Iowa State snaps a 4-game losing streak after Flora's punt return TD to win 20-17 at TCU

Iowa State tight end Benjamin Brahmer (18) scores a touchdown against TCU defenders Vernon Glover (26), Jamel Johnson (2) and Devean Deal (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Aiden Flora returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown with 6:32 left and Iowa State snapped a four-game losing streak with a 20-17 win at TCU on Saturday.

Flora ran to right after fielding the 51-yard punt, then cut back to an open gap in the middle of the field for a sprint to the end zone for the Cyclones (6-4, 3-4 Big 12), who hadn’t won since a 5-0 start this season to move up to 14th in the AP poll at the time.

TCU (6-3, 3-3) was then driving when Tre Bell, who had an earlier interception, stripped the ball from Horned Frogs running back Jeremy Payne at the end of 28-yard run. Drew Surges recovered the fumble at the Cyclones 12, and quarterback Rocco Becht extended that drive with a 9-yard keeper around the left side on fourth-and-1 from their 40 on the first play after the two-minute timeout.

Carson Hansen ran for 108 yards with a 1-yard TD in the fourth quarter for Iowa State. Becht was only 9-of-24 passing for 111 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, both by Bud Clark.

Josh Hoover was 34-of-50 passing for 302 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. TCU had two 100-yard receivers with 11 catches: Jordan Dwyer for 108 yards and Eric McAlister for 107.

Bell’s interception in the first quarter set up Iowa State’s first TD, a 23-yarder by 6-foot-7 tight end Benjamin Brahmer. He caught the ball around the 10 with his back to the goal line, then lunged through four defenders while extending his body into the end zone for a 6-0 lead after the missed extra point.

The takeaway

Iowa State: The Cyclones have won 10 of their last 14 road games.

TCU: This was a tough loss for the Horned Frogs, who were coming off an open date after winning three of their four games in October. They trailed 6-3 at halftime when Nate McCashland, who had made a 35-yarder, had his 25-yard attempt ricochet off the right upright just before the break.

Up next

Iowa State has an open date before hosting Kansas on Nov. 22.

TCU plays next Saturday at No. 8 BYU (8-1, 5-1), which is coming off its first loss.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-