INSIDE SLANT

All Iowa State can do is wait and see if it will make a bowl game.

The Cyclones let a seven-point halftime lead slip away in their 34-24 loss to Missouri on Saturday and, in the process, lost their chance at guaranteeing a bowl berth.

With a 6-6 record, Iowa State is bowl eligible, but there is a chance the Cyclones could be left out of the bowl picture. Eight Big 12 teams are bowl eligible; five have seven wins and are secured a bowl berth

Kansas, which is 5-6, still has a chance at becoming bowl eligible if it beats Missouri this Saturday. If the Jayhawks win, one Big 12 team would be left out of the conference’s bowl picture unless a second Big 12 team garners a BCS at-large berth.

Iowa State may have to wait up to two weeks to find out if it will go bowling, but coach Paul Rhoads believes his team deserves to go to the postseason.

“If you would poll people across the country at the beginning of the year if Iowa State would have six wins, I don’t think you would have very many people on the yes side of that,” Rhoads said. “This football team has shown great determination and great production. They’ve had the ability to win in a close game.”

Missouri pulled away from the Cyclones in the second half as its passing game made big play after big play. Tigers wide receiver Danario Alexander had a 63-yard touchdown, and Jerrell Jackson caught a 70-yard touchdown pass. The duo combined to catch 19 passes for 315 yards.

NOTES, QUOTES

• DE Christopher Lyle had a career-high 11 tackles against Missouri.

• OT Scott Haughton scored on a 12-yard touchdown after catching a backward pass on Saturday. He was the first ISU offensive lineman to score a touchdown since 1992.

• By completing 28 passes on Saturday, QB Austen Arnaud moved into third place on the school’s all-time completions list. Arnaud has 426 completions in his career.

Game Ball Goes To:   WR Darius Darks—Darks had a solid freshman season a year ago, but wasn’t able to get on track this season until Saturday, when he caught nine passes for 107 yards and a touchdown against Missouri.

Keep An Eye On:   OT Kelechi Osemele—The Iowa State coaching staff raves about the play of Osemele. He developed this year into a cornerstone of the offensive line and he has two years of eligibility left.

Quote To Note:   “I just wish that we knew right away, not have to sit around and wait to find out. That is kind of hard on us.”—S James Smith on the week or two the Cyclones might have to wait before learning if they are going to a bowl game.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Looking Good:   The passing game was a threat against Missouri, and QB Austen Arnaud played better than he has in recent weeks. He threw for 249 yards and a touchdown.

Still Needs Work:   The Iowa State pass rush has been an issue all year and Saturday was no exception. The Cyclones gave Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert plenty of time to find WR Danario Alexander, who had 173 receiving yards.

Roster Report:  

• TE Derrick Catlett is one of 23 seniors that could have potentially put the Iowa State jersey on the final time on Saturday. The Cyclones’ bowl status is uncertain.

• RB Alexander Robinson threw his first touchdown pass on a halfback option to WR Jake Williams in the first quarter. It was a 10-yard pass.

• LB Jesse Smith had 11 tackles against Missouri. It’s the ninth time he’s had double digit tackles this season.