes would have been at 50 percent. The loss causes their odds to plummet to 20 percent. They will have to win out and win the Big 12 Conference title game, should they even get there given the crowded standings at the top.

It will be a photo finish and losing this game sets the Cyclones back hard. Iowa State has the Kansas Jayhawks (2-6) next, a game it cannot overlook as Kansas is perhaps the best 2-6 team in the land.

For Texas Tech, though, this gives them new life. They will still need some help with two conference losses, however. Should the odds be in their favor, there's potential that they could be in Arlington, Texas in December. They come away from this game with a much-needed win that boosts their confidence going into another tough contest against the No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes (6-2). Should they win there, they are sitting as pretty as they can sit in the conference title race.