ISU football coach Matt Campbell meets with the media ahead of the Cincinnati game.
Matt Campbell is always an animated sideline presence, but there was a critical juncture in Iowa State's 24-17 loss to Colorado that drove him to a new level.
On third-and-goal from the seven-yard line, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht targeted his 6-foot-7 tight end Benjamin Brahmer in the end zone. From a clean pocket, Becht threw a line drive pass undercut by lurking safety Tawfiq Byard.
Brahmer's size makes him an effective end zone target and he has caught three touchdowns this season, but the line-drive pass was the only way Brahmer didn't get a chance to make a play.
With only 13:36 remaining in the fourth quarter and trailing by four points, it was a critical error. The Cyclones (5-2 overall, 2-2 Big 12) didn't score again and have now lost two games in a row, damaging their hopes to return to the Big 12 Championship.
As Byard returned the interception down the sideline, a yellow ray of hope dawned in the black end zone. The line judge watching the battle on the perimeter noticed cornerback Ivan Yates absorb Brahmer's charge, wrap both arms around Brahmer's torso and pull him to the turf.
The officials gathered to discuss the call. And then referee Stephen Baron switched on his microphone to say the 17 words that sent ISU coach Matt Campbell into disbelief.
"There is no foul on the play. Result of the play is a Colorado interception; first down."
ESPN rules analyst Jerry McGinn joined the broadcast and said he thought there was defensive pass interference on the play.
"There was grabbing, he took (Brahmer) to the ground," McGinn said. "I'm surprised they picked it up."
Campbell said he didn't get an explanation for why the flag was picked up.
"No, there was none, and it's unfortunate that there wasn't," Campbell said. "And so it's really sad and it's a tough situation. At the end of the day we'll have to evaluate it, but tough call."
Campbell chuckled when asked if he expected to get an explanation.
"Yeah, I would love to hear it," Campbell said. "But I think later on it sounded like they thought it had no impact ... that the DPI didn't happen until after the ball was thrown, which is not true."
More than the controversial call, Campbell stressed his team's lack of execution and discipline and took ownership for the flaws.
"Again, you can't put the game in a situation where a penalty is the deciding factor, and unfortunately, we did that today," Campbell said.
3 takeaways from Iowa State's loss at Colorado: Matt Campbell mixes fourth-down aggressiveness with conservatism
Missed opportunity, no-call pass interference cost Iowa State at Colorado
Iowa State's plan to protect quarterback Rocco Becht from big hits