Cyclones fell short and were defeated by the Tigers.
From the beginning of the game, it was evident that both teams were determined to secure victory. The Cyclones showcased their strong offense with impressive plays and strategic moves. Quarterback Brock Purdy exhibited his exceptional skills by leading his team downfield multiple times. Additionally, running back Breece Hall displayed his agility and strength as he fought for crucial yards.
Memphis bolted to a 19-0 lead in the first quarter as the Cyclones tried and failed to establish a running game. ISU finished with exactly zero rushing yards on 20 carries, while the Tigers racked up 166 yards on the ground.
Iowa State,” said Campbell, who guided his team to its sixth winning season since 2016. “You give them a lot of credit for what they did (defensively), for sure.”
ISU responded to its early adversity by scoring 13 consecutive points — including a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Rocco Becht to Jayden Higgins — to get back into the game.
Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan completed 24 of 33 passes for 364 yards and became the school’s all-time passing leader. The junior from Denton, Texas, peppered four different receivers with touchdown throws, including former Cyclone Joseph Scates, who hauled in a 61-yard touchdown grab.
Liberty Bowl. The Cyclones were 10.5-point favorites according to Las Vegas oddsmakers but never led while trailing by as many as 23 points.
Both teams had their moments offensively in the first half. Memphis scored 19 points in the first quarter before Iowa State answered with 13 in the second. A 49-yard field goal by Tanner Gilliss as time expire in the first half gave Memphis a 22-13 lead at the break.
The Tigers extended the lead to 36-13 midway through the third quarter on two touchdown passes by Henigan, providing enough of a buffer for Memphis to claim the victory.
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