Texas Tech found a way to win. Again. This time in dramatic fashion against the No. 11 team in the country. Iowa Statein Ames.

A game full of twists and turns, here are the takeaways from the action…

Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter’s group continually faced the challenge of putting a better product on the field and made Saturday’s game worth it.

The Cyclones hadn’t lost a fumble to this point in the season, and hadn’t lost a fumble since their Farmageddon matchup a year ago.

Jacob Rodriguez, who has made the punch-out maneuver his calling card, pulled it out again to force a fumble in the third quarter.

This was ISU’s second turnover of the game – quarterback Rocco Becht was hit by Ben Roberts and ran a ball that Adonis McCarty caught.

Reflecting the “bend, don’t break” attitude that has been a defining aspect of DeRuyter’s defense since he took over, the Red Raiders continually hunkered down. Despite giving up big plays here and there, Tech only allowed touchdowns on two of the Cyclones’ 13 drives.

Zach Kittley’s squad didn’t have the same success at DeRuyter’s Saturday, save for the offense’s first two drives of the game and the closing moments.

Behren Morton came out firing, completing eight of his first nine passes. Had Coy Eakin not been hindered by an offensive pass, the Red Raiders would be well on their way to a 14-point start.

After Tech scored a field goal on the game’s second drive, the result of Eakins’ penalty, it fumbled on four of its next six drives, with two Morton interceptions in the final minutes of the first half.

A defining moment of the game came when the Red Raiders rushed 98 yards in 12 plays, capped by an absurd catch by Josh Kelly in the end zone from 19 yards out. It was a frustrating day for the unit.

The offensive line once again performed less than perfectly, while the Cyclones’ trademark “Drop-8” coverage dashed any hopes of a deep aerial attack.

A series of poor coaching decisions on both sides kept the game hanging in the balance until the final minutes of the fourth quarter. At the start of the final stanza, the Red Raiders took a 17-16 lead and looked to extend their lead.

A trifecta of runs by Tahj Brooks came one yard short of the line for the win, setting up a fourth-and-1 at the ISU 39. Confusion ensued and game time expired – Tech was deemed to have a delay of game, resulting in a delay to the line to gain six yards.

Head coach Joey McGuire opted to push offense down the field instead of punting, an attempt that was ultimately futile.

On the ensuing ISU drive, the Cyclones arrived at the Red Raiders’ 33-yard line, facing a third-and-10 and the prospect of kicking the go-ahead field goal. Instead of giving Becht a chance to gain more distance through the air, the Cyclones put the ball directly into his hands on a designed run, resulting in a loss of one yard.

The 51-yard kick went wide.

The Red Raiders held the ball for just 46 seconds and had a chance to run out the clock, and ISU was successful two minutes later to take a 22-17 lead.

With his back against the wall, Morton orchestrated a 12-play, 71-yard drive and converted a crucial fourth down to Josh Kelly to keep the ball rolling.

From the five-yard line, the direct snap went to Tahj Brooks, with Jalin Conyers serving a massive lead block for Brooks for the game-winning touchdown.

Like two years ago, Texas Tech gained bowl eligibility in dramatic fashion with a win over Iowa State. After two consecutive devastating losses, the Red Raiders responded with an upset victory over one of the Big 12’s top 12 teams.

It’s the Red Raiders’ fourth consecutive bowl appearance, a feat not achieved since the Mike Leach era.

Another test awaits McGuire’s team, as Deion Sanders’ Colorado team brings one of the most explosive offensive units to the 806. Kickoff against the Buffaloes is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Lubbock.