The TCU football team did something against Iowa State the Frogs hadn’t done since the 2008 season.
For the first time in four seasons, the Frogs dropped a conference game. The Cyclones took an early lead and never looked back as the Frogs lost their Big 12 home opener 37-23 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The last time TCU lost a conference game was in the Mountain West Conference against Utah in 2008 when the Frogs fell 13-10 on the road.
The Frogs experienced their first bit of “adversity” this season, head coach Gary Patterson said.
“Fortunately for us we got to four wins before we ran into a wall,” Patterson said. “Now, how do we handle next week?”
Iowa State scored quickly on the first drive of the game using one minute and twelve seconds to score. The Cyclones used a 51-yard pass play from quarterback Jared Barnett to wide receiver Josh Lenz for a 7-0 lead.
“In this league, you can’t give up big plays,” Patterson said. “You gotta make people kick field goals. Simple as that.”
The Frogs stayed in the game with a touchdown reception by running back Aundre Dean from quarterback Trevone Boykin after being down 10-0.
The Cyclones needed 43 seconds to extend their lead. Barnett threw a 74-yard pass to Lenz to extend the lead 16-7.
The Frogs helped the Cyclones by turning the ball over five times.
The first turnover came from Boykin on his first pass of the game, which turned into an Edwin Arceo field goal for Iowa State.
Boykin’s second interception aided the Cyclones as defensive end David Irving took the ball 20 yards to score.
The third interception sealed the game for the Cyclones. Linebacker Jake Knott picked off the ball at the Cyclone three-yard line, stopping the Frogs from cutting into the 37-23 lead with 2:15 left in the game.
Boykin threw for 270 yards and a touchdown along with the three picks in his collegiate debut as a starter.
Wide receiver Josh Boyce said Boykin’s confidence built up during the game.
“It’s disappointing not to have Casey [Pachall], an experienced quarterback, who’s been through the big games,” Boyce said. “But Trevone’s the quarterback now and I will be standing behind him 100 percent.”
Running back B.J. Catalon fumbled twice, one of which came at the Cyclone three-yard line and ended a potential scoring drive for TCU.
Safety Sam Carter said the team made too many mistakes today. There are no excuses for the loss, he said.
“No one likes to lose,” Carter said. “We just have to move on. Take it one game at a time. We lost, keep our heads up and get ready for next week.”
Patterson said all the credit would go to Iowa State for coming in and pushing TCU around.
The game against Iowa State was TCU’s fourth loss in four years.
“Losing is a disease,” Patterson said. “If you don’t do something about it, it just keeps spreading.”
