A controversial ending to a very close game between No. 22 ranked Texas football and the Iowa State Cyclones on Oct. 15 at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian came up with the win over head coach Matt Campbell and Iowa State by a narrow three-point margin in a game that ended by a score of 24-21.
This was the fourth straight loss for the Cyclones, all of which came by a slim one-possession margin. Iowa State has now lost its last three games by a combined margin of seven points. Meanwhile, Sark and the Longhorns got the third straight win with this three-point triumph over the Cyclones this weekend.
Texas got its slimmest margin of victory on the season so far with this win over Iowa State.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers wasn’t as sharp as we saw in the last few games. This Iowa State defense came as advertised and really muddied the waters for Ewers and the Longhorns in this one.
It took a late touchdown on a fourth-down play from Ewers to star sophomore wide receiver Xavier Worthy to get the lead in the fourth quarter.
However, the significant play in this game will wind up being the hit by Texas senior safety Anthony Cook on redshirt sophomore Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers with less than three minutes to go that forced a fumble. Campbell was fired up after that play since there wasn’t targeting called on Cook and Dekkers was clearly hurt.
Yet, after further review, the ruling on the field was upheld that Dekkers fumbled the ball. And since there was no targeting flag on the play originally, and the booth didn’t call for a review, every part of this play was upheld.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions on social media from fans after the Longhorns top the Cyclones on Oct. 15.
Reactions on social media to Quinn Ewers and Texas football’s win over Iowa State
On the 1-10 enjoyment scale (10 being last week’s OU game), scoring this one somewhere in the 1.5 to 1.75 range.
— Burnt Orange Nation (@BON_SBNation) October 15, 2022
If I’m Campbell, I let it rip in this press conference. Absolutely pop off. Go to war for Dekkers. You’re the only one who can, and you have an obligation to respond to a broken part of this sport that continually keeps fucking your team. Light it up.
— Austin Narber (@austinnarber) October 15, 2022
Huge play by Anthony Cook, knocking the football loose from Hunter Dekkers. Texas recovered, and replay upheld the play. It's the first fumble recovery for the Longhorns this season. Texas ball with a chance to close this one out.
— Wescott Eberts (@SBN_Wescott) October 15, 2022
#CFB Twitter - Texas just got bailed out by the refs, same old same old
— Kyle Umlang (@kyleumlang) October 15, 2022
Texas Twitter - No we weren’t and even if we were, we literally always get screwed by the refs!!!#ISUvsTEX
I would agree with this take. College football, Iowa State, and Texas Twitter are all yelling at each other about this.
If Quinn Ewers got hit like that the Iowa State defender would already be suspended.
— Wide Right & Natty Lite (@WideRtNattyLt) October 15, 2022
Texas Football is a top 5 program with Quinn Ewers healthy, it’s really that simple. pic.twitter.com/TPlgmmvUtK
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 15, 2022
I partially agree with this take. While Ewers has looked good throughout most of the season, this was not his strongest game.
Texas. Iowa State. The refs.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) October 15, 2022
A tradition unlike any other.
All in all, this is a big win for Texas that is going to be marred in controversy thanks to a lack of clarity for the targeting call. But some bounce your way and some don’t. Texas came out on the right side in this one.
Following this three-point win over Iowa State, Texas is now sitting on a record of 5-2 (3-1 Big 12). Sark, Ewers, and the Longhorns have matched the win total from last season in the first seven games of this year. Meanwhile, Iowa State is now sitting with a record of 3-4 (0-4 Big 12).