Appearance in Big 12 title game within reach for No. 7 Texas after win over Iowa State

Editor's note: An early version of this story incorrectly stated that Texas had earned a spot in the Big 12 championship game. The story has been updated to reflect that Texas must win Friday to qualify for the Big 12 championship game Dec. 2.

AMES, Iowa — Led by Bert Auburn's three field goals, Quinn Ewers' two touchdown passes and a few key stops on defense, Texas earned a 26-16 win over Iowa State on Saturday. With the victory, UT moved closer to earning an invitation to the Big 12 championship game.

The No. 7 Longhorns (10-1, 7-1) last reached the Big 12 finale in 2018, and UT last won a conference championship in 2009.

After 30 minutes at Jack Trice Stadium, Texas held a 6-3 lead Saturday night. Auburn hit two field goals in the second quarter, and his 50-yard kick at the first half's buzzer was a career-long make.

But for Texas, the first half was marred by penalties and a costly turnover. Iowa State's only scoring drive was extended on a questionable pass interference call, and two flags — one for a holding call on Kelvin Banks and another for a block in the back on Kitan Crawford — negated touchdowns scored by Texas. Xavier Worthy also lost a fumble inside of the Iowa State 10.

In the second half, Texas added points on touchdown catches by Jordan Whittington and Gunnar Helm and a 2-point conversion that was run into the end zone by Whittington. Texas also scored when T'Vondre Sweat blocked an extra point and Austin Jordan returned the deflected football.

But Iowa State did not go away and the Cyclones scored two touchdowns of their own. A 66-yard catch by Easton Dean made it a 23-16 game with 12:44 remaining.

Texas, though, was able to make Iowa State face a double-digit deficit again when Auburn kicked a 42-yard field goal with 6:14 left on the clock. Iowa State drove to midfield on its ensuing drive, but Byron Murphy II and Ethan Burke's sack of Rocco Becht thwarted that threat.

Texas will close out the regular season with a home game against Texas Tech (6-5, 5-3) on Friday. The first-place Longhorns hold a one-game lead in the Big 12 standings over Kansas State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas moving onto Big 12 football title game after beating Iowa State