Three Takeaways from Iowa State's 42-31 Loss To Baylor

Iowa State dropped its fifth game of the season on Saturday afternoon against a similarly unranked Baylor inside McLane Stadium. Here are the three biggest takeaways from the loss. 

There's no doubt that the Big 12 is a tough place to play. In this conference, single-score games and last-second field goals are some sort of norm. Today, that wasn't the case. 

Last week against Oklahoma State, it was starting kicker Kyle Konrardy who delivered the final blow. The Bears, however, weren't about to settle for any sort of scenario where that was even a possibility. 

All told, Konrardy now has the record for the highest number of career field goals over 50 yards. The unfortunate news: that didn't make the difference in this one. 

The redshirt junior knocked in his first of the game from an impressive 57 yards out, but missed another from 41. 

In any scenario, a loss can't solely fall on the shoulders of a kicker. Special teams are just one piece of the overall puzzle, and one that certainly played a role in helping the Cyclones establish a quick 10-0 lead. But as fate would have it, Baylor used the home crowd to its advantage and found its footing in the second quarter. 

What started out as a comfortable two-score lead, built on a 40-yard rushing touchdown by Aiden Flora and the aforementioned 57-yard field goal from Konrardy, quickly swung the other way. Three consecutive scoring opportunities turned into a 21-17 lead going into the break. 

That consisted of a touchdown catch by wide receiver Tony Livingston, a 54-yard scramble from Florida transfer and Baylor starting quarterback DJ Lagway, and a costly fumble recovery prior to the break. 

And if there was one turning point that ultimately defined the outcome, that's certainly the direction many will point. 

Defense in the Cyclones' road games this year hasn't been great. Today, that was no different. This was the third time all season that Iowa State gave up more than 40 points, but it's not all bad from there. 

The Cyclones simultaneously posted their highest point total on the road against the Bears, a massive step in the right direction from their last road trip against then-No. 25 Arizona. The difference between those two games: four scores and a total of 28 points. 

Cyclones' quarterback Jaylen Raynor completed 22-of-37 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, a mark that was nearly matched by Lagway, who completed 16-of-28 for 229 and two scores. 

It was primarily the defense and its inability to stop the run game that ended up costing the Cyclones this one, with Lagway rushing for 119 yards and running back Ryelan Morris netting 50 yards and two scores. That has to change if Iowa State wants to make a bowl game. 

Iowa State is back in action next weekend at home against the 5-3 Cincinnati Bearcats. Kickoff time will be announced later this weekend.