AMES -- Former Iowa State great A.J. Klein cranked the siren as the Homecoming crowd erupted.
Former Cyclone star David Montgomery returned to cheer on his alma mater.
And ISU's current players built a two-touchdown lead on No. 11 BYU before a mountain of massive mistakes undid everything in a 41-27 loss before 61,500 flummoxed fans at Jack Trice Stadium.
The Cougars (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) trailed the Cyclones (5-3, 2-3), 24-10, with 1:52 left in the first half, but scored 31 of the game's next 34 points to remain unbeaten. ISU, meanwhile, has now lost three games in a row for the first time since dropping five straight in the 2022 season.
So how did it happen? It boggles the brain to count the ways.
Even the Cyclones' failed comeback attempt featured a mammoth miscue, as an apparent eight-yard touchdown run from backup tailback Aiden Flora was called back because of a holding infraction on tight end Ben Brahmer. Becht was sacked for a 14-yard loss on the next play and what remained of the once buoyant Homecoming crowd shuffled for the exits.
Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell has preached toughness to his team all season, but Saturday BYU proved to be the more resilient team as it struggled with its own misfires early before dominating down the stretch.
But rewind to the first play of the game. ISU was rightly riding high as Becht found big-play receiver Brett Eskildsen on a 75-yard scoring strike to put his team up 7-0 just one seconds in.
The Cyclones owned the line of scrimmage for most of the first half, but only led 24-17 at the break because BYU true freshman quarterback Bachmeier converted a key fourth-and-2 and pulled within seven 25 seconds before halftime.
The Cougars methodically took control from there -- and ISU's avalanche of self-inflicted wounds aided the hostile takeover.
Becht threw for 305 yards and the touchdown to Eskildsen on the opening play, but threw three interceptions while being sacked four times.
Brahmer caught five passes for a Cyclone-best 75 yards. Tailback Carson Hansen rambled for 152 yards on 16 carries and scored two first-half touchdowns on the ground.
ISU amassed 495 yards of offense but scored just three points in the second half -- and the final result was cemented when Becht's desperation throw on third-and-goal at the BYU 26-yard line was intercepted.
Bachmeier completed 22 of 35 passes for 307 yards to lead the Cougars and scored a rushing touchdown. He also threw two touchdown passes to receiver Parker Kingston, who joined teammate Chase Roberts in compiling a 120-plus yard receiving game.
The Cyclones fell to 3-1 at home this season and suffered their first two-score loss this fall after dropping two one-score games at Cincinnati and Colorado.
So what happens now? That's anyone's guess as ISU reels into another tough home game next Saturday against defending Big 12 champion Arizona State.
The Cyclones' very faint hopes of rebounding to reach the conference title game for the second straight season were fully extinguished and a game coaches had dubbed a "crossroads" moment sent them rolling into an even bigger much situation as the Sun Devils come to town.
So how will ISU respond? Stay tuned, but "attitude and effort" must be accompanied by "winning in the margins" if it hopes to get back on track next Saturday and beyond.