AMES, IA – Despite a thoroughly weakened defense, TCU (7-0, 4-0 Big 12 Conference) defeated the Iowa State Cyclones (2-4, 1-2) 45-21 in Jack Trice Stadium Saturday night.

This win marked the Horned Frogs’ 15th straight dating back to last season, which is a TCU record.

Josh Doctson set two new TCU records in the win, including single-season receiving yards with 1,208 and single-season touchdown catches. He had 10 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

Doctson did it all despite sustaining an injury in the first half. After the game, Doctson said he knew as soon as he stood up that he just had the wind knocked out of him.

Wide receiver and freshman standout KaVontae Turpin was also injured in the win, and he never returned to the field. TCU head coach Gary Patterson said he didn’t think the injury was season-ending.

Returning from a previous injury was wide receiver Kolby Listenbee, who started slow but caught six passes for 101 yards and a touchdown Saturday.

Trevone Boykin’s consistency proved vital for the Frogs. He completed a personal record 84 percent of his passes for 436 yards and four touchdowns.

Patterson said having a receiver like Doctson helps Boykin, and the quarterback agreed.

“When you don’t have the best receiver in college football on the field when we’re going, it’s a big missing piece,” Boykin said about Doctson’s brief absence.

“We’re like two peas in a pod,” Boykin said about his relationship with Doctson. “We’re just on the same page.”

TCU’s defense struggled throughout the night, though sophomore Nick Orr and redshirt freshman Ridwan Issahaku led the team with 10 tackles each. Senior defensive end Josh Carraway helped the unit by recording one sack and six tackles.

The Frogs scored 31 unanswered points after the first quarter, but the statistics disguise how much of a back-and-forth the game was.

“It was a physical ballgame,” Patterson said. “We’ll be sore tomorrow.”

Patterson emphasized the team’s need to get started faster, especially during away games. He said he told an announcer that TCU is the worst first quarter defense in college football right now.

“We have to quit playing tentatively when we go on the road,” Patterson said, joking that he may not show up until the second half the next game. “Once we get them settled down and get into rhythm, it’s been okay. You’ve got to give Iowa State credit. They came after us.”

Nick Orr ended up with a strong defensive showing after missing a key tackle and garnering a pass interference call in the first quarter.

The Frogs lost safety Denzel Washington in the second quarter when he was ejected for targeting. Patterson said he then moved a linebacker to strong safety and put in another linebacker.

Carraway said he knew the remaining players on defense would adjust well.

“I know at the end of the day that we have somebody who can do just as good as what he does,” Carraway said.

The defensive end said after the first quarter, the defense worked more efficiently.

“In the second half, they were doing their jobs,” Carraway said. “They were fitting where they’re supposed to, making plays where they’re supposed to be making plays.”

Though the Iowa State crowd of 52,480 was loud in the red zone early in the game, nearly half of the stadium appeared empty by the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Placekicker Jaden Oberkrom also set a TCU record. He has kicked more field goals than anyone in Horned Frog football history, with 66.

With this win, the Frogs have emerged undefeated from a four-game stretch that featured difficult road games, Patterson said. The team has a bye week next week, and will then play a Thursday night game against West Virginia on Oct. 29.

“We’re going to need the 12 days to get ourselves back and get ourselves ready to go,” he said. “We’re trying to get to November.”