Iowa State's Historic Season Ends with Heartbreak Against Arizona State

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht and the No. 16 Cyclones fell short in their bid for the Big 12 title and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff. The Cyclones suffered a 45-19 defeat to the 12th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils in the Big 12 championship game held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

A Historic Season Ends in Disappointment

The loss was particularly painful for Iowa State as it marked their second unsuccessful attempt at claiming the Big 12 championship in recent years. Despite achieving a historic 10-win season, the first in the program's 133-year history, the Cyclones couldn't overcome the Sun Devils' dominant performance.

Becht, a sophomore and Wesley Chapel native, had led Iowa State to an impressive 10-2 regular season record, setting high expectations for the championship game. The young quarterback's journey to this point had been marked by persistence and hard work, as noted by his father, Anthony Becht, a former NFL player.

Game Breakdown

The game started promisingly for Iowa State, with Becht connecting with Carson Hansen for a 3-yard touchdown pass, extending his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass to 17. However, the early 7-3 lead quickly evaporated as Arizona State took control of the game.

Becht's performance was a mixed bag, completing 21 of 35 passes for 214 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Cyclones' offense struggled to maintain consistency, particularly in the second half when they needed it most.

Turning Point

The game's turning point came early in the third quarter. With Iowa State already trailing by two touchdowns at halftime, any hope of a comeback was quickly extinguished by a series of turnovers.