AMES, Iowa (AP) — Shane Buechele threw for 171 yards and a score, and Texas opened Big 12 play by beating Iowa State 17-7 on Thursday night.
Chris Warren III added a rushing TD for the Longhorns (2-2, 1-0), who improved to 13-2 against the Cyclones (2-2, 0-1).
Warren had an 11-yard touchdown run and Toneil Carter caught a 22-yard TD pass from Buechele to give Texas a 14-0 halftime lead.
The game truly hinged on a pair of plays in a 21-second span late in the third quarter that went the Longhorns’ way.
Texas fumbled away a kickoff deep in its own territory, but the runner was ruled down on replay. Iowa State then took a fumbled backward pass into the end zone to briefly pull within 14-13, but the officials ruled the ball was going forward after a review.
Jacob Park threw for 246 yards and had a career-high three interceptions for Iowa State, which had scored at least 40 points in each of its first three games.
THE TAKEAWAY
Texas: The Longhorns did what they’ve done so often against Iowa State, pushing the Cyclones around while dictating tempo through the ground game. Texas’ rebuilt offensive line had issues with holding calls, and its entire offense looked discombobulated at times. But a win on the road in league play is never something to scoff at — especially when you’re just four games into Tom Herman’s coaching tenure.
Iowa State: It was as if the Cyclones saw Texas come out in their all-white road uniforms and froze. Almost none of the improvement Iowa State has made under second-year coach Matt Campbell was evident against the Longhorns. The first two touchdowns Texas scored came after penalties the Cyclones could’ve avoided, and questions about the play-calling — like why did star running back David Montgomery have just six carries in the first half? — lingered all night.
WHAT’S NEXT
Texas hosts Kansas State next Saturday.
Iowa State travels to face Oklahoma on Oct. 7
Photo credit – Charlie Niebergall / Associated Press / Ames, IA