(Ames-AP) Iowa State knows all too well about picking up the pieces after a heartbreaking loss and getting in the right frame of mind for the next game.
The Cyclones are calling on that experience again heading into their Big 12 opener at TCU on Saturday following their loss to double-digit underdog Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 12. The loss was crushing because of the preseason build-up for Iowa State, which was a trendy pick to make it to the Big 12 championship game for the first time. The Cyclones are 10-4 after losses since 2017.
Former transfer Matthew Downing has been named the starting quarterback for TCU’s season opener against Iowa State. Coach Gary Patterson announced the decision Tuesday. Last year’s starter Max Duggan is also clear to play. Duggan started TCU’s final 10 games as a freshman. But he was sidelined much of training camp this summer after a previously undetected lifelong heart condition was revealed during enhanced testing protocols because of COVID-19. TCU didn’t play its scheduled opener Sept. 11 against SMU after the Horned Frogs had a cluster of Frogs players and team support staff that tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
