AMES, Iowa _ No. 19-ranked Texas _ a 7-point underdog _ lost at Iowa State, 23-21 on Saturday.
There were lots of momentum switches, big plays, clutch calls and back-and-forths, but if you're looking to answer how the Longhorns lost this one, it came down to this:
On fourth-and-5 with less than two minutes left, Iowa State _ trailing 21-20 _ lined up for a 42-yard field goal try by redshirt freshman Brayden Narveson. It's good, and Sam Ehlinger would have had one final shot to rally Texas. It's no good, and the Longhorns likely win by running out the clock.
Instead, Joseph Ossai was called for offside.
That gave the Cyclones new life. And the opportunity to run out the clock with Texas out of timeouts.
Connor Assalley drove his 36-yard effort right through the uprights, and Iowa State _ with its four losses by 11 points this season _ won it on the final play, the crowd going wild to the tune of "Sweet Caroline."
The good news: Texas covered, struggled for most of the game but heated up when it had to, and put itself in position to win.
The bad news: So much for the Big 12 championship game hopes.
