ISU vs KSU Game Reaction: Matt Campbell Makes Fourth Quarter Decision

Just when you thought this rivalry couldn’t get any more intense, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and Kansas State coach Chris Klieman went toe-to-toe in a fourth quarter that had everything you could want from college football.

Both coaches made gutsy calls when it mattered most, but in the end, Campbell had the better quarterback to execute his vision. The result was a 24-21 Iowa State win over Kansas State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, the first game of the college football season.

Matt Campbell’s Brilliant Fourth Quarter Gamble Pays Off

With 2:26 left on the clock and facing fourth and three just 16 yards from paydirt, Matt Campbell did what great coaches do – he gave his quarterback options and trusted him to make the right call. According to Campbell’s post-game interview with ESPN, he presented Iowa State quarterback Rocco

Becht with two different plays, essentially putting the game in his signal-caller’s hands. Becht didn’t just make a play, but he made THE play. The quarterback chose the screen pass to Carson Hansen, a call that looked simple but required perfect timing and execution. Hansen caught it clean and took it down to the one-yard line, setting up Iowa State to bleed the clock dry and walk away with a victory.

That’s the kind of moment that separates good quarterbacks from great ones. Becht had the poise to analyze two options under crushing pressure and pick the right one. Campbell’s faith in his quarterback paid off in the most significant way possible.

First Three Quarters: A Comedy of Errors

The game was sloppily played through the first three quarters, with both teams looking more like they were shaking off rust than making championship statements. Four fumbles combined. Dropped passes. Missed opportunities in the red zone.

Kansas State’s Dylan Edwards muffed a punt inside the 10-yard line early, gifting Iowa State prime field position. The Cyclones promptly fumbled it away on a botched toss play. That pretty much summed up the first 45 minutes.

Iowa State’s Becht looked sharp when he needed to be, connecting with Dominic Overby on a 23-yard touchdown strike to open the scoring. Kansas State answered with Avery Johnson punching it in from 10 yards out, and the teams headed to halftime knotted at 7-7.

Klieman’s Aggressive Approach Did Not Backfire 

Chris Klieman made a game-changing decision that showed confidence that his team can battle back from any adversity that comes their way. With Iowa State leading 17-14 and 8:19 left on the clock, Klieman went for it on fourth-and-three on their own 29-yard line. Most coaches punt and trust their defense.

Klieman rolled the dice. Johnson, the Kansas State quarterback, kept the ball on the read option, but came up inches short. Iowa State took over on the Kansas State 29, and just three plays later, Becht found the end zone on a seven-yard keeper. Suddenly, it was 24-14 with 6:34 remaining, and the Cyclones looked ready to cruise. But Johnson showed Klieman’s confidence was deserved.

The Kansas State quarterback, who had struggled most of the afternoon, delivered the kind of throw that makes highlight reels. He found receiver Jerand Bradley for a 65-yard touchdown bomb that cut the deficit to 24-21 in the blink of an eye. That’s when the spotlight shifted to Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, who faced the “real big decision of the game” with the fourth and three with 2:26 left in the game.

Why This Game Matters Beyond the Win Column

This wasn’t just another conference game.  This was a statement about where both programs stand. Matt Campbell continues to prove he can coach Iowa State through pressure-packed moments, while Chris Klieman showed he’s not backing down from anyone in the Big 12.

The way both coaches handled the fourth quarter tells you everything about their philosophies. Neither one played it safe when the game was on the line. That’s refreshing in an era where too many coaches coach scared.

The Becht Factor Changes Everything

Here’s what really stood out. Becht’s development as a decision-maker. Having a quarterback who can process multiple options under that kind of pressure is what separates programs that compete from programs that win championships.

Matt Campbell has built something special in Ames, and games like this prove it.When you can trust your quarterback to make the right call with the season potentially hanging in the balance, you’ve got something most programs would kill for.

Both Matt Campbell and Chris Klieman proved they belong among the Big 12’s elite coaching ranks. The difference today was that Campbell had Becht making plays when it mattered most. Sometimes that’s all it takes.