AMES, Iowa — As No. 6 West Virginia’s offense turned anemic, Iowa State seemed to be the team possessing all the weapons.
Freshman Brock Purdy tossed three touchdowns, outplaying the Mountaineers’ Heisman hopeful Will Grier, and the Cyclones dominated throughout a 30-14 upset.
Deshaunte Jones’ tumbling 32-yard touchdown off a tipped pass put Iowa State (3-3, 2-2 Big 12) up by two scores late and the Cyclones defense did its part by forcing a holding call in the end zone that resulted in a safety.
Grier was sacked seven times and threw an interception for West Virginia (5-1, 3-1), which lost for the first time in four trips to Jack Trice Stadium. The Mountaineers had been the last unbeaten team in the Big 12.
Iowa State running back David Montgomery, who missed last week’s game at Oklahoma State, returned to rush for 189 yards on 29 carries.
Hakeem Butler made six catches for 107 yards and a score.
JaQuan Bailey made two sacks for the Cyclones, whose fans stormed the field afterward.
Grier finished 11 of 15 passing for 100 yards, a distant cry from his 363-per-game average. West Virginia gained only 148 total and finished 1 of 11 on third downs. The Mountaineers came in averaging 41 points per game but needed a special-teams score just to reach double digits.
Purdy went 18 of 25 for 254 yards, directing the Cyclones to a top-25 upset for the second time in eight days.
After falling behind early, the Cyclones reeled off 20 unanswered points on touchdown drives spanning 65, 53 and 59 yards. Purdy threw a 4-yard scoring pass to Hakeem Butler and a 19-yarder to Charlie Kolar that overcame a third-and-16 scenario. Montgomery also ran in a 2-yard touchdown but Connor Assalley missed the extra point.
Iowa State was threatening again when West Virginia cornerback Josh Norwood picked off a tipped pass near the goal line, but a replay overturned the interception. It became a blessing in disguise for the Mountaineers, who blocked the ensuing field-goal try resulting in a 72-yard scoop-and-score return for Derrek Pitts.
After Purdy was intercepted by Dravon Askew-Henry on Iowa State’s second series, West Virginia marched in from 44 yards out. Grier hit David Sills for an 18-yard touchdown, which turned out to be the only third-down conversion of the game for the Mountaineers.
