No. 22 Texas overcomes upset bid by Iowa State 24-21

AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15: Xavier Worthy #8 of the Texas Longhorns reacts after catching a pass for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Ph

Quinn Ewers threw for three touchdowns, linebacker Jaylan Ford produced two turnovers, and No. 22 Texas rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Iowa State 24-21 on Saturday.

Ewers' third touchdown, a 3-yard pass to Xavier Worthy, put Texas up for good with 4:43 remaining. 

Ford ended Iowa State's chance to re-take the lead, recovering a fumble by Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers deep in Texas territory with 2:28 to play. Moments earlier, it looked like Iowa State might move back in front, but spectacular receiver Xavier Hutchinson dropped a pass at the Longhorns 9-yard line. 

Bijan Robinson rushed for 135 yards, his fifth straight game exceeding 100 for Texas (5-2, 3-1 Big 12). The Longhorns snapped snapped a three-game losing streak against the Iowa State. The Cyclones (3-4, 0-4) have lost four straight.

MORE: Texas Longhorns Coverage on FOX 4

Iowa State, whose offense has struggled to score this season, had an opportunity to go up 14-0 six minutes into the second quarter. But Dekkers' pass was intercepted in the end zone by Ford. 

The Longhorns then moved 80 yards to tie the game on a 15-yard pass from Ewers to Worthy. Less than six minutes later, Ewers then connected with Jordan Whittington for a 5-yard touchdown.

Texas added a field goal in the third quarter but could not put Iowa State away. First, Dekkers found sophomore Jaylin Noel over the middle for a 54-yard touchdown, his second of the game.

The Cyclones took their last lead, 21-17, on Dekkers' 11-yard run up the middle with 10:58 remaining.

THE TAKEAWAY

Iowa State: The Cyclones, who rank 104th in scoring offense, failed to get a on 18 straight possessions in their past three games. The streak stopped on their third series against the Longhorns with a 5-yard pass from Dekkers to Noel in the first quarter. Dekkers passed for 329 yards, and Hutchinson made 10 receptions for 154 yards before the drop.

Texas: The Longhorns were outgained in the passing game. Ewers threw for just 172 after passing for 294 and four touchdowns against Oklahoma last week. Ewers lost what could have been a 58-yard touchdown in the third quarter when a wide open Casey Cain dropped a pass down field. But Texas showed the resiliency to come back and win.

UP NEXT

Iowa State hosts Oklahoma on Oct. 29.

Texas plays at Oklahoma State on Oct. 22