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Oklahoma State football: Three overreactions to 24-21 Iowa State loss

By John Scimeca

AMES, IA - OCTOBER 23: Defensive tackle Isaiah Lee #93 of the Iowa State Cyclones tackles quarterback Spencer Sanders #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys as he scrambles for yards in the first half at Jack Trice Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - OCTOBER 23: Defensive tackle Isaiah Lee #93 of the Iowa State Cyclones tackles quarterback Spencer Sanders #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys as he scrambles for yards in the first half at Jack Trice Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /
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Oklahoma State football dropped its first game of the season with a 24-21 loss to Iowa State last Saturday. Besides being the Cowboys’ first loss of 2021, it was the team’s first loss in Ames since 2011.

With the win, the Cyclones (5-2, 3-1) moved back into the AP Top 25 at the No. 22 ranking after falling out earlier in the season. The Cowboys (6-1, 3-1) fell to No. 15 after its best start to a season in six years. The Big 12’s other two ranked teams this week include Oklahoma at No. 4 and Baylor at No. 16, a spot behind the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State football fans should still have faith in the defense, which is still a strong unit despite the 24-21 loss to Iowa State last weekend.

The experience and home field advantage of Iowa State helped the Cyclones outlast the Cowboys in the end. Two missed field goals didn’t help OSU’s cause, and the pressure from the Iowa State defensive front was relentless against quarterback Spencer Sanders throughout the entire game. A game-deciding fourth-and-two spot by the officials with 1:09 left went the Cyclones’ way, too, ending OSU’s hopes of tying or taking the lead after the Brennan Presley reception.

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Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy finished with 307 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-33 passing while targeting mostly wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (12 catches, 125 yards, two scores) and tight end Charlie Kolar (six catches, 69 yards).

OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders had one of his best games in a Cowboys uniform, completing 15-of-24 passes for 225 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. The junior showed his ability to scramble and salvage a play while also zipping the ball downfield, especially in moments like the 25-yard touchdown bomb to Tay Martin over the pylon in the fourth quarter.

Iowa State’s Will McDonald IV was the anchor of the Cyclones defensive line that seemed to overpower OSU. He had five tackles and sacks on back-to-back plays late in the game with the Cowboys trying to rally — which earned him Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Here are some overreactions to OSU’s Week 8 loss to Iowa State:

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